Repository logo
 

Single-cell lineage tracing in the mammary gland reveals stochastic clonal dispersion of stem/progenitor cell progeny.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Davis, FM 
Lloyd-Lewis, B 
Harris, OB 
Kozar, S 
Winton, DJ 

Abstract

The mammary gland undergoes cycles of growth and regeneration throughout reproductive life, a process that requires mammary stem cells (MaSCs). Whilst recent genetic fate-mapping studies using lineage-specific promoters have provided valuable insights into the mammary epithelial hierarchy, the true differentiation potential of adult MaSCs remains unclear. To address this, herein we utilize a stochastic genetic-labelling strategy to indelibly mark a single cell and its progeny in situ, combined with tissue clearing and 3D imaging. Using this approach, clones arising from a single parent cell could be visualized in their entirety. We reveal that clonal progeny contribute exclusively to either luminal or basal lineages and are distributed sporadically to branching ducts or alveoli. Quantitative analyses suggest that pools of unipotent stem/progenitor cells contribute to adult mammary gland development. Our results highlight the utility of tracing a single cell and reveal that progeny of a single proliferative MaSC/progenitor are dispersed throughout the epithelium.

Description

Keywords

Animals, Cell Differentiation, Cell Lineage, Clone Cells, Epithelial Cells, Epithelium, Female, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Male, Mammary Glands, Animal, Mice, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, Transgenic, Microscopy, Confocal, Models, Animal, Organogenesis, Single-Cell Analysis, Stem Cells

Journal Title

Nature Communications

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2041-1723
2041-1723

Volume Title

7

Publisher

Springer Nature
Sponsorship
Cancer Research UK (C14303/A17197)
Medical Research Council (MR/J001023/1)
Medical Research Council (MC_PC_12009)
Wellcome Trust (103805/Z/14/Z)
Cancer Research UK (CB4230)
Wellcome Trust (105377/Z/14/Z)
This work was supported by a grant from the Medical Research Council programme grant no. MR/J001023/1 (B.L-L. and C.J.W). F.M.D. was funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council CJ Martin Biomedical Fellowship (GNT1071074). O.B.H. was funded by a Wellcome Trust PhD studentship (105377/Z/14/Z).