Molecular signature of human endometrial stem/progenitor cells at the single cell level

N-cadherin+ (CDH2) glandular epithelial progenitors and SUSD2+ MSC and their niches have been identified but their signaling interactions remain unknown. SSEA1+ epithelial cells resurface the endometrium generating a new luminal epithelium each cycle.

Based on these markers, we characterised the gene expression of human endometrial stem/progenitor cell-enriched populations derived from FACSorted hysterectomy endometrium by scRNAseq. Two of 10 epithelial clusters contained CDH2+SOX9+ cells with high TRH and IHH expression. N-cadherin and IHH, and SSEA1 and Hedgehog coreceptor BOC immunocolocalised in the basal layer of endometrial glands from which the new functional layer glands regenerate each menstrual cycle.