1
|
Garvin AM, Katwa LC. Primary cardiac fibroblast cell culture: methodological considerations for physiologically relevant conditions. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2023; 325:H869-H881. [PMID: 37624100 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00224.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Primary cardiac fibroblast (CF) tissue culture is a necessary tool for interrogating specific signaling mechanisms that dictate the phenotypic heterogeneity observed in vivo in different disease states. Traditional approaches that use tissue culture plastic and nutrient-rich medium have been shown to induce CF activation and, therefore, alter CF subpopulation composition. This shift away from in vivo phenotypes complicate the interpretation of results through the lens of the animal model. As the field works to identify CF diversity, these methodological flaws have begun to be addressed and more studies are focused on the dynamic interaction of CFs with their environment. This review focuses on the aspects of tissue culture that impact CF activation and, therefore, require consideration when designing in vitro experiments. The complexity of CF biology overlaid onto diverse model systems highlight the need for study-specific optimization and validation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra M Garvin
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States
| | - Laxmansa C Katwa
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu Q, Li C, Deng B, Gao P, Wang L, Li Y, Shiri M, Alkaifi F, Zhao J, Stephens JM, Simintiras CA, Francis J, Sun J, Fu X. Tcf21 marks visceral adipose mesenchymal progenitors and functions as a rate-limiting factor during visceral adipose tissue development. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112166. [PMID: 36857185 PMCID: PMC10208561 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Distinct locations of different white adipose depots suggest anatomy-specific developmental regulation, a relatively understudied concept. Here, we report a population of Tcf21 lineage cells (Tcf21 LCs) present exclusively in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) that dynamically contributes to VAT development and expansion. During development, the Tcf21 lineage gives rise to adipocytes. In adult mice, Tcf21 LCs transform into a fibrotic or quiescent state. Multiomics analyses show consistent gene expression and chromatin accessibility changes in Tcf21 LC, based on which we constructed a gene-regulatory network governing Tcf21 LC activities. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) identifies the heterogeneity of Tcf21 LCs. Loss of Tcf21 promotes the adipogenesis and developmental progress of Tcf21 LCs, leading to improved metabolic health in the context of diet-induced obesity. Mechanistic studies show that the inhibitory effect of Tcf21 on adipogenesis is at least partially mediated via Dlk1 expression accentuation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qianglin Liu
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Chaoyang Li
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Buhao Deng
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Department of Animal Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
| | - Peidong Gao
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Leshan Wang
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Yuxia Li
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Mohammad Shiri
- Department of Computer Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Fozi Alkaifi
- Department of Computer Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Junxing Zhao
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Department of Animal Sciences, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
| | - Jacqueline M Stephens
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | - Joseph Francis
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Jiangwen Sun
- Department of Computer Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA.
| | - Xing Fu
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Single-cell chromatin landscapes of mouse skin development. Sci Data 2022; 9:741. [PMID: 36460683 PMCID: PMC9718782 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-022-01839-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The coat of mammals is produced by hair follicles, and hair follicle is an important and complex accessory organ of skin. As a complex physiological regulation process, hair follicle morphogenesis is regulated by a series of signal pathway factors, involves the interaction of multiple cell types and begins in the early embryonic stage. However, its transcriptional regulatory mechanism is unclear. We have therefore utilized single-cell ATAC sequencing to obtain the chromatin accessibility landscapes of 6,928, 6,961 and 7,374 high-quality cells from the dorsal skins of E13.5, E16.5 and P0 mice (Mus musculus), respectively. Based on marker gene activity clustering, we defined 6, 8 and 5 distinct cell types in E13.5, E16.5 and P0 stages, respectively. Furtherly, we integrated the fibroblasts and keratinocytes clusters, performed further analysis and re-clustered. The single cell map of the chromatin open area was drawn from each cell type and the mechanism of cell transcription regulation was explored. Collectively, our data provide a reference for deeply exploring the epigenetic regulation mechanism of mouse hair follicles development.
