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Gene-Edited Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Lines to Elucidate DAND5 Function throughout Cardiac Differentiation. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040520. [PMID: 36831187 PMCID: PMC9954670 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The contribution of gene-specific variants for congenital heart disease, one of the most common congenital disabilities, is still far from our complete understanding. Here, we applied a disease model using human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to evaluate the function of DAND5 on human cardiomyocyte (CM) differentiation and proliferation. (2) Methods: Taking advantage of our DAND5 patient-derived iPSC line, we used CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing to generate a set of isogenic hiPSCs (DAND5-corrected and DAND5 full-mutant). The hiPSCs were differentiated into CMs, and RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence profiled the expression of cardiac markers. Cardiomyocyte proliferation was analysed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, we used a multi-electrode array (MEA) to study the functional electrophysiology of DAND5 hiPSC-CMs. (3) Results: The results indicated that hiPSC-CM proliferation is affected by DAND5 levels. Cardiomyocytes derived from a DAND5 full-mutant hiPSC line are more proliferative when compared with gene-corrected hiPSC-CMs. Moreover, parallel cardiac differentiations showed a differential cardiac gene expression profile, with upregulated cardiac progenitor markers in DAND5-KO hiPSC-CMs. Microelectrode array (MEA) measurements demonstrated that DAND5-KO hiPSC-CMs showed prolonged field potential duration and increased spontaneous beating rates. In addition, conduction velocity is reduced in the monolayers of hiPSC-CMs with full-mutant genotype. (4) Conclusions: The absence of DAND5 sustains the proliferation of hiPSC-CMs, which alters their electrophysiological maturation properties. These results using DAND5 hiPSC-CMs consolidate the findings of the in vitro and in vivo mouse models, now in a translational perspective. Altogether, the data will help elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying this human heart disease and potentiates new therapies for treating adult CHD.
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Ding S, Zhang X, Qiu H, Wo J, Zhang F, Na J. Non-cardiomyocytes in the heart in embryo development, health, and disease, a single-cell perspective. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:873264. [PMID: 36393852 PMCID: PMC9661523 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.873264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent single-cell atlases of the heart gave unprecedented details about the diversity of cell types and states during heart development in health and disease conditions. Beyond a profiling tool, researchers also use single-cell analyses to dissect the mechanism of diseases in animal models. The new knowledge from these studies revealed that beating cardiomyocytes account for less than 50% of the total heart cell population. In contrast, non-cardiomyocytes (NCMs), such as cardiac fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and immune cells, make up the remaining proportion and have indispensable roles in structural support, homeostasis maintenance, and injury repair of the heart. In this review, we categorize the composition and characteristics of NCMs from the latest single-cell studies of the heart in various contexts and compare the findings from both human samples and mouse models. This information will enrich our understanding of the cellular basis of heart development and diseases and provide insights into the potential therapeutic targets in NCMs to repair the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangyuan Ding
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University and Peking University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Shuangyuan Ding, ; Jie Na,
| | - Xingwu Zhang
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Qiu
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaoyang Wo
- Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University and Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fengzhi Zhang
- Central Laboratory, First Hospital of Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Na
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Shuangyuan Ding, ; Jie Na,
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Kay M, Soltani BM, Nemir M, Aghagolzadeh P, Pezzuto I, Chouvardas P, Ruberto F, Movahedi F, Ansari H, Baharvand H, Pedrazzini T. The conserved long noncoding RNA CARMA regulates cardiomyocyte differentiation. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 118:2339-2353. [PMID: 34459880 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Production of functional cardiomyocytes from pluripotent stem cells requires tight control of the differentiation process. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) exert critical regulatory function in cell specification during development. In this study, we designed an integrated approach to identify lncRNAs implicated in cardiogenesis in differentiating human embryonic stem cells (ESCs). METHODS AND RESULTS We identified CARMA (CARdiomyocyte Maturation-Associated lncRNA), a conserved lncRNA controlling cardiomyocyte differentiation and maturation in human ESCs. CARMA is located adjacent to MIR-1-1HG, the host gene for two cardiogenic miRNAs: MIR1-1 and MIR-133a2, and transcribed in an antisense orientation. The expression of CARMA and the miRNAs is negatively correlated, and CARMA knockdown increases MIR1-1 and MIR-133a2 expression. In addition, CARMA possesses MIR-133a2 binding sites, suggesting the lncRNA could be also a target of miRNA action. Upon CARMA downregulation, MIR-133a2 target protein-coding genes are coordinately downregulated. Among those, we found RBPJ, the gene encoding the effector of the NOTCH pathway. NOTCH has been shown to control a binary cell fate decision between the mesoderm and the neuroectoderm lineages, and NOTCH inhibition leads to enhanced cardiomyocyte differentiation at the expense of neuroectodermal derivatives. Interestingly, two lncRNAs, linc1230 and linc1335, which are known repressors of neuroectodermal specification, were found upregulated upon Notch1 silencing in ESCs. Forced expression of either linc1230 or linc1335 improved ESC-derived cardiomyocyte production. These two lncRNAs were also found upregulated following CARMA knockdown in ESCs. