On November 20, international scientists unveiled the first design for the development of the human skeletal system, marking a significant milestone in the Human Cell Atlas Project, a major initiative aimed at creating a detailed biological map of every cell type in the human body.
The Human Cell Atlas Project was launched in 2016 and currently involves researchers from around the globe. The goal of the project is to provide deeper insights into human health and aid in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
The human body contains approximately 37 trillion cells, each with a unique function. Scientists hope to complete the first draft of the cell map within the next 1 to 2 years.
Dr. Aviv Regev, co-founder and current Executive Vice President of Genentech (USA), stated that this project is important for two reasons. She explained: “First is the fundamental human curiosity. We want to know what we are made of. Humanity has always had a desire to understand the essence of itself. In fact, biologists have been mapping cells since the 1600s for this reason. Second, there is a very practical reason; we need this understanding to comprehend and treat diseases. Cells are the basic units of life, and when problems arise, they often stem from cells.”
The Human Cell Atlas Project attracts participation from researchers worldwide. (Image source: technologynetworks.com).
In this project, researchers have completed a map of skeletal development during the first three months of pregnancy, detailing all cells, gene networks, and interactions related to early bone development. They demonstrated how cartilage serves as a “framework” for bone growth, except for the upper part of the skull. They also described key cells involved in skull formation and studied how gene mutations can lead to the premature closure of soft spots on an infant’s skull, thereby restricting brain development.
According to the researchers, understanding these cells may help identify and treat congenital disorders. They also discovered that some genes activated in the early bone cells might be related to the risk of developing hip arthritis in adulthood.
In addition to the skeletal system, researchers have also released detailed maps of other organs in the body. One of the significant maps pertains to the digestive system, covering tissues from the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, to the colon. They found a type of cell in the intestine that may be linked to inflammation, offering new insights into diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
The thymus map—a vital organ in training immune cells to protect the body against infections and cancer—has also been published by scientists.
Dr. Alexandra-Chloe Villani from Massachusetts General Hospital (USA) noted: “While the main focus of the project is to map cells in healthy human bodies, this project has also provided valuable insights into diseases such as cancer, COVID-19, cystic fibrosis, heart, lung, and intestinal diseases.”
Research in this project utilizes new data analysis tools, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Dr. Sarah Teichmann from the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute (UK) mentioned that data from the Human Cell Atlas allows researchers to train foundational models, akin to “ChatGPT for cells”, helping to identify and analyze new cells or search for cells among millions of cell records. Dr. Teichmann shared: “This helps us uncover unexpected connections, such as the relationship between cells in pulmonary fibrosis and cells in pancreatic tumors.”
Scientists believe that understanding human body development at the cellular level is a significant challenge. Dr. Muzlifah Haniffa from Newcastle University (UK) remarked: “These studies help us understand how tissues, organs, and the human body are constructed. Understanding human development is crucial in researching developmental disorders, prenatal pediatric conditions, as well as adult-affecting diseases, since these developmental pathways can re-emerge in later pathologies.”
