Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis Maps Development of Human Germline Cells and Gonadal Niche Interactions
Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis Maps Development of Human Germline Cells and Gonadal Niche Interactions
复制标题
单细胞 RNA-Seq 分析绘制人类生殖细胞发育和性腺生态位相互作用图谱
DOI：
10.1016/j.stem.2017.03.007
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发表时间：
2017-06-01
期刊：
影响因子：
23.9
通讯作者：
Qiao, Jie
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Li, Li;Dong, Ji;Qiao, Jie
Human fetal germ cells (FGCs) are precursors to sperm and eggs and are crucial for maintenance of the species. However, the developmental trajectories and heterogeneity of human FGCs remain largely unknown. Here we performed single-cell RNA-seq analysis of over 2,000 FGCs and their gonadal niche cells in female and male human embryos spanning several developmental stages. We found that female FGCs undergo four distinct sequential phases characterized by mitosis, retinoic acid signaling, meiotic prophase, and oogenesis. Male FGCs develop through stages of migration, mitosis, and cell-cycle arrest. Individual embryos of both sexes simultaneously contain several subpopulations, highlighting the asynchronous and heterogeneous nature of FGC development. Moreover, we observed reciprocal signaling interactions between FGCs and their gonadal niche cells, including activation of the bone morphogenic protein (BMP) and Notch signaling pathways. Our work provides key insights into the crucial features of human FGCs during their highly ordered mitotic, meiotic, and gametogenetic processes in vivo.
