The transcriptome of hepatic fibrosis revealed by single cell RNA sequencing

Signaling programs of hepatic disease have historically been studied by comparing bulk diseased and healthy liver tissue. As tissues contain heterogeneous cell mixtures, signals from less represented populations can be dampened however single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) circumvents this. In revealing the transcriptomes of individual cells, scRNAseq has exposed the complex division of labor in normal hepatic homeostasis and led to conceptualization of the "fibrotic niche," regions of scarring composed of scar-associated cells, extracellular matrix and fibrotic programs.