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Single-cell dynamics of liver development in postnatal pigs
Lin Rao1, Liping Cai1, Lusheng Huang1
1National Key Laboratory for Swine Genetic Improvement and Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China.
Science Bulletin
|October 2, 2023
Summary
This study details pig liver development using single-cell analysis, revealing 23 cell types and key genes for metabolism and immunity. It provides a comprehensive atlas of liver changes from young to adult stages.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Immunology
- Metabolomics
Background:
- Postnatal liver development is crucial for metabolism and immunity.
- Understanding liver maturation at single-cell resolution is limited.
- Pig liver serves as a valuable model for human liver development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create a comprehensive single-cell atlas of postnatal pig liver development.
- To identify novel cell types and transcription factors involved in liver maturation.
- To characterize immune and metabolic changes during liver aging.
Main Methods:
- Single-nucleus and single-cell RNA sequencing of 84,824 pig liver cells.
- Four postnatal time points: day 30, 42, 150, and 730.
- Multiplex immunohistochemistry for cell type validation.
Main Results:
- Discovered 23 distinct cell types, including rare plasmacytoid dendritic cells, CAVIN3+IGF2+ endothelial cells, and EBF1+ fibroblasts.
- Identified 33 transcription factors, including NFIL3, regulating hepatocyte function and metabolism.
- Characterized spatiotemporal heterogeneity of endothelial cells, identifying LUZP2 as a novel marker.
- Revealed NK and T cells dominate early immune responses, with tissue-resident NK cells showing persistent antiviral functions.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the most extensive single-cell atlas of postnatal liver development in pigs.
- It elucidates key molecular mechanisms and cell populations driving liver maturation, metabolism, and immunity.
- Findings offer insights into conserved transcriptional patterns relevant to human liver biology.
