Hemogenic Endothelial Fate Mapping Reveals Dual Developmental Origin of Mast Cells

Abstract

Hematopoiesis occurs in distinct waves. "Definitive" hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with the potential for all blood lineages emerge in the aorta-gonado-mesonephros, while "primitive" progenitors, whose potential is thought to be limited to erythrocytes, megakaryocytes, and macrophages, arise earlier in the yolk sac (YS). Here, we questioned whether other YS lineages exist that have not been identified, partially owing to limitations of current lineage tracing models. We established the use of Cdh5-CreERT2 for hematopoietic fate mapping, which revealed the YS origin of mast cells (MCs). YS-derived MCs were replaced by definitive MCs, which maintained themselves independently from the bone marrow in the adult. Replacement occurred with tissue-specific kinetics. MCs in the embryonic skin, but not other organs, remained largely YS derived prenatally and were phenotypically and transcriptomically distinct from definite adult MCs. We conclude that within myeloid lineages, dual hematopoietic origin is shared between macrophages and MCs.

Keywords: Cdh5; fate mapping; hematopoiesis; hemogenic endothelium; macrophages; mast cells; skin; yolk sac.