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Gao C, Xiong Z, Liu Y, Wang M, Wang M, Liu T, Liu J, Ren S, Cao N, Yan H, Drucker DJ, Rau CD, Yokota T, Huang J, Wang Y. Glucagon Receptor Antagonist for Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction. Circ Res 2024; 135:614-628. [PMID: 39011638 PMCID: PMC11325917 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.124.324706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is an emerging major unmet need and one of the most significant clinic challenges in cardiology. The pathogenesis of HFpEF is associated with multiple risk factors. Hypertension and metabolic disorders associated with obesity are the 2 most prominent comorbidities observed in patients with HFpEF. Although hypertension-induced mechanical overload has long been recognized as a potent contributor to heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, the synergistic interaction between mechanical overload and metabolic disorders in the pathogenesis of HFpEF remains poorly characterized. METHOD We investigated the functional outcome and the underlying mechanisms from concurrent mechanic and metabolic stresses in the heart by applying transverse aortic constriction in lean C57Bl/6J or obese/diabetic B6.Cg-Lepob/J (ob/ob) mice, followed by single-nuclei RNA-seq and targeted manipulation of a top-ranked signaling pathway differentially affected in the 2 experimental cohorts. RESULTS In contrast to the post-transverse aortic constriction C57Bl/6J lean mice, which developed pathological features of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction over time, the post-transverse aortic constriction ob/ob mice showed no significant changes in ejection fraction but developed characteristic pathological features of HFpEF, including diastolic dysfunction, worsened cardiac hypertrophy, and pathological remodeling, along with further deterioration of exercise intolerance. Single-nuclei RNA-seq analysis revealed significant transcriptome reprogramming in the cardiomyocytes stressed by both pressure overload and obesity/diabetes, markedly distinct from the cardiomyocytes singularly stressed by pressure overload or obesity/diabetes. Furthermore, glucagon signaling was identified as the top-ranked signaling pathway affected in the cardiomyocytes associated with HFpEF. Treatment with a glucagon receptor antagonist significantly ameliorated the progression of HFpEF-related pathological features in 2 independent preclinical models. Importantly, cardiomyocyte-specific genetic deletion of the glucagon receptor also significantly improved cardiac function in response to pressure overload and metabolic stress. CONCLUSIONS These findings identify glucagon receptor signaling in cardiomyocytes as a critical determinant of HFpEF progression and provide proof-of-concept support for glucagon receptor antagonism as a potential therapy for the disease.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Heart Failure/physiopathology
- Heart Failure/metabolism
- Heart Failure/drug therapy
- Heart Failure/etiology
- Stroke Volume/drug effects
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice
- Male
- Receptors, Glucagon/antagonists & inhibitors
- Receptors, Glucagon/metabolism
- Receptors, Glucagon/genetics
- Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism
- Myocytes, Cardiac/drug effects
- Myocytes, Cardiac/pathology
- Mice, Obese
- Ventricular Function, Left/drug effects
- Obesity/metabolism
- Obesity/physiopathology
- Obesity/complications
- Disease Models, Animal
- Signal Transduction
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Gao
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, OH (C.G., T.L.)
| | - Zhaojun Xiong
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (Z.X.)
| | - Yunxia Liu
- Signature Research Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, DukeNUS School of Medicine and National Heart Center of Singapore, Singapore (Y.L., Meng Wang, S.R., Y.W.)
| | - Meng Wang
- Signature Research Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, DukeNUS School of Medicine and National Heart Center of Singapore, Singapore (Y.L., Meng Wang, S.R., Y.W.)
| | - Menglong Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, China (Menglong Wang, J.L.)
| | - Tian Liu
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology, University of Cincinnati, OH (C.G., T.L.)
| | - Jianfang Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, China (Menglong Wang, J.L.)
| | - Shuxun Ren
- Signature Research Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, DukeNUS School of Medicine and National Heart Center of Singapore, Singapore (Y.L., Meng Wang, S.R., Y.W.)
| | - Nancy Cao
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison (N.C.)
| | - Hai Yan
- REMD Biotherapeutics, Camarillo, CA (Y.H.)
| | - Daniel J Drucker
- Department of Medicine, Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (D.J.D.)
| | - Christoph Daniel Rau
- Computational Medicine Program and Department of Human Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (C.D.R.)
| | - Tomohiro Yokota
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, and the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (T.Y.)
| | - Jijun Huang
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (J.H.)
| | - Yibin Wang
- Signature Research Program in Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, DukeNUS School of Medicine and National Heart Center of Singapore, Singapore (Y.L., Meng Wang, S.R., Y.W.)
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC (Y.W.)
