Single-cell transcriptomics reveals the heterogeneity of the decidual endothelial cells that participate in labor onset

J.-R. Huang, J. Nie, L.-J. Liu, X.-W. Zhang, Y.-M. Xie, Q.-Z. Peng, W.-N. Wang, C.-L. Pei, Y.-H. Zhao, R. Liu, L.-H. Huang, T.-P. Li, M.-K. Xie, W.-S. Zhang

Department of Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital Central South University, Changsha, China. zhangweishe@yeah.net

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• Obstetrics

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the heterogeneity of decidual endothelial cells and their changes during delivery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to characterize the transcriptomes of decidual endothelial cells before and after the onset of labor.

RESULTS: Decidual endothelial cells (9748 cells) were divided into five subgroups with different functions according to differences in the transcriptome. The functions of cluster 5 were enriched in vascular development and response to growth factors. After the onset of labor, the activities of each cluster were different, including the interleukin 17 pathway and regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascade. The downregulated genes were related to scavenger receptor (cluster 5), which may reflect the process of endothelial activation. In terms of genetic changes, cluster 5 may be more actively involved in labor than the other clusters.

CONCLUSIONS: Peripartum decidual endothelial cells are heterogeneous and participate in labor to varying degrees. One of the five subtypes of endothelial cells may be more actively involved in labor onset. Our findings may enable the assessment of decidual endothelial cells and labor onset.

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