Heterogeneity of Wnt1-Cre-marked and Pax2-Cre-marked first branchial arch cranial neural crest cells in mice

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the heterogeneity and gene ontology of Wnt1-Cre-marked and Pax2-Cre-marked first branchial arch cranial neural crest cells (CNCs) in mice.

Methods: The embryos of Wnt1-Cre;R26R^mTmG and Pax2-Cre;R26R^mTmG at embryonic day (E)8.0-E9.25 were collected for histological observation. We performed immunostaining to compare green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive CNCs in Pax2-Cre;R26R^Ai9 and Wnt1-Cre;R26R^Ai9 mice at E15.5. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to analyze the first branchial arch GFP-positive CNCs from Wnt1-Cre;R26R^mTmG and Pax2-cre;R26R^mTmGmice at E10.5. Real time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR) was performed to validate the differential genes.

Results: Wnt1-Cre-marked and Pax2-Cre-marked CNCs migrated from the neural plateto first and second branchial arches and to the first branchial arch, respectively, at E8.0. Although Wnt1-Cre-marked and Pax2-Cre-marked CNCs were found mostly in cranial-facial tissues, the former had higher expression in palate and tongue. The results of scRNA-seq showed that Pax2-Cre-marked CNCs specifically contributed to osteoblast differentiation and ossification, while Wnt1-Cre-marked CNCs participated in limb development, cell migration, and ossification. The q-PCR data also confirmed the results of gene ontology analysis.

Conclusions: Pax2-Cre mice are perfect experimental animal models for research on first branchial arch CNCs and derivatives in osteoblast differentiation and ossification.