In this webinar, Ruslan Rafikov, PhD, Professor of Medicine at Indiana University and founder of Metfora, shares his recent work mapping endothelial heterogeneity and plasticity in the lung using single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).
Through high-resolution analysis of the entire lung, novel subpopulations and dynamic endothelial states were identified, including a proliferative Flot1⁺ “root” population. Dr. Rafikov highlights state changes observed in hypoxia and sugen/hypoxia (SuHx) models, such as thrombogenic phenotypes and hybrid states with mesenchymal, lymphatic, and immune-like features. These shifts may play a role in various types of vascular remodeling in pulmonary disease.
Achieving this level of detail required both high-resolution and high-quality data. By capturing the whole lung in a single experiment, Dr. Rafikov and his team were able to uncover rare cell types and observe how entire cellular networks communicate and adapt under stress.
What you'll learn by watching the recording:
- Learn how whole-organ scRNA-seq uncovers rare endothelial subpopulations and characterizes cell state shifts
- Explore the newly identified Flot1⁺ compartment and other dynamic states that may play a role in pulmonary disease
- Understand how these discoveries provide new perspectives on vascular remodeling processes
