Single-cell RNA-Seq reveals a developmental atlas of human prefrontal cortex

Mammalian prefrontal cortex contains billions of cells, some of which are known as neurons to play critical roles in memory, cognitive ability, decision making, social behavior etc. through participating into complex neural circuits. Although neural circuits build up in the late stage of human embryo development and even after birth, the diverse and functional cells start to generate and migrate to the appropriate location play essential roles as basis for developing future circuits. However, it remains challenging to identify cell types of developing human PFC and distinguish their developmental features. Here, to address these challenges, single cells from human embryos PFC were carried out for RNA-seq. Detailed analysis of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) illustrated a developmental feature of intermediate progenitor (IP) cells and revealed new marker genes of IP cells. We also mapped the neurogenesis timeline of PFC excitatory neurons and intrinsic singles regulating neuron maturation and circuit formation. Our screening and characterization approach provides a blueprint of human PFC development in early and mid embryonic stages, with which to systematically discover the cellular basis and molecular regulation of PFC function in humans. Overall design: Here we performed single cell RNA-seq analysis for prefrontal cortex (PFC), covering the developmental stages of gestational weeks 8-26.

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