(Correspondent: Li Yaqian, Reporter: Wang Jing) Collaborated with Professor Yang Yungui’s research group at Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Zhu Lan’s research group at Peking Union Medical College Hospital established a cell landscape and comprehensive atlas of transcriptome data for vaginal cell types in normal and prolapsed human vaginas. Researchers demonstrated the heterogeneity of the cellular gene expression in prolapsed vaginas. Researchers also identified the key genes and transcription factors involved in regulating vaginal prolapse, and extracellular matrix (ECM) dysregulation as well as immune disorders associated with this disease. Recently, this breakthrough study has been published on Nature Communication.

Single-cell transcriptome technology was applied in this study, which provided a comprehensive cell landscape in the severe anterior prolapsed vaginal wall. This work provided a valuable clue for deciphering the pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms underlying pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and also established a theoretical basis for POP prevention and treatment.

Workflow for establishing the cell landscape and comprehensive atlas of single-cell transcriptome in normal and prolapsed vaginal wall

Picture: Medical Research Center

Translator: Liu Jieying

Editor: Xia Peng