Collapse
|
4
|
Li Y, Li C, Liu Q, Wang L, Bao AX, Jung JP, Dodlapati S, Sun J, Gao P, Zhang X, Francis J, Molkentin JD, Fu X. Loss of Acta2 in cardiac fibroblasts does not prevent the myofibroblast differentiation or affect the cardiac repair after myocardial infarction. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2022; 171:117-132. [PMID: 36007455 PMCID: PMC10478266 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In response to myocardial infarction (MI), quiescent cardiac fibroblasts differentiate into myofibroblasts mediating tissue repair. One of the most widely accepted markers of myofibroblast differentiation is the expression of Acta2 which encodes smooth muscle alpha-actin (SMαA) that is assembled into stress fibers. However, the requirement of Acta2/SMαA in the myofibroblast differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts and its role in post-MI cardiac repair remained unknown. To answer these questions, we generated a tamoxifen-inducible cardiac fibroblast-specific Acta2 knockout mouse line. Surprisingly, mice that lacked Acta2 in cardiac fibroblasts had a normal post-MI survival rate. Moreover, Acta2 deletion did not affect the function or histology of infarcted hearts. No difference was detected in the proliferation, migration, or contractility between WT and Acta2-null cardiac myofibroblasts. Acta2-null cardiac myofibroblasts had a normal total filamentous actin level and total actin level. Acta2 deletion caused a significant compensatory increase in the transcription level of non-Acta2 actin isoforms, especially Actg2 and Acta1. Moreover, in myofibroblasts, the transcription levels of cytoplasmic actin isoforms were significantly higher than those of muscle actin isoforms. In addition, we found that myocardin-related transcription factor-A is critical for myofibroblast differentiation but is not required for the compensatory effects of non-Acta2 isoforms. In conclusion, the Acta2 deletion does not prevent the myofibroblast differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts or affect the post-MI cardiac repair, and the increased expression and stress fiber formation of non-SMαA actin isoforms and the functional redundancy between actin isoforms are able to compensate for the loss of Acta2 in cardiac myofibroblasts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxia Li
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Chaoyang Li
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Qianglin Liu
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Leshan Wang
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Adam X Bao
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Jangwook P Jung
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Sanjeev Dodlapati
- Department of Computer Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Jiangwen Sun
- Department of Computer Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Peidong Gao
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Xujia Zhang
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Joseph Francis
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Jeffery D Molkentin
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Xing Fu
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Burgos Villar KN, Liu X, Small EM. Transcriptional regulation of cardiac fibroblast phenotypic plasticity. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 28:100556. [PMID: 36777260 PMCID: PMC9915012 DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2022.100556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac fibroblasts play critical roles in the maintenance of cardiac structure and the response to cardiac insult. Extracellular matrix deposition by activated resident cardiac fibroblasts, called myofibroblasts, is an essential wound healing response. However, persistent fibroblast activation contributes to pathological fibrosis and cardiac chamber stiffening, which can cause diastolic dysfunction, heart failure, and initiate lethal arrhythmias. The dynamic and phenotypically plastic nature of cardiac fibroblasts is governed in part by the transcriptional regulation of genes encoding extracellular matrix molecules. Understanding how fibroblasts integrate various biomechanical cues into a precise transcriptional response may uncover therapeutic strategies to prevent fibrosis. Here, we provide an overview of the recent literature on transcriptional control of cardiac fibroblast plasticity and fibrosis, with a focus on canonical and non-canonical TGF-β signaling, biomechanical regulation of Hippo/YAP and Rho/MRTF signaling, and metabolic and epigenetic control of fibroblast activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly N. Burgos Villar
- Department of Medicine, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Department of Pathology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Xiaoyi Liu
- Department of Medicine, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Eric M. Small
