This research article introduces Spatial VDJ, a novel transcriptomics method designed to map the full-length sequences of B cell and T cell receptors directly within human tissue sections. While traditional single-cell technologies identify these immune receptors, they often lose the spatial context necessary to understand how specific lymphocyte clones interact with their environment. By capturing these sequences alongside whole-transcriptome data, the researchers successfully visualized immune dynamics in human tonsil and breast cancer tissues. Their findings demonstrate that B and T cell clones spatially segregate according to tissue anatomy and specific tumor-associated gene programs. Furthermore, the study utilized this technology to reconstruct the evolutionary lineage and geographical spread of B cells across different germinal centers. Ultimately, this approach provides a powerful framework for identifying antigen-specific clones, which could advance the development of targeted antibody and cell-based therapies.

References:

• Engblom C, Thrane K, Lin Q, et al. Spatial transcriptomics of B cell and T cell receptors reveals lymphocyte clonal dynamics[J]. Science, 2023, 382(6675): eadf8486.