Time-resolved single-cell transcriptomics defines immune trajectories in glioblastoma. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38134933/)

These scientists wanted to understand how our immune system changes over time when it is trying to fight off diseases. They wanted to see how different cells in our immune system change and what molecules are involved in these changes.

To do this, they used a special technique called Zman-seq. This technique helps the scientists track the activity of individual cells in our immune system over time. They did this by putting time stamps on the immune cells and then watching them in our body for several days.

The scientists applied this technique to study a type of brain cancer called glioblastoma. They found that within 24 hours of the cancer cells entering the brain, a type of immune cell called cytotoxic natural killer cells changed their behavior and became less effective at fighting the cancer. This change was controlled by a molecule called TGFB1.

They also found that another type of immune cell called monocytes changed into a different type of cell called immunosuppressive macrophages. These macrophages had molecules on their surface that made them less effective at fighting the cancer. This change happened over a period of 36 to 48 hours.

The scientists then tried a treatment to see if they could reverse these changes. They used a special antibody that blocked one of the molecules on the macrophages called TREM2. This treatment made the monocytes change into a different type of macrophage that was better at fighting the cancer.

Overall, this technique called Zman-seq is really helpful because it allows scientists to see how different cells in our immune system change over time. This can help them develop better treatments to fight diseases.

Kirschenbaum D., Xie K., Ingelfinger F., Katzenelenbogen Y., Abadie K., Look T., Sheban F., Phan TS., Li B., Zwicky P., Yofe I., David E., Mazuz K., Hou J., Chen Y., Shaim H., Shanley M., Becker S., Qian J., Colonna M., Ginhoux F., Rezvani K., Theis FJ., Yosef N., Weiss T., Weiner A., Amit I. Time-resolved single-cell transcriptomics defines immune trajectories in glioblastoma. Cell. 2024 Jan 4;187(1):149-165.e23. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.11.032. Epub 2023 Dec 21.