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Single cell map of the adult female mouse urethra reveals epithelial and stromal macrophages with distinct functional identities

ABSTRACT: The epithelial lining of the urethra is an understudied mucosal barrier with emerging roles in antimicrobial defense during urinary tract infections. Here, we present a comprehensive cellular atlas of the adult female mouse urethra, focusing on epithelial and resident immune cells which act in concert at mucosal sites to direct host defense. Single cell RNA-sequencing revealed two distinct macrophage populations compartmentalized within the epithelium and stroma. Epithelial-associated macrophages display a highly dendritic morphology and populate the urethral lining in increasing numbers over the course of development. Epithelial-associated macrophages, express Cx3cr1, MHCII genes, Cd74 and Aif1/Iba-1, representing an activated macrophage type (Mac-Activated) and also express genes involved in antigen presentation and inflammatory response. In contrast, stromal macrophages express the scavenging receptors Mrc1/Cd206, Lyve1, Cd163 and Mgl2/Cd301b and display a signature enriched for endocytic function, vasculature development and tissue homeostasis (Mac-Endocytic). We identified epithelial cells in the urethral lining and associated glands expressing the monocyte chemoattractant genes Cx3cl1 and Cxcl17. Chemoattractant gene expression in the urethral epithelium follows a proximal-distal gradient which correlates with the increasing density of epithelial-associated macrophages expressing the receptor Cx3cr1, along the proximal-distal axis of the urethra. The study delineates spatially compartmentalized macrophage subsets in the urethra and implicate epithelial-derived chemokines in the establishment of macrophage positioning and functional specialization along the urethral axis.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE296982 | GEO | 2025/09/11

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Periurethral human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) injections are associated with functional improvement in animal models of post-partum stress urinary incontinence (SUI). However, limited data exists on the role of hMSCs in modulating gene expression in tissue repair after urethral injury. We quantified temporal gene expression modulation in hMSCs, and injured rat urethral tissue, using RNA seq in an animal model of SUI, over a 3-day time period following urethral injury, and local hMSC therapy. We injected PKH fluorescent-labeled human hMSC into the periurethral space of rats, following a 4h vaginal distention (3 rats per time point). Control rats underwent vaginal distention injury only, and were sacrificed at 12h, 24h, 36h, 72h post injury. Rat urethral and vaginal tissues were frozen and sectioned. Fluorescent labeled hMSCs were distinguished from adjacent, unlabeled rat urethral tissue. RNA was prepared from urethral tissue obtained by laser dissection of frozen tissue sections and sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq 2500. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) over 72h were evaluated using a 2-group t-test (p<0.05). Our transcriptional analyses identified candidate genes involved in tissue injury, that were broadly sorted by injury and exposure to hMSC, throughout the first 72h of acute phase of injury. DEGs in treated urethra, compared with untreated urethra, were functionally associated with tissue repair, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and oxidative stress suppression. DEGs included a variety of cytokines, extracellular matrix stabilization and regeneration genes, cytokine signaling modification, cell cycle regulation, muscle differentiation and stabilization. Moreover, our results revealed DEGs changes in the hMSCs (PKH-labelled), which were harvested from injured urethra. The expressions are related to DNA damage repair, transcription activation, stem cell regulation, cell survival, apoptosis, self-renewal, cell proliferation, migration and injury response.

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Single cell map of the adult female mouse urethra reveals epithelial and stromal macrophages with distinct functional identities

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