Single-Cell RNA-seq Identifies Cell Diversity in Embryonic Salivary Glands.

ABSTRACT: Branching organs, including the salivary and mammary glands, lung, and kidney, arise as epithelial buds that are morphologically very similar. However, the mesenchyme is known to guide epithelial morphogenesis and to help govern cell fate and eventual organ specificity. We performed single-cell transcriptome analyses of 14,441 cells from embryonic day 12 submandibular and parotid salivary glands to characterize their molecular identities during bud initiation. The mesenchymal cells were considerably more heterogeneous by clustering analysis than the epithelial cells. Nonetheless, distinct clusters were evident among even the epithelial cells, where unique molecular markers separated presumptive bud and duct cells. Mesenchymal cells formed separate, well-defined clusters specific to each gl

SUBMITTER: Sekiguchi R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6927216 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature