TALKIEN: crossTALK IntEraction Network. A web-based tool for deciphering molecular communication through ligand–receptor interactions†

Molecular crosstalk, the dialogue between different cell types, is attracting more attention in cancer research. On the one hand, the communication between tumor and non-tumor cells in the microenvironment or between different tumor clones has influential consequences for the progression and spread of tumors and response to treatment. On the other hand, novel techniques such as single-cell sequencing or spatial transcriptomics provide detailed information that needs to be interpreted. TALKIEN: crossTALK IntEraction Network is a simple and intuitive online R/shiny application to visualize molecular crosstalk information through the construction and analysis of a protein–protein interaction network. Taking two or more lists of genes or proteins as input, which are representative of cell lineages, TALKIEN extracts information about ligand–receptor interactions, builds a network and analyzes it using systems biology techniques such as centrality measures and component analysis, among others. Moreover, it expands the network displaying pathways downstream receptors. The application allows users to select different graphical layouts, performs functional analysis and gives information about drugs targeting receptors. In conclusion, TALKIEN allows users to detect ligand–receptor interactions generating new in silico predictions of cell–cell communication thus providing a translational rationale for future experiments. It is freely available at https://www.odap-ico.org/talkien.