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these data suggest the existence of a network, implicating three newly identified lncRNAs, the two myomirs MIR1-1 and MIR-133a2 and the NOTCH signaling pathway, for the coordinated regulation of cardiogenic differentiation in ESCs. TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Cardiac dysfunction and heart failure develop secondary to a massive loss of cardiomyocytes in the damaged myocardium. Several avenues have been evaluated to promote regeneration following injury. Cell therapy for heart disease envisages the production of functional cardiomyocytes from differentiating pluripotent stem cells prior transfer into the injured heart muscle. Here, we report the functional characterization of CARMA, a lncRNA implicated in cardiogenesis. CARMA knockdown in differentiating human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) promotes cardiogenic commitment and cardiomyocyte differentiation. CARMA represents therefore a novel target for improving human ESC-derived cardiomyocyte production, and cell-based regenerative strategies for heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Kay
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.,Experimental Cardiology Unit, Divison of Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Lausanne Medical School, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bahram M Soltani
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohamed Nemir
- Experimental Cardiology Unit, Divison of Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Lausanne Medical School, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Parisa Aghagolzadeh
- Experimental Cardiology Unit, Divison of Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Lausanne Medical School, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Iole Pezzuto
- Experimental Cardiology Unit, Divison of Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Lausanne Medical School, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Francesco Ruberto
- Experimental Cardiology Unit, Divison of Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Lausanne Medical School, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fatemeh Movahedi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hassan Ansari
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Baharvand
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - Thierry Pedrazzini
- Experimental Cardiology Unit, Divison of Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Lausanne Medical School, Lausanne, Switzerland
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Inácio JM, von Gilsa Lopes J, Silva AM, Cristo F, Marques S, Futschik ME, Belo JA. DAND5 Inactivation Enhances Cardiac Differentiation in Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:629430. [PMID: 33928078 PMCID: PMC8078107 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.629430] [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: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Deciphering the clues of a regenerative mechanism for the mammalian adult heart would save millions of lives in the near future. Heart failure due to cardiomyocyte loss is still one of the significant health burdens worldwide. Here, we show the potential of a single molecule, DAND5, in mouse pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes specification and proliferation. Dand5 loss-of-function generated the double of cardiac beating foci compared to the wild-type cells. The early formation of cardiac progenitor cells and the increased proliferative capacity of Dand5 KO mESC-derived cardiomyocytes contribute to the observed higher number of derived cardiac cells. Transcriptional profiling sequencing and quantitative RT-PCR assays showed an upregulation of early cardiac gene networks governing cardiomyocyte differentiation, cell cycling, and cardiac regenerative pathways but reduced levels of genes involved in cardiomyocyte maturation. These findings prompt DAND5 as a key driver for the generation and expansion of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes systems with further clinical application purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Manuel Inácio
- iNOVA4Health, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, NMS, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João von Gilsa Lopes
- iNOVA4Health, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, NMS, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Mafalda Silva
- iNOVA4Health, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, NMS, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Fernando Cristo
- iNOVA4Health, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, NMS, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sara Marques
- iNOVA4Health, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, NMS, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Matthias E Futschik
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Medical School, St. Mary's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - José António Belo
- iNOVA4Health, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, NMS, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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