Constructing Cell-Specific Causal Networks of Individual Cells for Depicting Dynamical Biological Processes

Causal inference is crucial in biological research, as it enables the understanding of complex relationships and dynamic processes that drive cellular behavior, development, and disease. Within this context, gene regulatory network (GRN) inference serves as a key approach for understanding the molec...

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Main Authors: Xinzhe Huang, Luonan Chen, Xiaoping Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2025-01-01
Series:Research
Online Access:https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0743
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author Xinzhe Huang
Luonan Chen
Xiaoping Liu
author_facet Xinzhe Huang
Luonan Chen
Xiaoping Liu
author_sort Xinzhe Huang
collection DOAJ
description Causal inference is crucial in biological research, as it enables the understanding of complex relationships and dynamic processes that drive cellular behavior, development, and disease. Within this context, gene regulatory network (GRN) inference serves as a key approach for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular function. Despite substantial advancements, challenges persist in GRN inference, particularly in dynamic rewiring, inferring causality, and context specificity. To tackle these issues, we present single cell-specific causal network (SiCNet), a novel causal network construction method that utilizes single-cell gene expression profiles and a causal inference strategy to construct molecular regulatory networks at a single-cell level. Additionally, SiCNet utilizes cell-specific network information to construct network outdegree matrix (ODM), enhancing the performance of cell clustering. It also enables the construction of context-specific GRNs to identify key regulators of fate transitions for diverse processes such as cellular reprogramming and development. Furthermore, SiCNet can delineate the intricate dynamic regulatory processes involved in development, providing deep insights into the mechanisms governing cellular transitions and the gene regulation across developmental stages.
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issn 2639-5274
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spelling doaj-art-4467e70be22f4bd89ade51e90c5dee632025-08-20T03:27:44ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Research2639-52742025-01-01810.34133/research.0743Constructing Cell-Specific Causal Networks of Individual Cells for Depicting Dynamical Biological ProcessesXinzhe Huang0Luonan Chen1Xiaoping Liu2Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.Key Laboratory of Systems Health Science of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Science, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, China.Causal inference is crucial in biological research, as it enables the understanding of complex relationships and dynamic processes that drive cellular behavior, development, and disease. Within this context, gene regulatory network (GRN) inference serves as a key approach for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cellular function. Despite substantial advancements, challenges persist in GRN inference, particularly in dynamic rewiring, inferring causality, and context specificity. To tackle these issues, we present single cell-specific causal network (SiCNet), a novel causal network construction method that utilizes single-cell gene expression profiles and a causal inference strategy to construct molecular regulatory networks at a single-cell level. Additionally, SiCNet utilizes cell-specific network information to construct network outdegree matrix (ODM), enhancing the performance of cell clustering. It also enables the construction of context-specific GRNs to identify key regulators of fate transitions for diverse processes such as cellular reprogramming and development. Furthermore, SiCNet can delineate the intricate dynamic regulatory processes involved in development, providing deep insights into the mechanisms governing cellular transitions and the gene regulation across developmental stages.https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0743
spellingShingle Xinzhe Huang
Luonan Chen
Xiaoping Liu
Constructing Cell-Specific Causal Networks of Individual Cells for Depicting Dynamical Biological Processes
Research
title Constructing Cell-Specific Causal Networks of Individual Cells for Depicting Dynamical Biological Processes
title_full Constructing Cell-Specific Causal Networks of Individual Cells for Depicting Dynamical Biological Processes
title_fullStr Constructing Cell-Specific Causal Networks of Individual Cells for Depicting Dynamical Biological Processes
title_full_unstemmed Constructing Cell-Specific Causal Networks of Individual Cells for Depicting Dynamical Biological Processes
title_short Constructing Cell-Specific Causal Networks of Individual Cells for Depicting Dynamical Biological Processes
title_sort constructing cell specific causal networks of individual cells for depicting dynamical biological processes
url https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0743
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AT luonanchen constructingcellspecificcausalnetworksofindividualcellsfordepictingdynamicalbiologicalprocesses
AT xiaopingliu constructingcellspecificcausalnetworksofindividualcellsfordepictingdynamicalbiologicalprocesses