Translating genomic tools to Raman spectroscopy analysis enables high-dimensional tissue characterization on molecular resolution

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41417-0
• Publication Date: 2023-09-19T04:02:43Z
• Authors: Manuel Sigle; Anne-Katrin Rohlfing; Martin Kenny; Sophia Scheuermann; Na Sun; Ulla Graeßner; Verena Haug; Jessica Sudmann; Christian M. Seitz; David Heinzmann; Katja Schenke-Lay...; Patricia B. Maguire; Axel Walch; Julia Marzi; Meinrad Paul Gawaz
• Keywords: Characterization

Spatial transcriptomics of histological sections have revolutionized research in life sciences and enabled unprecedented insights into genetic processes involved tissue reorganization. However, contrast to genomic analysis, the actual biomolecular composition sample has fallen behind, leaving a gap potentially highly valuable information. Raman microspectroscopy provides untargeted spatiomolecular information at high resolution, capable filling this gap. In study we demonstrate spatially resolved "spectromics" reveal homogeneity, heterogeneity dynamics cell matrix on molecular levels by repurposing state-of-the-art bioinformatic analysis tools commonly used for transcriptomic analyses. By exploring murine myocardial infarction cardiac hypertrophy, identify subclusters when approaching pathology, define surrounding metabolic cellular (immune-) landscape. Our innovative, label-free, non-invasive approach could therefore open perspectives profound characterization samples, while additionally allowing combination with consecutive downstream analyses very same specimen.