Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals the dynamics of human immune cells during early fetal skin development
Yingping Xu,
Jun Zhang,
Yongfei Hu,
Xuefei Li,
Lihua Sun,
Yu Peng,
Yuzhe Sun,
Bing Liu,
Zhilei Bian,
Zhili Rong
Affiliations
Yingping Xu
Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China; Corresponding author
Jun Zhang
Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
Yongfei Hu
Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
Xuefei Li
Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
Lihua Sun
Development of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Nanhai Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 528200, China
Yu Peng
Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
Yuzhe Sun
Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China
Bing Liu
State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
Zhilei Bian
Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China; Corresponding author
Zhili Rong
Experimental Research Center, Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China; Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research (Ministry of Education), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou 510005, China; Corresponding author
Summary: The immune system of skin develops in stages in mice. However, the developmental dynamics of immune cells in human skin remains elusive. Here, we perform transcriptome profiling of CD45+ hematopoietic cells in human fetal skin at an estimated gestational age of 10–17 weeks by single-cell RNA sequencing. A total of 13 immune cell types are identified. Skin macrophages show dynamic heterogeneity over the course of skin development. A major shift in lymphoid cell developmental states occurs from the first to the second trimester that implies an in situ differentiation process. Gene expression analysis reveals a typical developmental program in immune cells in accordance with their functional maturation, possibly involving metabolic reprogramming. Finally, we identify transcription factors (TFs) that potentially regulate cellular transitions by comparing TFs and TF target gene networks. These findings provide detailed insight into how the immune system of the human skin is established during development.
