Single cell RNA sequencing profile of a unique mesenchymal progenitor subset from the developing murine forelimb

During mouse embryonic development, the limbs emanate from primordial buds of lateral plate mesoderm as proliferating mesenchymal cells cause protrusions of the overlying ectoderm. As the bud expands, several populations of cells are thought to migrate into the emerging limb and contribute to various specialized structures therein. A unique subset has been identified among the migrating populations that contributes to enduring stromal compartments in various tissues and is responsible for aspects of secondary morphogenesis including the formation of entheses throughout the limb. Using a lineage tracing tool, this population was sampled at various stages along the developmental continuum and gene expression was profiled at the single cell level to determine the fate and function of this cell subtype and the genetic programs involved. Overall design: Single cell RNA-seq analyes of mesenchymal progenitors from the developing murine forelimb.