Pancreatic islet cell type–specific transcriptomic changes during pregnancy and postpartum
Jin‐Yong Chung, Yongjie Ma, Dingguo Zhang, Hayden Bickerton, Eric Stokes, Sweta B. Patel, Hubert M. Tse, Joseph M. Feduska, Rob S. Welner, Ronadip R. Banerjee
Abstract
Pancreatic β-cell mass expands during pregnancy and regresses in the postpartum period in conjunction with dynamic metabolic demands on maternal glucose homeostasis. To understand transcriptional changes driving these adaptations in β-cells and other islet cell types, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on islets from virgin, late gestation, and early postpartum mice. We identified transcriptional signatures unique to gestation and the postpartum in β-cells, including induction of the AP-1 transcription factor subunits and other genes involved in the immediate-early response (IEGs). In addition, we found pregnancy and postpartum-induced changes differed within each endocrine cell type, and in endothelial cells and antigen-presenting cells within islets. Together, our data reveal insights into cell type-specific transcriptional changes responsible for adaptations by islet cells to pregnancy and their resolution postpartum.