A single-cell atlas of the mouse dural meninges reveals pervasive sex differences across cellular compartments

The dural compartment of the meninges forms a dynamic hub between the brain and the periphery, hosting diverse immune, vascular, mural and fibroblast populations. Single-cell studies have begun charting dural cellular diversity, yet a comprehensive view encompassing all major cellular compartments, intercellular communication, and the influence of sex remains lacking. Here, we present a single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the adult mouse dural layer of the meninges, profiling all major cell types in male and female mice at steady state. We uncover broad sex differences in cell-type-specific proportion, transcriptional programs and intercellular communication. Histological and cytometry analyses validate the biological relevance of these findings, establishing this atlas as a foundation for studying dural contributions to neurological disease in a sex-aware manner.