Single-cell atlas of pig pituitary reveals genetic basis of high-altitude hypoxia adaptation

A team led by Hai Li, Xudong Wu, and colleagues has published in PLOS Genetics a full-length single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the pig pituitary gland, comparing animals from two genetically distinct populations: Diqing Tibetan pigs, which inhabit high-altitude environments at roughly 3,200 metres, and Diannan small-ear pigs from lowland regions at approximately 500 metres.

The study is notable for its methodological integration: the researchers combined short-read Illumina sequencing with long-read Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) single-cell sequencing, allowing them to capture full-length transcripts and identify novel isoforms that shorter reads would miss. The pituitary gland, which acts as the central endocrine hub coordinating hormonal responses to environmental stress, was chosen because of its likely role in hypoxia adaptation.

The atlas revealed distinct cell-type-specific gene expression differences between high- and low-altitude populations, implicating specific transcription factors and signalling pathways in altitude adaptation. The authors suggest the findings could inform broader research into how vertebrates adapt to oxygen-limited environments, with potential relevance for understanding hypoxia responses in other mammals, including humans.

This is a comparative genomics and transcriptomics study in an agricultural animal model; the authors make no clinical claims.