Integrative single-cell and cell-free plasma RNA transcriptomics elucidates placental cellular dynamics

The human placenta is a dynamic and cellular heterogeneous organ, which is critical in fetomaternal homeostasis and the development of preeclampsia. Previous work has shown that placenta-derived cell-free RNA increases during pregnancy. We applied large-scale microfluidic single-cell transcriptomic technology to comprehensively characterize cellular heterogeneity of the human placentas and identified multiple placental cell-type–specific gene signatures. Analysis of the cellular signature expression in maternal plasma enabled noninvasive delineation of the cellular dynamics of the placenta during pregnancy and the elucidation of extravillous trophoblastic dysfunction in early preeclampsia.EGA study EGAS00001002449

人类胎盘是一类兼具动态性与细胞异质性的器官，对胎儿-母体稳态（fetomaternal homeostasis）及子痫前期（preeclampsia）的发生发展具有关键作用。既往研究显示，妊娠过程中胎盘来源的游离RNA（cell-free RNA）水平会出现升高。本研究运用大规模微流控单细胞转录组学技术，全面解析了人类胎盘的细胞异质性，并鉴定出多种胎盘细胞类型特异性基因特征（gene signatures）。通过分析母体血浆中的细胞特征表达谱，本研究实现了对妊娠期间胎盘细胞动态变化的无创描绘，并阐明了早期子痫前期患者的绒毛外滋养细胞功能异常。EGA研究 EGAS00001002449