神经c来源的细胞在皮肤功能和稳态中起着重要作用。然而,它们如何与环境信号相互作用并分化为功能性皮肤细胞仍不清楚。结合单细胞数据分析,神经嵴谱系追踪,和流式细胞术,我们发现整合素α6(ITGA6)在神经c及其衍生物中的表达受到发育调节,并且ITGA6可以作为区分皮肤中神经c衍生物的功能性表面标记。根据ITGA6的表达,Wnt1-Cre谱系神经rest衍生物在皮肤中可分为三个亚群,即,ITGA6bright,ITGA6dim,和ITGA6neg,被发现是雪旺氏细胞,黑素细胞,和成纤维细胞,分别。我们进一步分析了在每个细胞亚群中特异性富集的签名基因和转录因子,以及配体或受体分子,介导与皮肤其他细胞的潜在相互作用。此外,我们发现Hmx1和Lhx8在神经c来源的成纤维细胞中特异性表达,而Zic1和同源异型盒家族基因在中胚层来源的成纤维细胞中表达,表明不同来源的成纤维细胞的不同发育途径。我们的研究提供了对神经c细胞发育的调节景观的见解,并确定了促进皮肤中不同神经c衍生物分离的潜在标记。
Neural crest-derived cells play essential roles in skin function and homeostasis. However, how they interact with environmental cues and differentiate into functional skin cells remains unclear. Using a combination of single-cell data analysis, neural crest lineage tracing, and flow cytometry, we found that the expression of integrin α6 (ITGA6) in neural crest and its derivatives was developmentally regulated and that ITGA6 could serve as a functional surface marker for distinguishing neural crest derivatives in the skin. Based on the expression of ITGA6, Wnt1-Cre lineage neural crest derivatives in the skin could be categorized into three subpopulations, namely, ITGA6bright, ITGA6dim, and ITGA6neg, which were found to be Schwann cells, melanocytes, and fibroblasts, respectively. We further analyzed the signature genes and transcription factors that specifically enriched in each cell subpopulation, as well as the ligand or receptor molecules, mediating the potential interaction with other cells of the skin. Additionally, we found that Hmx1 and Lhx8 are specifically expressed in neural crest-derived fibroblasts, while Zic1 and homeobox family genes are expressed in mesoderm-derived fibroblasts, indicating the distinct development pathways of fibroblasts of different origins. Our study provides insights into the regulatory landscape of neural crest cell development and identifies potential markers that facilitate the isolation of different neural crest derivatives in the skin.