PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Morgan Oatley
AU  - Özge Vargel Bölükbasi
AU  - Valentine Svensson
AU  - Maya Shvartsman
AU  - Kerstin Ganter
AU  - Katharina Zirngibl
AU  - Polina V. Pavlovich
AU  - Vladislava Milchevskaya
AU  - Vladimira Foteva
AU  - Kedar N. Natarajan
AU  - Bianka Baying
AU  - Vladimir Benes
AU  - Kiran R. Patil
AU  - Sarah A. Teichmann
AU  - Christophe Lancrin
TI  - Single-cell transcriptomics identifies CD44 as a new marker and regulator of haematopoietic stem cells development
AID  - 10.1101/338178
DP  - 2018 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 338178
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/06/06/338178.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/06/06/338178.full
AB  - The endothelial to haematopoietic transition (EHT) is the process whereby haemogenic endothelium differentiates into haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). The intermediary steps of this process are unclear, in particular the identity of endothelial cells that give rise to HSPCs is unknown. Using single-cell transcriptome analysis and antibody screening we identified CD44 as a new marker of EHT enabling us to isolate robustly the different stages of EHT in the aorta gonad mesonephros (AGM) region. This allowed us to provide a very detailed phenotypical and transcriptional profile for haemogenic endothelial cells, characterising them with high expression of genes related to Notch signalling, TGFbeta/BMP antagonists (Smad6, Smad7 and Bmper) and a downregulation of genes related to glycolysis and the TCA cycle. Moreover, we demonstrated that by inhibiting the interaction between CD44 and its ligand hyaluronan we could block EHT, identifying a new regulator of HSPC development.