Single-cell transcriptomics to understand the cellular heterogeneity in toxicology

Abstract

Background: Identification of molecular signatures from omics studies is widely applied in toxicological studies, and the evaluation of potential toxic effects provides novel insights into molecular resolution. Objective: The prediction of toxic effects and drug tolerance provides important clues regarding the mode of action of target compounds. However, heterogeneity within samples makes toxicology studies challenging because the purity of the target cell in the samples remains unknown until their actual utilization. Result: Single-cell resolution studies have been suggested in toxicogenomics, and several studies have explained toxic effects and drug tolerance using heterogeneous cells in both in vivo and in vitro conditions. In this review, we presented an understanding of single-cell transcriptomes and their applications in toxicogenomics. Conclusion: The most toxicological mechanism in organisms occurs through intramolecular combinations, and heterogeneity issues have reached a surmountable level. We hope this review provides insights to successfully conduct future studies on toxicology. Purpose of the review: Toxicogenomics is an interdisciplinary field between toxicology and genomics that was successfully applied to construct molecular profiles in a broad spectrum of toxicology. However, heterogeneity within samples makes toxicology studies challenging because the purity of target cell in the samples remains unknown until their actual utilisation. In this review, we presented an understanding of single-cell transcriptomes and their applications in toxicogenomics. Recent findings: A high-throughput techniques have been used to understand cellular heterogeneity and molecular mechanisms at toxicogenomics. Single-cell resolution analysis is required to identify biomarkers of explain toxic effect and in order to understand drug tolerance.