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Embryonic liver developmental trajectory revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing in the Foxa2eGFP mouse
Tianhao Mu1,2,3,4, Liqin Xu5,6,7, Yu Zhong5,6,8
1Department of Biochemistry, YLL School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119615, Singapore.
Communications Biology
|November 4, 2020
Summary
Researchers mapped early liver and gallbladder development using single-cell sequencing in mice. They identified key progenitor cells and gene expression changes during the epithelial-hepatic transition (EHT), revealing new insights into organogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Genomics
- Organogenesis
Background:
- Liver and gallbladder development from endoderm is crucial but not fully understood.
- Early embryonic stages are key for establishing these vital organs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the developmental trajectory of the embryonic liver and gallbladder.
- To characterize the transcriptome of hepatic lineage cells during development.
- To identify novel genes and regulatory mechanisms involved in liver specification.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Foxa2 eGFP reporter mouse line.
- Performed single-cell full-length mRNA sequencing across ten embryonic stages (E7.5-E15.5).
- Isolated and analyzed endodermal and hepatic cells.
Main Results:
- Identified the embryonic liver developmental trajectory from gut endoderm to hepatoblasts.
- Characterized the transcriptome of the hepatic lineage.
- Discovered liver primordium as nascent hepatic progenitors with dual gut and liver features.
- Documented dynamic gene expression during epithelial-hepatic transition (EHT) from E9.5-11.5.
- Identified six gene groups (switched on/off) during EHT, including novel transcriptional regulators.
- Provided transcriptional profiling of gallbladder primordium at E9.5.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a high-resolution resource for understanding liver and gallbladder development.
- Revealed critical insights into the molecular mechanisms of early organogenesis.
- Identified novel transcriptional regulators involved in epithelial-hepatic transition.
