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

Multiomic analysis of human meningeal development from 6 to 21 weeks reveals gene regulatory networks, immune origins, and cell interactions linked to barrier immunity.

• Why it matters: Understanding meningeal development is crucial because these tissues support cranial growth and immune functions, yet their cellular and regulatory dynamics remain poorly characterized.
• What they did: The study constructed a paired single-nuclei RNA and chromatin accessibility atlas across cranial regions, integrating spatial transcriptomics and developing tools like Nichefinder and cell2home to analyze cell types, interactions, and signaling pathways.
• The result: Findings include defining gene networks for blood-brain barrier endothelial identity, supporting yolk sac origins for meningeal myeloid cells, and identifying interactions that may drive B cell migration, with trisomy 21 showing altered chemokine and JAK-STAT signaling.