Contractile fibroblasts form a transient niche for the branching mammary epithelium

Jakub Sumbal, Robin P. Journot, Kriti Attri, Veronika Danek, Candice Merle, Marisa M. Faraldo, Zuzana Sumbalova Koledova () and Silvia Fre ()
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Jakub Sumbal: PSL University, Sorbonne University
Robin P. Journot: PSL University, Sorbonne University
Kriti Attri: Laboratory of Tissue Morphogenesis and Cancer
Veronika Danek: Laboratory of Tissue Morphogenesis and Cancer
Candice Merle: PSL University, Sorbonne University
Marisa M. Faraldo: PSL University, Sorbonne University
Zuzana Sumbalova Koledova: Laboratory of Tissue Morphogenesis and Cancer
Silvia Fre: PSL University, Sorbonne University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Abstract Fibroblasts are stromal cells found in connective tissue that are critical for organ development, tissue homeostasis and pathology. Single-cell transcriptomic analyses have revealed a high level of inter- and intra-organ heterogeneity of fibroblasts. However, the functional implications and lineage relations of different fibroblast subtypes remained unexplored, especially in the mammary gland. Here, we provide a comprehensive characterization of pubertal mouse mammary fibroblasts, through single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial mapping, functional assays, and in vivo lineage tracing. We unravel a transient niche-forming population of specialized contractile fibroblasts that exclusively localize around the tips of the growing mammary epithelium and are recruited from preadipocytes in the surrounding fat pad stroma. Using organoid-fibroblast co-cultures we reveal that different fibroblast populations can acquire contractile features when in direct contact with the epithelium, promoting organoid branching. The detailed in vivo characterization of these specialized cells and their lineage history provides insights into fibroblast heterogeneity and implicates their importance for creating a signalling niche during mouse mammary gland development.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-63612-x

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