Therapeutic Approach of Single-Cell Transcriptomics: Emergence in Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders

Recent technological advances have enabled biologists to analyze cells at multiple omics levels—genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic, and proteomic—at a single-cell resolution. Among these, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a powerful tool for exploring the transcriptome at the individual cell level. This technique involves isolating single cells, lysing them, reverse transcribing RNA into cDNA, and amplifying it for library preparation. scRNA-seq provides 68 detailed insights into gene expression dynamics, enabling the identification of novel RNA species and cellular subtypes. It plays a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of physiological and pathological states across diverse research areas including diabetes, immunology, cancer biology, neurobiology, and vascular biology. Endothelial cells, which regulate exchanges between the circulatory system and tissues, are particularly important in disease mechanisms explored through scRNA-seq. Dysfunctions in these cells are closely linked to metabolic syndrome—a growing global concern influenced by urbanization, sedentary behavior, and increased adiposity. This syndrome includes a cluster of abnormalities such as glucose intolerance, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and pro-inflammatory and prothrombotic states. The chapter highlights how scRNA-seq has enhanced our understanding of metabolic and endocrine disorders by uncovering cell-specific molecular pathways, offering new directions for diagnostics and therapeutic strategies.