Early precursor-derived pituitary gland tissue-resident macrophages play a pivotal role in modulating hormonal balance [scRNA-Seq]. Early precursor-derived pituitary gland tissue-resident macrophages play a pivotal role in modulating hormonal balance [scRNA-Seq]

Macrophages were identified in the pituitary gland long ago, but until recently, we lacked the resolution to comprehensively profile the pituitary gland macrophage compartment. To address this, we examined the developmental kinetics and distinctive characteristics of pituitary macrophages within the developing and homeostatic gland. Whole pituitary glands were collected from newborn (NB) to adult (8 weeks old) wild-type (WT) mice. Our analysis revealed diverse macrophage subsets with marked differences in gene expression profiles and spatial localization, undergoing dynamic phenotypic changes from neonatal stages to adulthood. We observed distinct transcriptional profiles between macrophage subpopulations in the anterior and posterior lobes, underscoring significant molecular divergences. Fate-mapping analyses showed that pituitary macrophages originate from early yolk sac precursors and persist throughout life primarily through local proliferation, even under pathophysiological conditions. Overall design: 10x Chromium single-cell RNA sequencing on CD45 positive cells isolated from the pituitary glands of male C57BL/6N mice using fluorescence-activated cell sorting.

早在很久以前，研究人员便已在垂体（pituitary gland）中发现巨噬细胞（macrophages），但直至近年，我们仍缺乏足够分辨率以全面解析垂体巨噬细胞亚群的构成特征。为解决这一科研痛点，本研究针对发育中及稳态维持状态下的垂体组织，系统探究了垂体巨噬细胞的发育动力学特性与独特分子表型。本研究从新生（NB）至成年（8周龄）的野生型（WT）小鼠体内采集完整垂体组织。分析结果显示，垂体巨噬细胞存在多种功能亚群，各亚群在基因表达谱与空间定位上均存在显著差异，并从新生阶段至成年阶段经历了动态的表型转变。我们观察到垂体前叶与后叶的巨噬细胞亚群具有截然不同的转录谱特征，进一步凸显了二者间显著的分子分化差异。命运图谱（fate-mapping）分析结果表明，垂体巨噬细胞起源于早期卵黄囊前体细胞，且即便在病理生理状态下，也主要通过局部增殖实现终生存续。
实验整体设计：通过荧光激活细胞分选（fluorescence-activated cell sorting）从雄性C57BL/6N小鼠的垂体组织中分离CD45阳性细胞（CD45 positive cells），随后对其开展10x Chromium单细胞RNA测序（single-cell RNA sequencing）。