The Tissue Atlas

Resolving the molecular details of proteome variation in the different tissues and organs of the human body is a necessary step to increase our knowledge of human biology and disease. 

The Tissue Atlas is a fantastic resource if you are interested in basic research into human biology or working in translational medicine, enabling you to ask new questions regarding protein expression in different tissues. 

An open-access map of the human proteome

The Tissue Atlas section of the Human Protein Atlas is an open-access map of the complete human proteome based on RNA sequencing data and antibody-based profiling. The human protein-coding genes are classified according to their expression in all major organs and tissue types in the human body. 

Image from the Tissue Atlas for the HNF1A gene
Image from the Tissue Atlas for the HNF1A gene, showing RNA expression displayed together with a knowledge-based annotation, based on the IHC stainings for the HNF1A protein, in normal tissues. The Primary data view displays the raw data from the IHC stainings in 44 normal tissues. These can be viewed in high resolution by clicking on the images.

The first version of the Tissue Atlas was launched in 2014, after eleven years of research in the Human Protein Atlas project.

In the Tissue Atlas, you can find information regarding the expression profiles of human genes both at the mRNA and protein level and explore the human proteomes in tissues and organs and analyze tissue profiles for specific protein classes. All protein expression profiling data is publicly accessible in the Human Protein Atlas database.

Explore the Tissue Atlas

Start exploring the Tissue Atlas section of the Human Protein Atlas.

Go to the Tissue Atlas

Guide to using the Tissue Atlas

Not sure where to start? Follow our guide to discover all the information in the Tissue Atlas for your protein of choice. 

How to use the Tissue Atlas

Quantitative transcriptomics and IHC

The Tissue Atlas is based on quantitative transcriptomics on a tissue and organ level combined with protein profiling using tissue microarray-based immunohistochemistry to achieve spatial localization of proteins down to the single-cell level.

The Tissue Atlas contains a comprehensive summary of both mRNA and protein level expression. The protein expression data, currently covering >15,000 (or about 78%) of the protein-coding genes, is derived from antibody-based protein profiling using IHC on tissue microarrays (TMAs).

Over 500 IHC images for each protein

To ensure good coverage, the Tissue Atlas provides antibody staining in samples from 144 individuals corresponding to 44 different normal tissue types, and samples from 216 cancer patients corresponding to 20 different types of cancer. The antibodies used in the Tissue Atlas, are manufactured and made available to fellow researchers by Atlas Antibodies as Triple A Polyclonals.

Discover Triple A Polyclonals

Discover Triple A Polyclonals

The antibodies used in the Human Protein Atlas, are available from Atlas Antibodies as Triple A Polyclonals. For each antibody you have access to staining images and characterization data from 44 normal tissues and the 20 most common cancers on the Human Protein Atlas.

Learn more

References

Uhlén M et al. Tissue-based map of the human proteome. Science 2015 347(6220):1260419. DOI: 10.1126/science.1260419

Uhlén et al. A human protein atlas for normal and cancer tissues based on antibody proteomics. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2005 4(12):1920-32. DOI: 10.1074/mcp.M500279-MCP200