Tissue block-resolved developmental transcriptomic atlas of human fetal brainstem reveals gene modules with
Chengxin Liu1,2, Wenjuan Zhou1,2, Xin Xing3
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders and Intelligent Control, Shandong Key Laboratory of Digital Human and Clinical Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Institute for Sectional Anatomy and Digital Human, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Introduction:
The brainstem is a critical hub connecting the cerebrum and spinal cord. However, the gene regulatory dynamics during fetal brainstem development remain incompletely characterized.
Methods:
This study employed RNA-seq to map transcriptomes across 107 tissue blocks from 18 human fetal brainstems (gestational weeks 9-33). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified 22 functionally annotated modules. We quantitatively assessed their spatiotemporal activity gradients and systematically classified genes exhibiting significant temporal trajectories based on phase-specific signatures.
Results:
Our integrated approach constructed a developmental transcriptomic profile, revealing stage-specific regulatory networks and dynamic transcriptional trajectories governing ontogeny. Crucially, we validated the expression of neurodevelopmental disorder-associated genes within fetal brainstem tissues.
Discussion:
This work advances our understanding of brainstem development and provides a foundational resource for research into neurological disorders.
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