Applications of Single-Cell Technologies in Biological Studies

1. Pig Single-Cell Atlas Reveals Evolutionary Insights into Gastrulation

This study constructs a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of pig gastrulation, offering insights into mammalian developmental mechanisms:

• Direct differentiation of definitive endoderm (DE) from FOXA2+/TBXT− progenitors without EMT.
• WNT/NODAL signaling synergy in endoderm/notochord fate specification.
• First evidence of heterochronicity in mammalian extraembryonic cell types.

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2. Inflammatory CAFs Drive Bladder Cancer Progression

Integrating scRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics to decode tumor microenvironment dynamics:

• iCAFs (CXCL12+) recruit macrophages/Tregs, fostering immunosuppression.
• LAMP3+ DCs secrete CCL17/22 to recruit Tregs.
• iCAF enrichment predicts poor prognosis (HR=5.28, p<0.001).

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3. Human Early Organogenesis Spatial Atlas

A spatiotemporal atlas of human embryos (4–6 weeks) reveals developmental patterning mechanisms:

• 313 cell types across 18 systems (neural, cardiac, gut, etc.).
• PTHLH expression in human-specific limb bud domains.
• LIN28A-mediated stage transitions via mRNA splicing control.

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4. Onc-Fetal Niches Link HCC Relapse and Immunotherapy Resistance

Multi-omics analysis of fetal-like reprogramming in hepatocellular carcinoma:

• POSTN+ CAFs form immunosuppressive hubs via CXCL12-CXCR4.
• Tumor cell fetal-like traits (GPC3/SALL4) correlate with EMT/relapse.
• "Onc-fetal score" predicts recurrence (AUC=0.89) and therapy response.

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