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Oh Y, Abid R, Dababneh S, Bakr M, Aslani T, Cook DP, Vanderhyden BC, Park JG, Munshi NV, Hui CC, Kim KH. Transcriptional regulation of the postnatal cardiac conduction system heterogeneity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6550. [PMID: 39095365 PMCID: PMC11297185 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50849-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The cardiac conduction system (CCS) is a network of specialized cardiomyocytes that coordinates electrical impulse generation and propagation for synchronized heart contractions. Although the components of the CCS, including the sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node, His bundle, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers, were anatomically discovered more than 100 years ago, their molecular constituents and regulatory mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate the transcriptomic landscape of the postnatal mouse CCS at a single-cell resolution with spatial information. Integration of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics uncover region-specific markers and zonation patterns of expression. Network inference shows heterogeneous gene regulatory networks across the CCS. Notably, region-specific gene regulation is recapitulated in vitro using neonatal mouse atrial and ventricular myocytes overexpressing CCS-specific transcription factors, Tbx3 and/or Irx3. This finding is supported by ATAC-seq of different CCS regions, Tbx3 ChIP-seq, and Irx motifs. Overall, this study provides comprehensive molecular profiles of the postnatal CCS and elucidates gene regulatory mechanisms contributing to its heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yena Oh
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Rimshah Abid
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Saif Dababneh
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Marwan Bakr
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Termeh Aslani
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - David P Cook
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Barbara C Vanderhyden
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jin G Park
- Virginia G. Piper Center for Personalized Diagnostics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Nikhil V Munshi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Chi-Chung Hui
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kyoung-Han Kim
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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2
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Mishra A, Tavasoli M, Sokolenko S, McMaster CR, Pasumarthi KB. Atrial natriuretic peptide signaling co-regulates lipid metabolism and ventricular conduction system gene expression in the embryonic heart. iScience 2024; 27:108748. [PMID: 38235330 PMCID: PMC10792247 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
It has been shown that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and its high affinity receptor (NPRA) are involved in the formation of ventricular conduction system (VCS). Inherited genetic variants in fatty acid oxidation (FAO) genes are known to cause conduction abnormalities in newborn children. Although the effect of ANP on energy metabolism in noncardiac cell types is well documented, the role of lipid metabolism in VCS cell differentiation via ANP/NPRA signaling is not known. In this study, histological sections and primary cultures obtained from E11.5 mouse ventricles were analyzed to determine the role of metabolic adaptations in VCS cell fate determination and maturation. Exogenous treatment of E11.5 ventricular cells with ANP revealed a significant increase in lipid droplet accumulation, FAO and higher expression of VCS marker Cx40. Using specific inhibitors, we further identified PPARγ and FAO as critical downstream regulators of ANP-mediated regulation of metabolism and VCS formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Mishra
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Mahtab Tavasoli
- Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Stanislav Sokolenko
- Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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3
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Sun T, Grassam-Rowe A, Pu Z, Li Y, Ren H, An Y, Guo X, Hu W, Liu Y, Zheng Y, Liu Z, Kou K, Ou X, Chen T, Fan X, Liu Y, Tu S, He Y, Ren Y, Chen A, Shang Z, Xia Z, Miquerol L, Smart N, Zhang H, Tan X, Shou W, Lei M. Dbh + catecholaminergic cardiomyocytes contribute to the structure and function of the cardiac conduction system in murine heart. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7801. [PMID: 38016975 PMCID: PMC10684617 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42658-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The heterogeneity of functional cardiomyocytes arises during heart development, which is essential to the complex and highly coordinated cardiac physiological function. Yet the biological and physiological identities and the origin of the specialized cardiomyocyte populations have not been fully comprehended. Here we report a previously unrecognised population of cardiomyocytes expressing Dbhgene encoding dopamine beta-hydroxylase in murine heart. We determined how these myocytes are distributed across the heart by utilising advanced single-cell and spatial transcriptomic analyses, genetic fate mapping and molecular imaging with computational reconstruction. We demonstrated that they form the key functional components of the cardiac conduction system by using optogenetic electrophysiology and conditional cardiomyocyte Dbh gene deletion models. We revealed their close relationship with sympathetic innervation during cardiac conduction system formation. Our study thus provides new insights into the development and heterogeneity of the mammalian cardiac conduction system by revealing a new cardiomyocyte population with potential catecholaminergic endocrine function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK
| | | | - Zhaoli Pu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yangpeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Huiying Ren
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yanru An
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518103, China
| | - Xinyu Guo
- BGI Research, Qingdao, 266555, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Ying Liu
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Yuqing Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Zhu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Kun Kou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Xianhong Ou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Tangting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Xuehui Fan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA
| | - Shu Tu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Yu He
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Yue Ren
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Ao Chen
- BGI Research, Shenzhen, 518103, China
| | | | - Zhidao Xia
- Centre for Nanohealth, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Lucile Miquerol
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille UMR 7288, 13288, Marseille, France
| | - Nicola Smart
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, Sherrington Building, Oxford, University of, Oxford, OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Henggui Zhang
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
- Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqiu Tan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
- Department of Cardiology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
| | - Weinian Shou
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA.
| | - Ming Lei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3QT, UK.
