Frontiers in Endocrinology (May 2021)

Transcriptomic Profiling of Human Placenta in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus at the Single-Cell Level

  • Yuqi Yang,
  • Fang Guo,
  • Yue Peng,
  • Rong Chen,
  • Wenbo Zhou,
  • Huihui Wang,
  • Jun OuYang,
  • Bin Yu,
  • Zhengfeng Xu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2021.679582
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Increasing evidence shows that placentation defects may play important roles in GDM. However, our understanding of the human placenta remains limited. In this study, we generated a comprehensive transcriptomic profile of cellular signatures and transcriptomes in the human placenta in GDM using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), constructed a comprehensive cell atlas, and identified cell subtypes and subtype-specific marker genes. In addition, we investigated the placental cellular function and intercellular interactions in GDM. These findings help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of GDM, and may facilitate the development of new approaches to GDM treatment and prevention.

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