Unveiling the Biology of Mouse Lemurs through a Molecular Cell Atlas

In a groundbreaking study, researchers have created a comprehensive molecular atlas of cell types from the gray mouse lemur, providing insights into deep molecular relationships across diverse tissues and organs. This atlas, detailed in the article "A molecular cell atlas of mouse lemur, an emerging model primate" authored by Nikolay S. Arefyev, Christopher K. S. Coleman, and colleagues, promises to catalyze innovative research across neuroscience, immunology, developmental biology, and oncology.

The atlas delineates a cellular taxonomy that transcends conventional tissue boundaries, revealing both expected and surprising molecular compatriotries. For instance, spermatogonia, male germ cells, were found to have a pronounced molecular similarity with immune progenitor cells. This consistency of certain cross-compartmental similarities, such as the spermatogonia-immune progenitor convergence, across species suggests fundamental regulatory pathways.

The study employed transcriptomic profiling and dimensionality reduction techniques to reconstruct a layered landscape of cellular identities and illuminate cross-tissue molecular convergences. Comparative analyses with human and mouse datasets underscored the evolutionary conservation of these molecular relationships.

Endothelial cells invariably clustered together, emphasizing the evolutionary conservation of their molecular programs. Epithelial cells exhibited pronounced tissue-specific molecular signatures that overshadowed broader compartment-level clustering. Peripheral nervous system glial cells, namely myelinating and non-myelinating Schwann cells, molecularly segregated with stromal cells rather than their central glial counterparts.

Neural compartment cells, encompassing both central nervous system glial cells and neurons, clustered closely, hinting at shared molecular foundations despite functional differences. A cohort of extracellular matrix components and remodeling genes, including COL3A1, LAMC1, and SOCS3, were enriched in both Schwann and stromal cells.

The atlas also revealed a peculiar cluster of metastatic uterine endometrial cancer cells in the lung tissue of a single lemur individual. This finding underscores the transformative power of single-cell technologies to redefine our understanding of cellular identity, revealing the molecular tapestries that knit together the primate body's diverse cell populations.

The mouse lemur's emerging status as a model organism is bolstered by this atlas, serving as a rich resource for probing cellular heterogeneity, lineage relationships, and disease susceptibility in a primate context closely related to humans. The atlas sets a new standard for comprehensive molecular cell atlases, combining state-of-the-art transcriptomic profiling with meticulous bioinformatic integration and comparative cross-species analyses.