Singh Aditi, Yang Jing, Adzibolosu Nicholas K, Cai Songchen, Kauf Elana, Yang Lingtao, Li Qiyuan, Li Hanjie, Werner Alexandra, Parthasarathy Siddharth, Ding Jiahui, Fortier Jared, Rodriguez-Garcia Marta, Diao Lianghui, Mor Gil
C. S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
Center of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
iScience. 2025 Aug 13;28(9):113351. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.113351. eCollection 2025 Sep 19.
Uterine dendritic cells (uDCs) are critical for endometrial function, yet their origin and functional roles during the pre- and post-implantation periods in the human endometrium remain largely unknown. We hypothesize that distinct uDC subsets carry out specialized functions and that resident progenitor DCs generate these subtypes. Employing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on uterine tissues collected across different menstrual phases and during early pregnancy, we identify several uDC subtypes, including resident progenitor DCs. CITE-seq was performed on endometrial single-cell suspensions to link surface protein expression with key genes identified by RNA-seq analysis. Our analysis revealed the developmental trajectory of the uDCs along with the distinct functional roles of each uDC subtype, including immune regulation, antigen presentation, and creating a conducive environment for embryo implantation. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of uDCs, serving as a foundational reference for future studies for better understanding of female reproductive disorders such as infertility and pregnancy complications.
子宫树突状细胞（uDCs）对子宫内膜功能至关重要，但其在人类子宫内膜植入前和植入后阶段的起源和功能作用仍基本未知。我们假设不同的uDC亚群执行特定功能，并且驻留祖细胞DC产生这些亚型。通过对不同月经周期阶段和妊娠早期收集的子宫组织进行单细胞RNA测序（scRNA-seq），我们鉴定出几种uDC亚型，包括驻留祖细胞DC。对子宫内膜单细胞悬液进行细胞索引转录组测序（CITE-seq），以将表面蛋白表达与RNA测序分析确定的关键基因联系起来。我们的分析揭示了uDCs的发育轨迹以及每个uDC亚型的独特功能作用，包括免疫调节、抗原呈递以及为胚胎植入创造有利环境。本研究对uDCs进行了全面表征，为未来更好地理解诸如不孕症和妊娠并发症等女性生殖障碍的研究提供了基础参考。
