A single-cell atlas of mouse lung development

NM Negretti, EJ Plosa, JT Benjamin… - …, 2021 - journals.biologists.com
NM Negretti, EJ Plosa, JT Benjamin, BA Schuler, AC Habermann, CS Jetter, P Gulleman…
Development, 2021journals.biologists.com
Lung organogenesis requires precise timing and coordination to effect spatial organization
and function of the parenchymal cells. To provide a systematic broad-based view of the
mechanisms governing the dynamic alterations in parenchymal cells over crucial periods of
development, we performed a single-cell RNA-sequencing time-series yielding 102,571
epithelial, endothelial and mesenchymal cells across nine time points from embryonic day
12 to postnatal day 14 in mice. Combining computational fate-likelihood prediction with RNA …
Abstract
Lung organogenesis requires precise timing and coordination to effect spatial organization and function of the parenchymal cells. To provide a systematic broad-based view of the mechanisms governing the dynamic alterations in parenchymal cells over crucial periods of development, we performed a single-cell RNA-sequencing time-series yielding 102,571 epithelial, endothelial and mesenchymal cells across nine time points from embryonic day 12 to postnatal day 14 in mice. Combining computational fate-likelihood prediction with RNA in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence, we explore lineage relationships during the saccular to alveolar stage transition. The utility of this publicly searchable atlas resource (www.sucrelab.org/lungcells) is exemplified by discoveries of the complexity of type 1 pneumocyte function and characterization of mesenchymal Wnt expression patterns during the saccular and alveolar stages – wherein major expansion of the gas-exchange surface occurs. We provide an integrated view of cellular dynamics in epithelial, endothelial and mesenchymal cell populations during lung organogenesis.
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