Function of normal oral mucosa revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing

Area of Science:

• Oral biology
• Immunology
• Genomics

Background:

• The oral mucosa provides crucial barrier, sensory, and secretory functions, with barrier protection being paramount.
• Existing research lacks a detailed single-cell perspective on normal oral mucosal cell populations and their functions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate a comprehensive single-cell transcriptome map of normal oral mucosal cells.
• To identify distinct cell populations, including immune cells, and analyze their heterogeneity.
• To explore intercellular communication networks maintaining oral mucosal homeostasis.

Main Methods:

• Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed on 26,398 cells from three normal oral mucosa samples.
• Bioinformatic analyses were used for cell clustering, classification, and heterogeneity analysis.
• Ligand-receptor interaction analysis was conducted to infer cell-cell communication.

Main Results:

• 14 distinct cell groups were identified, comprising 7 immune cell types.
• Subpopulations of epithelial cells expressing MHC class II, CD8+ GZMK+ T cells, and two types of active macrophages were characterized.
• Interactions between major cell types were mapped, providing insights into homeostasis maintenance.

Conclusions:

• This study provides a detailed single-cell atlas of the normal oral mucosa, elucidating epithelial barrier, immunological barrier, and stromal cell functions.
• The findings offer foundational data for investigating oral mucosal diseases at a single-cell resolution.