Repository logo
 

Mapping the developing human immune system across organs.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Abstract

Single-cell genomics studies have decoded the immune cell composition of several human prenatal organs but were limited in describing the developing immune system as a distributed network across tissues. We profiled nine prenatal tissues combining single-cell RNA sequencing, antigen-receptor sequencing, and spatial transcriptomics to reconstruct the developing human immune system. This revealed the late acquisition of immune-effector functions by myeloid and lymphoid cell subsets and the maturation of monocytes and T cells before peripheral tissue seeding. Moreover, we uncovered system-wide blood and immune cell development beyond primary hematopoietic organs, characterized human prenatal B1 cells, and shed light on the origin of unconventional T cells. Our atlas provides both valuable data resources and biological insights that will facilitate cell engineering, regenerative medicine, and disease understanding.

Description

Keywords

Genomics, Humans, Immune System, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Organ Specificity, RNA-Seq, Single-Cell Analysis

Journal Title

Science

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0036-8075
1095-9203

Volume Title

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Sponsorship
Medical Research Council (MR/S035842/1)
Wellcome Trust (220268/Z/20/Z)
Wellcome Trust (221052/A/20/Z)