Scientists have reached “The most important stage” in creating a map of all cells of the human body. This grandiose project, called the atlas of human cells (Human Cell Atlas, HCA), will allow us to study the cellular processes that underlie health and diseases in detail. More than 40 scientific works published in leading magazines represent the latest data, including the mechanisms of the formation of the placenta, skeleton, changes in the brain, and reactions of the lungs to Covid-19.
In fact, the work that the authors compare with “Google Maps” for cell biology offers a basic landmark for identifying changes associated with diseases, as well as for the development of new methods of diagnosis, therapy, and regenerative medicine.
More than 3,600 scientists from different countries worked on the creation of the HCA. More than 100 million cells were studied from more than 10,000 people. The first results have already been published in publications such as Nature and Nature Medicine. Among the works are maps of blood vessels, skeletal tissues, and cellular structures of the brain.
One of the key research conducted by scientists from the Imperial College of London and the University of Cambridge first describes in detail all types of blood vessels. An adult has about 100 kilometers of veins, arteries, and capillaries responsible for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to organs and excretion of metabolism.
For example, researchers have learned to distinguish between cells of the vessels of the brain and other organs. This is excellent news for those who develop targeted drugs. Barnett himself, one of the leading authors of the work, emphasized: “Now we better understand the molecular and cellular architecture of blood vessels, which will make it possible to affect the affected areas of the body.”
Another study published in the journal Nature Medicine presented a kind of “plan” of the formation of the skeleton. Scientists from the Sanger Institute and their colleagues found out which cells and paths are involved in the early stages of bone development. This information not only sheds light on processes associated with arthritis but also allows you to evaluate the possible risks of drug therapy for pregnant women.
Work on the atlas of cells continues. Scientists plan to present the first draft version by 2026. The consortium intends to explore up to billions of cells of all tissues and organs, which will make the atlas the most important tool for diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment.