A single-cell transcriptome atlas of pig skin reveals cellular heterogeneity from embryonic development to postnatal aging.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mammalian skin exhibits profound cellular and molecular restructuring across lifespan, yet an integrated single-cell mapping from embryogenesis to senescence remains limited. The Chenghua (CH) pig, with exceptional skin thickness characteristics, provides a promising model for investigating human skin development and physiology.

Results

We constructed a comprehensive single-cell RNA atlas of 443,529 cells from CH pig skin spanning 10 developmental stages (embryonic day 56 to postnatally year 7). Our analysis identified eight major skin cell types and revealed stage-specific shifts in cellular composition. Fibroblasts (FBs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) dominated embryonic development while smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells increased postnatally, with a

SUBMITTER: Zheng T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12403584 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature