Molecular stratification of the human fetal vaginal epithelium by spatial transcriptome analysis  

作　　者：Ziying Ye Peipei Jiang Qi Zhu Zhongrui Pei Yali Hu Guangfeng Zhao 

机构地区：[1]Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital,Medical School,Nanjing University,Nanjing 210008,China [2]Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine,Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine,Nanjing 210008,China

出　　处：《Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica》2024年第10期1521-1536,共16页生物化学与生物物理学报（英文版）

基　　金：supported by the grants from the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA16040101);the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2021YFC2701603);the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82271653);the Jiangsu Provincial Obstetrics and Gynecology Innovation Center(No.CXZX202229).

摘　　要：The human vaginal epithelium is a crucial component of numerous reproductive processes and serves as a vital protective barrier against pathogenic invasion.Despite its significance,a comprehensive exploration of its molecular profiles,including molecular expression and distribution across its multiple layers,has not been performed.In this study,we perform a spatial transcriptomic analysis within the vaginal wall of human fetuses to fill this knowledge gap.We successfully categorize the vaginal epithelium into four distinct zones based on transcriptomic profiles and anatomical features.This approach reveals unique transcriptomic signatures within these regions,allowing us to identify differentially expressed genes and uncover novel markers for distinct regions of the vaginal epithelium.Additionally,our findings highlight the varied expressions of keratin(KRT)genes across different zones of the vaginal epithelium,with a gradual shift in expression patterns observed from the basal layer to the surface/superficial layer.This suggests a potential differentiation trajectory of the human vaginal epithelium,shedding light on the dynamic nature of this tissue.Furthermore,abundant biological processes are found to be enriched in the basal zone by KEGG pathway analysis,indicating an active state of the basal zone cells.Subsequently,the expressions of latent stem cell markers in the basal zone are identified.In summary,our research provides a crucial understanding of human vaginal epithelial cells and the complex mechanisms of the vaginal mucosa,with potential applications in vaginal reconstruction and drug delivery,making this atlas a valuable tool for future research in women’s health and reproductive medicine.

关 键 词：spatial transcriptomics vaginal epithelium KERATIN 

分 类 号：R714.5[医药卫生—妇产科学]