Androgen signaling in cell fate and cell-cell communication during early prostate development at single-cell resolution
Androgens/androgen receptor (AR) mediated signaling pathways are essential for prostate development, morphogenesis, and regeneration.  Here, using newly generated ArIRES-Cre mice with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) and other experimental approaches, we profiled the transcriptomes of more than 9000 cells isolated from murine E17.5 UGS tissues and identified a variety of urogenital mesenchyme (UGM) and epithelia (UGE) cell populations.  The expression of AR and other regulators were further assessed in different cell types at single cell resolution to determine their roles and interactions during early prostate development. Psuedotime analyses further explored the differentiation trajectory of UGM and UGE cell populations, and identified a Zeb1-expressing progenitor population.  Using mouse genetic tools, the decisive role of mesenchymal AR action in prostate initiation was further demonstrated.  These data provide fresh, high resolution, comprehensive insight into AR signaling and its roles in initiating dynamic interactions of with distinct signaling pathways between prostatic mesenchymal-epithelial cells. Overall design: One sequencing dataset was analyzed containing tissue from 4 mice