Homo sapiens Raw sequence reads
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), particularly uterine prolapse, is a prevalent condition that severely diminishes the quality of life for postmenopausal women. The weakening of the vaginal wall's support structures is a key pathological feature. While topical estrogen is a common therapeutic intervention for alleviating symptoms in postmenopausal women, its precise molecular and cellular mechanisms of action on the vaginal tissue remain incompletely understood.This study employs a pioneering approach by integrating single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) with high-resolution spatial transcriptomics to deconstruct the complex cellular ecosystem of the anterior vaginal wall in postmenopausal women with uterine prolapse. We compare tissue samples from two distinct patient cohorts: one treated with topical vaginal estrogen and the other without any estrogen therapy.The primary goals of this research are:To establish a comprehensive, single-cell atlas of the human vaginal wall, characterizing all resident cell types (e.g., fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, epithelial cells, immune cells) and their gene expression profiles.To precisely map the spatial localization of these cell populations and their interactions within the tissue architecture using high-resolution spatial transcriptomics.To identify the specific transcriptomic changes induced by topical estrogen therapy, elucidating how it influences key processes such as extracellular matrix remodeling, collagen deposition, inflammatory responses, and epithelial integrity.By providing an unprecedented, high-resolution view of the cellular and spatial dynamics underlying POP and its response to treatment, this study aims to uncover novel mechanistic insights and identify potential therapeutic targets to improve treatment strategies for this debilitating condition.