“Probing the functional heterogeneity and hierarchy in mammary gland fibroblasts”

In this talk, I will focus on the heterogeneity and hierarchy of mouse mammary fibroblasts – the predominant cell type of mammary stroma. By single cell RNA sequencing, genetic lineage tracing and microscopy we show that fibroblast transcriptomic clusters represent spatially differentiated populations with specific functions. Moreover, we used the lineage tracing to show differentiation traits within fibroblast populations and other stromal cell types. Finally, I will discuss how the regulation of fibroblast differentiation may be important for proper organ morphogenesis and cancer progression.