Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis of Salivary Gland Endothelial Cells.

Area of Science:

• Vascular biology
• Regenerative medicine
• Salivary gland biology

Background:

• Endothelial cells in salivary glands have crucial roles in development, but their adult functions, especially in fibrosis and regeneration, are understudied.
• Understanding cell-cell communication is vital for developing targeted therapies for salivary gland dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify ligand-receptor interactions involving salivary gland endothelial cells during injury and regeneration.
• To characterize the unique gene expression profile of salivary gland endothelial cells.

Main Methods:

• Single-cell RNA sequencing of stromal-enriched cells from ligated and deligated salivary glands.
• Comparative transcriptomic analysis of salivary gland endothelial cells against other organ endothelial cells.
• Computational prediction of ligand-receptor interactions using CellChat and NATMI.

Main Results:

• Salivary gland endothelial cells share gene expression similarities with fenestrated endothelial cells from the kidney, colon, and small intestine.
• Endothelial cell identity is maintained during injury and regeneration.
• Predicted increased interactions with fibroblasts, epithelial cells, glial cells, pericytes, and immune cells post-ligation and deligation, with specific ligand-receptor pairs identified.

Conclusions:

• Salivary gland endothelial cells exhibit unique transcriptional profiles and dynamic signaling interactions during injury and regeneration.
• Identifying these specific cell communication pathways provides a foundation for developing novel endothelial cell-based regenerative strategies for salivary glands.