A differentiation roadmap of murine placentation at single-cell resolution

Area of Science:

• Developmental Biology
• Genomics
• Cell Biology

Background:

• The placenta is crucial for fetal development but remains poorly understood.
• Conventional methods limit comprehensive analysis of early mouse placentation and trophoblast lineage differentiation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively profile single-cell transcriptomes of mouse trophoblast cells across key developmental stages.
• To elucidate cell compositions and developmental processes in early mouse placentation.
• To update the differentiation roadmap of mouse trophoblast lineages.

Main Methods:

• Systematic single-cell transcriptome profiling of trophoblast cells from extraembryonic tissues (E7.5-E8.5) and placentae (E9.5-E14.5).
• Transcriptome analyses to identify distinct cell types and update differentiation pathways.
• Inference of transcriptomic regulatory networks to identify key transcription factors.
• Mapping of lineage differentiation trajectories.

Main Results:

• Identification of distinct trophoblast cell types, including novel progenitor and intermediate precursor cells.
• Presentation of an updated differentiation roadmap for mouse trophoblast lineages.
• Specification of transcription factors regulating dynamic developmental processes and lineage diversification.
• Mapping of differentiation trajectories, showing sinusoid trophoblast giant cells originate from ectoplacental cone cells.

Conclusions:

• Provides a comprehensive single-cell data resource for mouse placentation.
• Offers insights into gene regulatory networks governing hemochorial placentation.
• Facilitates future mechanistic studies on trophoblast lineage development.