Temporal dynamics of epithelial cell development in the early fetal lung

We explore the developmental dynamics of epithelial cells within the human fetal lung from gestational weeks 10 to 19 with single cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. Using RNA velocity and trajectory analyses, we find epithelial progenitors that display temporal plasticity as they contribute to the development of pulmonary neuroendocrine cells and multiciliated cells lining the airway of the fetal lung. Combined with spatial transcriptomics, we identified signalling pathways that may dictate the temporal and spatial dynamics. Overall, our results suggest more dynamic cellular plasticity in fetal lung epithelial progenitor cells than previously known.