Single-cell RNAseq analysis of murine salivary gland development
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ABSTRACT: Development of branching organs involves a series of events regulated by proliferation, differentiation, and intricate cell-cell communication networks. Understanding the molecular drivers for these developmental stages is instrumental to device effective regenerative therapies. Here, we use single cell RNAseq of murine submandibular gland (SMG) from developmental stages corresponding to end bud initiation (E12), branching morphogenesis (E14), cytodifferentiation (E16) and postnatal development (P1, P30, and adult) to generate an atlas of SMG development. The generated resource highlights the heterogeneity in the salivary gland epithelium throughout development and allowed us to identify putative transcription factors involved in secretory acinar cell specification that occurs around E16, including Ybx1, Eno1, Atf3, and Atf4. Clustering and trajectory inference (pseudotime) analyses of this atlas illustrate and suggest that end bud and acinar populations represent the most differentiated state relative to other populations from the same developmental stage, which was associated with a global decrease in expression of numerous transcription factors. Lastly, we identified and characterized two subsets of intercalated duct cells, a Kit+ population defined by Gfra3, and a subset characterized by Gstt1 with sexually dimorphic Smgc co-expression in females and high Serpinb11 co-expression in males. Our analysis indicates that the Gstt1+ population originates from proacinar precursors suggesting plasticity in this population. This atlas can be combined with other available resources to learn about specific cell functions and to predict mechanisms involved in development of branching organs.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE150327 | GEO | 2020/11/11
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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