Transforming Endocrine Research with Spatial Transcriptomics

Spatial transcriptomics has revolutionized the study of endocrine biology by enabling researchers to map genome-wide gene expression within the intact architecture of hormone-producing organs. This technological leap addresses long-standing questions about cellular diversity, zonation, and microenvironmental crosstalk that dictate endocrine function and pathology. Despite significant progress in single-cell sequencing, the field has grappled with the challenge of localizing functionally significant gene expression changes to precise regions within complex tissues. Recent studies now underscore the importance of spatial context for understanding tumor heterogeneity, developmental remodeling, metabolic adaptation, and resistance mechanisms in endocrine organs such as the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, pancreatic islets, and gonads.The current wave of research leverages multimodal integration, combining spatial transcriptomics with advanced imaging, single-cell transcriptomics, spatial proteomics, and computational modeling. These integrative approaches yield new insights into the lineage relationships, signaling networks, and niche-specific adaptations underpinning both physiological regulation and disease progression. However, gaps remain regarding standardized analytics, the translation of spatially resolved findings into mechanistic models, and the scalability of these techniques for diverse clinical and experimental questions. Addressing these challenges is essential for moving the field toward predictive and actionable models of endocrine health and dysfunction.This Research Topic aims to bring together cutting-edge research and conceptual advances in spatial transcriptomics as applied to endocrine tissues. We seek to highlight frameworks that correlate molecular resolution with tissue architecture to decode the links between structural organization and endocrine function, with a particular focus on the mechanistic basis of how architectural changes drive disease. By fostering dialogue between experimental, computational, and translational domains, this initiative seeks to chart new directions for spatially informed endocrine research.Research contributing to this collection should address the interplay between spatial gene expression and tissue organization in both health and disease. We welcome investigations that explore, but are not limited to, the following themes:- Molecular mapping of endocrine tissue architecture and functional zonation- Integration of spatial transcriptomics with single-cell sequencing, proteomics, and imaging- Developmental remodeling and lineage tracing in endocrine organs- Spatial dynamics in tumor microenvironments and therapy resistance in endocrine cancers- Metabolic and inflammatory reprogramming in endocrine diseases- Computational frameworks for spatially resolved data integration and analysisWe welcome a broad spectrum of article types, including original research articles, reviews, perspectives, methods papers, and brief reports. Topic editors: Małgorzata Blatkiewicz, Marcin Rucinski, Hanna Komarowska, Marta Szyszka Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80026/transforming-endocrine-research-with-spatial-transcriptomics