Cell types of origin of the cell-free transcriptome

Cell types affected by various diseases are inferred from cell-free RNA. Cell-free RNA from liquid biopsies can be analyzed to determine disease tissue of origin. We extend this concept to identify cell types of origin using the Tabula Sapiens transcriptomic cell atlas as well as individual tissue transcriptomic cell atlases in combination with the Human Protein Atlas RNA consensus dataset. We define cell type signature scores, which allow the inference of cell types that contribute to cell-free RNA for a variety of diseases.

Automated summary

Cell types affected by diseases can be identified by analyzing cell-free RNA, allowing the determination of their tissue of origin. By utilizing various databases and transcriptomic cell atlases, cell type signature scores can be used to infer cell types contributing to cell-free RNA in different diseases.