Spatial and Single-Cell Transcriptional Profiling Identifies Functionally Distinct Human Dermal Fibroblast Subpopulations

J Invest Dermatol. 2018 Apr;138(4):811-825. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2018.01.016. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that mouse dermis is composed of functionally distinct fibroblast lineages. To explore the extent of fibroblast heterogeneity in human skin, we used a combination of comparative spatial transcriptional profiling of human and mouse dermis and single-cell transcriptional profiling of human dermal fibroblasts. We show that there are at least four distinct fibroblast populations in adult human skin, not all of which are spatially segregated. We define markers permitting their isolation and show that although marker expression is lost in culture, different fibroblast subpopulations retain distinct functionality in terms of Wnt signaling, responsiveness to IFN-γ, and ability to support human epidermal reconstitution when introduced into decellularized dermis. These findings suggest that ex vivo expansion or in vivo ablation of specific fibroblast subpopulations may have therapeutic applications in wound healing and diseases characterized by excessive fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dermis / metabolism*
  • Dermis / pathology
  • Extracellular Matrix / genetics*
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Wnt Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics*
  • Wound Healing / genetics*

Substances

  • Wnt Proteins
  • RNA