Mural/Pericyte Identity
Gene co-expression module in Smooth muscle cells
| Category | Development |
|---|---|
| Genes | 15 |
| Annotation certainty | 4 of 5 |
| Annotation consistency | 10 of 15 genes have a known function matching the annotation |
Why this annotation
Hub genes NOTCH3, MCAM (CD146), ITGA7, NTN4 and the mural transcription factors EBF1, MEF2C, ZFHX3 constitute the canonical mural/pericyte identity program (NOTCH3-MCAM axis maintaining perivascular cell fate). TINAGL1, C1QTNF1 and LGALSL are also characteristic perivascular/mural transcripts; LGI4/NFASC are peripheral-glia-associated peripheral members. High coherence, uniform expression (no foreign-lineage subset enrichment) indicates this is a bona fide mural sub-state within the SMC compartment rather than contamination. Neighboring modules (M7, M125, M31) carry complementary pericyte marker sets (COX4I2, HIGD1B, NDUFA4L2), supporting a mural-identity neighborhood.
Genes
C1QTNF1, EBF1, FRMD4A, FRY, ITGA7, LGALSL, LGI4, MCAM, MEF2C, NFASC, NOTCH3, NTN4, TINAGL1, ZBTB7C, ZFHX3
Most correlated modules
- Wnt-Notch Modulation · correlation 0.90
- Vasoconstrictor Signaling · correlation 0.89
- Arteriolar Mural Cells · correlation 0.89
- Pericyte Signature · correlation 0.85
- Vascular SMC Identity · correlation 0.84
- FOXC-PRDM16 Program · correlation 0.83
- Vascular Tone Signaling · correlation 0.82
- Notch-TGFbeta Signaling · correlation 0.80
Module annotations were drafted by a large language model from the module's genes, then reviewed and approved by a domain expert. See sources & licences.