Scientists map liver's protein patterns, revealing how disease disrupts organ function
Researchers created the first detailed spatial map of proteins across individual human liver cells, finding that roughly half follow distinct location-based patterns essential for metabolism. The discovery that diseases destroy these patterns offers drug developers and diagnostics companies new targets for detecting liver damage earlier and understanding why certain treatments fail.
Originaltitel: Single-cell spatial proteomics maps human liver zonation patterns and their vulnerability to disruption in tissue architecture
Understanding protein distribution patterns across tissue architecture is crucial for deciphering organ function in health and disease. Here we show the application of single-cell Deep Visual Proteomics to perform spatially resolved proteome analysis of individual cells in native liver tissue. We built a robust framework comprising strategic cell selection and continuous protein gradient mapping, allowing the investigation of larger clinical cohorts. We generated a comprehensive spatial map of the human hepatic proteome by analysing hundreds of isolated hepatocytes from 18 individuals. Among the 2,500 proteins identified per cell, about half exhibited zonated expression patterns. Cross-species comparison with male mice revealed conserved metabolic functions and human-specific features of liver zonation. Analysis of samples with disrupted liver architecture demonstrated widespread loss of protein zonation, with pericentral proteins being particularly susceptible. Our study provides a comprehensive and open-access resource of human liver organization while establishing a broadly applicable framework for spatial proteomics analyses along tissue gradients.