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, 646000, China.
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4
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Ren H, Zhou X, Yang J, Kou K, Chen T, Pu Z, Ye K, Fan X, Zhang D, Kang X, Fan Z, Lei M, Sun T, Tan X, Ou X. Single-cell RNA sequencing of murine hearts for studying the development of the cardiac conduction system. Sci Data 2023; 10:577. [PMID: 37666871 PMCID: PMC10477280 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02333-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of the cardiac conduction system (CCS) is essential for correct heart function. However, critical details on the cell types populating the CCS in the mammalian heart during the development remain to be resolved. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we generated a large dataset of transcriptomes of ~0.5 million individual cells isolated from murine hearts at six successive developmental corresponding to the early, middle and late stages of heart development. The dataset provides a powerful library for studying the development of the heart's CCS and other cardiac components. Our initial analysis identified distinct cell types between 20 to 26 cell types across different stages, of which ten are involved in forming the CCS. Our dataset allows researchers to reuse the datasets for data mining and a wide range of analyses. Collectively, our data add valuable transcriptomic resources for further study of cardiac development, such as gene expression, transcriptional regulation and functional gene activity in developing hearts, particularly the CCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiying Ren
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Kun Kou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Tangting Chen
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Zhaoli Pu
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Kejun Ye
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Xuehui Fan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Xinjiang Kang
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Zhongcai Fan
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Ming Lei
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QT, United Kingdom.
| | - Tianyi Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QT, United Kingdom.
| | - Xiaoqiu Tan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
| | - Xianhong Ou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education and Medical Electrophysiological Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China.
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5
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Gao R, Ren J. Zebrafish Models in Therapeutic Research of Cardiac Conduction Disease. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:731402. [PMID: 34422842 PMCID: PMC8371477 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.731402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Malfunction in the cardiac conduction system (CCS) due to congenital anomalies or diseases can cause cardiac conduction disease (CCD), which results in disturbances in cardiac rhythm, leading to syncope and even sudden cardiac death. Insights into development of the CCS components, including pacemaker cardiomyocytes (CMs), atrioventricular node (AVN) and the ventricular conduction system (VCS), can shed light on the pathological and molecular mechanisms underlying CCD, provide approaches for generating human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived CCS cells, and thus improve therapeutic treatment for such a potentially life-threatening disorder of the heart. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling CCS development remain elusive. The zebrafish has become a valuable vertebrate model to investigate early development of CCS components because of its unique features such as external fertilization, embryonic optical transparency and the ability to survive even with severe cardiovascular defects during development. In this review, we highlight how the zebrafish has been utilized to dissect the cellular and molecular mechanisms of CCS development, and how the evolutionarily conserved developmental mechanisms discovered in zebrafish could be applied to directing the creation of hPSC-derived CCS cells, therefore providing potential therapeutic strategies that may contribute to better treatment for CCD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Gao
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jie Ren
- Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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6
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Dong Y, Qian L, Liu J. Molecular and cellular basis of embryonic cardiac chamber maturation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 118:144-149. [PMID: 33994094 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Heart malformation is the leading cause of human birth defects, and many of the congenital heart diseases (CHDs) originate from genetic defects that impact cardiac development and maturation. During development, the vertebrate heart undergoes a series of complex morphogenetic processes that increase its ability to pump blood. One of these processes leads to the formation of the sheet-like muscular projections called trabeculae. Trabeculae increase cardiac output and permit nutrition and oxygen uptake in the embryonic myocardium prior to coronary vascularization without increasing heart size. Cardiac trabeculation is also crucial for the development of the intraventricular fast conduction system. Alterations in cardiac trabecular development can manifest as a variety of congenital defects such as left ventricular noncompaction. In this review, we discuss the latest advances in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying cardiac trabecular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhan Dong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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7
