Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42014916›Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2026

A single-cell transcriptomic atlas identifies key progenitor populations driving postnatal horn bud development in goats (Capra hircus).

Xiaoli Xu, Peijie Zeng, Zibo Liu, Meijun Song, Jing Luo, Xueliang Sun, Jiaxue Cao, Jiazhong Guo, Siyuan Zhan, Dinghui Dai and 5 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Communications biology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Xiaoli XuFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
Peijie ZengFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
Zibo LiuState Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
Meijun SongFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
Jing LuoFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
Xueliang SunFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
Jiaxue CaoFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
Jiazhong GuoFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
Siyuan ZhanFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
Dinghui DaiFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
Linjie WangFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9672-7703
Tao ZhongFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
Chunjie WuInnovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy/Academy for Interdiscipline, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China. wuchunjie@cdutcm.edu.cn.
Li LiFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China. lily@sicau.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2459-3499
Hongping ZhangFarm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China. zhp@sicau.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8290-7041

Funding

Basic Research Programs of Sichuan Province 2021YFYZ0003Basic Research Programs of Sichuan Province 2024ZDYF1623Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System CARS-38
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ruminant headgear represents a hallmark of adaptive morphological innovation, yet the cellular programs driving postnatal horn development remain unclear. Here, we integrate histological, bulk, and single-cell transcriptomic analyses to construct a cellular atlas of goat horn bud morphogenesis. We identify a critical transition at postnatal day 7, marked by dermal ossification and epidermal thickening. Dermal lineage cells (DLCs) undergo sharp expansion and osteogenic activation, while epidermal lineage cells (ELCs) shift toward collagen remodeling and mineralized cornification. Notably, we uncover ZEB2+ horn bud progenitor mesenchymal cells (ZEB2+PMCs) that initiate horn-specific osteogenesis via mesenchymal-to-osteogenic transition. Functional assays confirm their robust osteogenic potential in vitro and in vivo. Concurrently, proliferative basal keratinocytes give rise to spinous cells, which interact with osteogenic cells via SPP1 signaling to promote sheath mineralization. Cross-species analysis reveals conserved progenitor mesenchymal cell driven osteogenesis in horn and antler, while keratinocyte programs diverge. These findings uncover coordinated dermal and epidermal mechanisms driving horn morphogenesis and offer insight into the evolution of cranial appendages in ruminants.

Indexed as

GoatsHornsTranscriptomeAnimalsCell DifferentiationCell LineageGene Expression Regulation, DevelopmentalKeratinocytesMesenchymal Stem CellsOsteogenesisSingle-Cell Gene Expression Analysis

Identifiers

PMID42014916
PMCPMC13284165

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.