- Department of Medicine, Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA,Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dodlapati S, Jiang Z, Sun J. Completing Single-Cell DNA Methylome Profiles via Transfer Learning Together With KL-Divergence. Front Genet 2022; 13:910439. [PMID: 35938031 PMCID: PMC9353187 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.910439] [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: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The high level of sparsity in methylome profiles obtained using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing in the case of low biological material amount limits its value in the study of systems in which large samples are difficult to assemble, such as mammalian preimplantation embryonic development. The recently developed computational methods for addressing the sparsity by imputing missing have their limits when the required minimum data coverage or profiles of the same tissue in other modalities are not available. In this study, we explored the use of transfer learning together with Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence to train predictive models for completing methylome profiles with very low coverage (below 2%). Transfer learning was used to leverage less sparse profiles that are typically available for different tissues for the same species, while KL divergence was employed to maximize the usage of information carried in the input data. A deep neural network was adopted to extract both DNA sequence and local methylation patterns for imputation. Our study of training models for completing methylome profiles of bovine oocytes and early embryos demonstrates the effectiveness of transfer learning and KL divergence, with individual increase of 29.98 and 29.43%, respectively, in prediction performance and 38.70% increase when the two were used together. The drastically increased data coverage (43.80-73.6%) after imputation powers downstream analyses involving methylomes that cannot be effectively done using the very low coverage profiles (0.06-1.47%) before imputation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeeva Dodlapati
- Department of Computer Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Zongliang Jiang
- School of Animal Sciences, AgCenter, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, United States
| | - Jiangwen Sun
- Department of Computer Science, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Garvin AM, Hale TM. State of Change: Epigenetic and Mitochondrial Regulation of Cardiac Fibroblast Activation. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2022.100557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
|
8
|
Hu S, Vondriska TM. How Chromatin Stiffens Fibroblasts. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 26. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2022.100537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
9
|
Cakir SN, Whitehead KM, Hendricks HKL, de Castro Brás LE. Novel Techniques Targeting Fibroblasts after Ischemic Heart Injury. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030402. [PMID: 35159212 PMCID: PMC8834471 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The great plasticity of cardiac fibroblasts allows them to respond quickly to myocardial injury and to contribute to the subsequent cardiac remodeling. Being the most abundant cell type (in numbers) in the heart, and a key participant in the several phases of tissue healing, the cardiac fibroblast is an excellent target for treating cardiac diseases. The development of cardiac fibroblast-specific approaches have, however, been difficult due to the lack of cellular specific markers. The development of genetic lineage tracing tools and Cre-recombinant transgenics has led to a huge acceleration in cardiac fibroblast research. Additionally, the use of novel targeted delivery approaches like nanoparticles and modified adenoviruses, has allowed researchers to define the developmental origin of cardiac fibroblasts, elucidate their differentiation pathways, and functional mechanisms in cardiac injury and disease. In this review, we will first characterize the roles of fibroblasts in the different stages of cardiac repair and then examine novel techniques targeting fibroblasts post-ischemic heart injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sirin N Cakir
- Department of Physiology, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Kaitlin M Whitehead
- Department of Physiology, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Hanifah K L Hendricks
- Department of Physiology, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Lisandra E de Castro Brás
- Department of Physiology, The Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Fibroblast Memory in Development, Homeostasis and Disease. Cells 2021; 10:cells10112840. [PMID: 34831065 PMCID: PMC8616330 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts are the major cell population in the connective tissue of most organs, where they are essential for their structural integrity. They are best known for their role in remodelling the extracellular matrix, however more recently they have been recognised as a functionally highly diverse cell population that constantly responds and adapts to their environment. Biological memory is the process of a sustained altered cellular state and functions in response to a transient or persistent environmental stimulus. While it is well established that fibroblasts retain a memory of their anatomical location, how other environmental stimuli influence fibroblast behaviour and function is less clear. The ability of fibroblasts to respond and memorise different environmental stimuli is essential for tissue development and homeostasis and may become dysregulated in chronic disease conditions such as fibrosis and cancer. Here we summarise the four emerging key areas of fibroblast adaptation: positional, mechanical, inflammatory, and metabolic memory and highlight the underlying mechanisms and their implications in tissue homeostasis and disease.
Collapse
|