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Goodyer WR, Beyersdorf BM, Paik DT, Tian L, Li G, Buikema JW, Chirikian O, Choi S, Venkatraman S, Adams EL, Tessier-Lavigne M, Wu JC, Wu SM. Transcriptomic Profiling of the Developing Cardiac Conduction System at Single-Cell Resolution. Circ Res 2019; 125:379-397. [PMID: 31284824 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.118.314578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE The cardiac conduction system (CCS) consists of distinct components including the sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node, His bundle, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers. Despite an essential role for the CCS in heart development and function, the CCS has remained challenging to interrogate because of inherent obstacles including small cell numbers, large cell-type heterogeneity, complex anatomy, and difficulty in isolation. Single-cell RNA-sequencing allows for genome-wide analysis of gene expression at single-cell resolution. OBJECTIVE Assess the transcriptional landscape of the entire CCS at single-cell resolution by single-cell RNA-sequencing within the developing mouse heart. METHODS AND RESULTS Wild-type, embryonic day 16.5 mouse hearts (n=6 per zone) were harvested and 3 zones of microdissection were isolated, including: Zone I-sinoatrial node region; Zone II-atrioventricular node/His region; and Zone III-bundle branch/Purkinje fiber region. Tissue was digested into single-cell suspensions, cells isolated, mRNA reverse transcribed, and barcoded before high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatics analyses. Single-cell RNA-sequencing was performed on over 22 000 cells, and all major cell types of the murine heart were successfully captured including bona fide clusters of cells consistent with each major component of the CCS. Unsupervised weighted gene coexpression network analysis led to the discovery of a host of novel CCS genes, a subset of which were validated using fluorescent in situ hybridization as well as whole-mount immunolabeling with volume imaging (iDISCO+) in 3 dimensions on intact mouse hearts. Further, subcluster analysis unveiled isolation of distinct CCS cell subtypes, including the clinically relevant but poorly characterized transitional cells that bridge the CCS and surrounding myocardium. CONCLUSIONS Our study represents the first comprehensive assessment of the transcriptional profiles from the entire CCS at single-cell resolution and provides a characterization in the context of development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Goodyer
- From the Cardiovascular Institute (W.R.G., B.M.B., D.T.P., L.T., G.L., J.W.B., O.C., S.C., S.V., J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.,Department of Pediatrics (W.R.G., S.M.W.), Stanford University, CA
| | - Benjamin M Beyersdorf
- From the Cardiovascular Institute (W.R.G., B.M.B., D.T.P., L.T., G.L., J.W.B., O.C., S.C., S.V., J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute Insure (Institute for Translational Cardiac Surgery), German Heart Center Munich at the Technical University of Munich, Germany (B.M.B.)
| | - David T Paik
- From the Cardiovascular Institute (W.R.G., B.M.B., D.T.P., L.T., G.L., J.W.B., O.C., S.C., S.V., J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Lei Tian
- From the Cardiovascular Institute (W.R.G., B.M.B., D.T.P., L.T., G.L., J.W.B., O.C., S.C., S.V., J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Guang Li
- From the Cardiovascular Institute (W.R.G., B.M.B., D.T.P., L.T., G.L., J.W.B., O.C., S.C., S.V., J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.,Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA (G.L.)
| | - Jan W Buikema
- From the Cardiovascular Institute (W.R.G., B.M.B., D.T.P., L.T., G.L., J.W.B., O.C., S.C., S.V., J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.,Department of Cardiology, Utrecht Regenerative Medicine Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, The Netherlands (J.W.B.)
| | - Orlando Chirikian
- From the Cardiovascular Institute (W.R.G., B.M.B., D.T.P., L.T., G.L., J.W.B., O.C., S.C., S.V., J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.,Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, UC Santa Barbara, CA (O.C.)
| | - Shannon Choi
- From the Cardiovascular Institute (W.R.G., B.M.B., D.T.P., L.T., G.L., J.W.B., O.C., S.C., S.V., J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Sneha Venkatraman
- From the Cardiovascular Institute (W.R.G., B.M.B., D.T.P., L.T., G.L., J.W.B., O.C., S.C., S.V., J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Eliza L Adams
- Department of Biology (E.L.A., M.T.-L.), Stanford University, CA
| | | | - Joseph C Wu
- From the Cardiovascular Institute (W.R.G., B.M.B., D.T.P., L.T., G.L., J.W.B., O.C., S.C., S.V., J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.,Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine (J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Sean M Wu
- From the Cardiovascular Institute (W.R.G., B.M.B., D.T.P., L.T., G.L., J.W.B., O.C., S.C., S.V., J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.,Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine (J.C.W., S.M.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.,Department of Pediatrics (W.R.G., S.M.W.), Stanford University, CA
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