Spatially resolved multiomics of human meningeal development reveal lineage and disease dynamics.

Multiomic analysis of human meningeal development from 6 to 21 weeks reveals key cellular and regulatory programs, including lineage origins and immune dynamics.

• Why it matters: Understanding meningeal development is crucial for insights into cranial growth and immune functions, yet detailed cellular and regulatory mechanisms remain unclear, especially in early stages.
• What they did: The study integrated single-nuclei RNA sequencing, chromatin accessibility, and spatial transcriptomics across cranial regions, developing tools like Nichefinder and cell2home to analyze cell interactions and signaling.
• The result: Findings include gene networks for blood-brain barrier formation, a yolk sac origin for meningeal myeloid cells, and altered chemokine signaling in trisomy 21, advancing knowledge of early barrier immunity and disease.