Prrx1 Fibroblasts Represent a Pro-fibrotic Lineage in the Mouse Ventral Dermis
Tripp Leavitt, Michael S. Hu, Mimi R. Borrelli, Michael Januszyk, Julia T. Garcia, Ryan C. Ransom, Shamik Mascharak, Heather E. desJardins-Park, Ulrike Litzenburger, Graham G. Walmsley, Clement D. Marshall, Alessandra L. Moore, Bryan Duoto, Sandeep Adem, Deshka S. Foster, Ankit Salhotra, Abra H. Shen, Michelle Griffin, Ethan Shen, Leandra A. Barnes, Elizabeth R. Zielins, Zeshaan N. Maan, Yuning Wei, Charles K. F. Chan, Derrick C. Wan, H. Peter Lorenz, Howard Y. Chang, Geoffrey C. Gurtner, Michael T. Longaker
Abstract
Fibroblast heterogeneity has been shown within the unwounded mouse dorsal dermis, with fibroblast subpopulations being identified according to anatomical location and embryonic lineage. Using lineage tracing, we demonstrate that paired related homeobox 1 (Prrx1)-expressing fibroblasts are responsible for acute and chronic fibroses in the ventral dermis. Single-cell transcriptomics further corroborated the inherent fibrotic characteristics of Prrx1 fibroblasts during wound repair. In summary, we identify and characterize a fibroblast subpopulation in the mouse ventral dermis with intrinsic scar-forming potential.