Family single-cell atlases reveal pig pregnancy and fetal growth restriction critical cell types

Science. 2026 Mar 26;391(6792):eadu7265. doi: 10.1126/science.adu7265. Epub 2026 Mar 26.

Abstract

Although massive cell atlases are already available, it is still a challenge to obtain an atlas of all tissues within a single body, especially in fetuses and pregnant mothers. We present a transcriptomic atlas of 2.56 million single cells covering 115 and 119 tissues from one fetal pig and its pregnant mother, respectively. We found that a cluster of heart capillary endothelial cells with enhanced fatty acid transit capability was enriched for pregnancy but restored after gestation. We also deciphered that l-leucine transport insufficiency in the trophoblast causes fetal growth restriction by reducing a muscle type II myofiber subcluster. Our "all-from-one" strategy enabled the identification of tissue cell type-specific transcription factors and provided insights into pregnancy heart adaptation and fetal growth restriction.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Atlases as Topic
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fetal Growth Retardation* / genetics
  • Fetal Growth Retardation* / metabolism
  • Fetal Growth Retardation* / veterinary
  • Fetus / cytology
  • Fetus / metabolism
  • Leucine / metabolism
  • Myocardium / cytology
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Pregnancy
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • Swine* / genetics
  • Swine* / growth & development
  • Swine* / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcriptome*
  • Trophoblasts / metabolism

Substances

  • Fatty Acids
  • Leucine
  • Transcription Factors