Gene

Neural crest

Phenotype

Endocrinology

Pathology

Gene expression

Embryo

Neuroblastoma

Ganglioneuroma

Gene signature

Ganglioneuroblastoma

Adrenal gland

Neuroblast

Neurogenesis

Cancer research

Genetics

Medicine

Cell culture

Biology

Cell biology

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Significance Neuroblastoma is a childhood malignancy that originates from neural crest cells. We present a single-cell transcriptome and localization atlas of the developing adrenal gland and identify seven different cell clusters that make up the adrenal medulla. Their transcriptomic profiles were used to generate gene signatures that were compared to neuroblastoma samples. The neural crest-derived “SCP” gene signature score anticorrelates with disease severity based on staging and poor prognosis (molecular) markers, while a high score was associated with higher overall survival rates.

Single-cell atlas of developing murine adrenal gland reveals relation of Schwann cell precursor signature to neuroblastoma phenotype