Muscle denervation promotes functional interactions between glial and mesenchymal cells through NGFR and NGF

We performed scRNA-seq/snATAC-seq of skeletal muscles post sciatic nerve vation selectively activates glial cells and Thy1/CD90-expressing mesenchymal cells. Glial cells expressed Ngf receptor (Ngfr) and were located near neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), close to Thy1/CD90-expressing cells, which provided the main cellular source of NGF post-denervation. Functional communication between these cells was mediated by NGF/NGFR, as either recombinant NGF or co-culture with Thy1/CD90-expressing cells could increase glial cell number ex vivo. Pseudo-time analysis in glial cells revealed an initial bifurcation into processes related to either cellular de-differentiation/commitment to specialized cell extracellular matrix remodeling toward fibrosis. Thus, interactions between abortive process toward NMJs repair, ensued by the conversion of denervated