Transcriptomic-based roadmap to the healthy and ozone-exposed lung.

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary toxicology and molecular biology.
• Environmental health and respiratory medicine.

Background:

• The lung faces constant environmental threats, with ground-level ozone as a significant reactive pollutant affecting global health.
• Existing research often isolates ozone toxicity to specific cell types or pathways, limiting a holistic understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on lung cell identity and activation in both healthy and ozone-exposed states.
• To highlight the utility of advanced molecular techniques for studying lung injury.

Main Methods:

• Compilation and synthesis of existing research on lung cell responses to ozone.
• Discussion of bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing for comprehensive molecular profiling.
• Exploration of multi-omics approaches and computational tools for analyzing cell communication and spatial heterogeneity.

Main Results:

• RNA sequencing offers unbiased insights into molecular events and cellular diversity in the steady-state and injured lung.
• Multi-omics approaches enhance understanding of complex cellular interactions and tissue architecture.
• Advanced tools can predict cell-cell communication and dissect spatial heterogeneity in lung tissue.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive understanding of lung cell identity and activation is crucial for addressing ozone-induced lung injury.
• Advanced sequencing and multi-omics techniques provide powerful tools for dissecting the molecular mechanisms of lung response to toxicants.
• Future research should leverage these technologies to develop targeted interventions for respiratory diseases.