A single-cell analysis of nasal epithelial cells development in domestic pig

Abstract The nasal mucosa forms a critical barrier against the invasion of respiratory pathogens. Composed of a heterogeneous assortment of cell types, the nasal mucosa relies on the unique characteristics and complex intercellular dynamics of these cells to maintain its structural integrity and functional efficacy. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on porcine nasal mucosa was performed and twenty distinct nasal cell types were identified, including nine epithelial cell types, four stromal cell types, and seven immune cell types. Subsequently, the distribution patterns of three representative types of epithelial cells (including basal cells, goblet cells, and ciliated cells) were detected by immunofluorescence. We conducted a comparative analysis of these data with published human single-cell data, revealing consistent differentiation trajectories among porcine and human nasal epithelial cells. Specifically, basal cells serve as the initial stage in the differentiation process of nasal epithelial cells, which then differentiate into club cells, and further branch into ciliated cells or goblet cells. Moreover, we observed a significant degree of similarity in transcription characteristics of cell-cell junction molecules and various respiratory virus receptors between porcine and human epithelial cells. This research not only enhances our understanding of the composition and transcriptional signature of porcine nasal mucosal cells, but also offers a theoretical foundation for developing alternative models for human respiratory diseases.