Single-cell atlas of the whole human lung

15 June 2023
Scientific news Publication

First integrated Human Lung Cell Atlas reveals insights into lung diseases

The largest and most comprehensive cell map of the Human Lung was recently published in Nature Medicine (Link). Revealing the great diversity of cell types in the lung and key differences between health and disease, the Human Lung Cell Atlas will be a valuable resource for lung researchers.

By combining data from nearly 40 studies, researchers created the first integrated single-cell atlas of the lung, revealing rare cell types and highlighting cellular differences between healthy people. In addition, the study found common cell states between lung fibrosis, cancer and COVID-19, offering new ways of understanding lung disease, which could help identify new therapeutic targets.

The Human Cell Atlas Lung Biological Network is a group of scientists who collaborate to map the cell types and states present in human airways. This group is coordinated among others by Pascal Barbry, head of UCAGenomiX, Nice and France Génomique has contributed to the project.

Harmonized cell annotations, raw count data, harmonized patient and sample metadata and sample anatomical locations encoded into a CCF were collected and generated as input for the HLCA core (left). After integration of the core datasets, the atlas was extended by mapping 35 additional datasets, including disease samples, to the HLCA core, bringing the total number of cells in the extended HLCA to 2.4 million (M). The HLCA core provides detailed consensus cell annotations with matched consensus cell type markers (top right), gene modules associated with technical, demographic and anatomical covariates in various cell types (middle right), GWAS-based association of lung conditions with cell types (middle right) and a reference projection model to annotate new data (middle right) and discover previously undescribed cell types, transitional cell states and disease-associated cell states (right, bottom).