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2
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Patrick R, Janbandhu V, Tallapragada V, Tan SSM, McKinna EE, Contreras O, Ghazanfar S, Humphreys DT, Murray NJ, Tran YTH, Hume RD, Chong JJH, Harvey RP. Integration mapping of cardiac fibroblast single-cell transcriptomes elucidates cellular principles of fibrosis in diverse pathologies. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk8501. [PMID: 38905342 PMCID: PMC11192082 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk8501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell technology has allowed researchers to probe tissue complexity and dynamics at unprecedented depth in health and disease. However, the generation of high-dimensionality single-cell atlases and virtual three-dimensional tissues requires integrated reference maps that harmonize disparate experimental designs, analytical pipelines, and taxonomies. Here, we present a comprehensive single-cell transcriptome integration map of cardiac fibrosis, which underpins pathophysiology in most cardiovascular diseases. Our findings reveal similarity between cardiac fibroblast (CF) identities and dynamics in ischemic versus pressure overload models of cardiomyopathy. We also describe timelines for commitment of activated CFs to proliferation and myofibrogenesis, profibrotic and antifibrotic polarization of myofibroblasts and matrifibrocytes, and CF conservation across mouse and human healthy and diseased hearts. These insights have the potential to inform knowledge-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Patrick
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Vaibhao Janbandhu
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | | | - Shannon S. M. Tan
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Emily E. McKinna
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Osvaldo Contreras
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Shila Ghazanfar
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Sydney Precision Data Science Centre, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - David T. Humphreys
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Nicholas J. Murray
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Yen T. H. Tran
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
| | - Robert D. Hume
- Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- School of Medical Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
- Centre for Heart Failure and Diseases of the Aorta, The Baird Institute, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia
| | - James J. H. Chong
- Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Richard P. Harvey
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
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3
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Aguado-Alvaro LP, Garitano N, Pelacho B. Fibroblast Diversity and Epigenetic Regulation in Cardiac Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6004. [PMID: 38892192 PMCID: PMC11172550 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116004] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis, a process characterized by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, is a common pathological consequence of many cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) normally resulting in organ failure and death. Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) play an essential role in deleterious cardiac remodeling and dysfunction. In response to injury, quiescent CFs become activated and adopt a collagen-secreting phenotype highly contributing to cardiac fibrosis. In recent years, studies have been focused on the exploration of molecular and cellular mechanisms implicated in the activation process of CFs, which allow the development of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis. Transcriptomic analyses using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) have helped to elucidate the high cellular diversity and complex intercellular communication networks that CFs establish in the mammalian heart. Furthermore, a significant body of work supports the critical role of epigenetic regulation on the expression of genes involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis. The study of epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling, has provided more insights into CF activation and fibrotic processes. Targeting epigenetic regulators, especially DNA methyltransferases (DNMT), histone acetylases (HAT), or histone deacetylases (HDAC), has emerged as a promising approach for the development of novel anti-fibrotic therapies. This review focuses on recent transcriptomic advances regarding CF diversity and molecular and epigenetic mechanisms that modulate the activation process of CFs and their possible clinical applications for the treatment of cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Pilar Aguado-Alvaro
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (L.P.A.-A.); (N.G.)
- Program of Cardiovascular Disease, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Nerea Garitano
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (L.P.A.-A.); (N.G.)
- Program of Cardiovascular Disease, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Pelacho
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (L.P.A.-A.); (N.G.)
- Program of Cardiovascular Disease, Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdiSNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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4
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Nakayama Y, Fujiu K, Oshima T, Matsuda J, Sugita J, Matsubara TJ, Liu Y, Goto K, Kani K, Uchida R, Takeda N, Morita H, Xiao Y, Hayashi M, Maru Y, Hasumi E, Kojima T, Ishiguro S, Kijima Y, Yachie N, Yamazaki S, Yamamoto R, Kudo F, Nakanishi M, Iwama A, Fujiki R, Kaneda A, Ohara O, Nagai R, Manabe I, Komuro I. Heart failure promotes multimorbidity through innate immune memory. Sci Immunol 2024; 9:eade3814. [PMID: 38787963 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.ade3814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Patients with heart failure (HF) often experience repeated acute decompensation and develop comorbidities such as chronic kidney disease and frailty syndrome. Although this suggests pathological interaction among comorbidities, the mechanisms linking them are poorly understood. Here, we identified alterations in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) as a critical driver of recurrent HF and associated comorbidities. Bone marrow transplantation from HF-experienced mice resulted in spontaneous cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis in recipient mice, as well as increased vulnerability to kidney and skeletal muscle insults. HF enhanced the capacity of HSCs to generate proinflammatory macrophages. In HF mice, global chromatin accessibility analysis and single-cell RNA-seq showed that transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling was suppressed in HSCs, which corresponded with repressed sympathetic nervous activity in bone marrow. Transplantation of bone marrow from mice in which TGF-β signaling was inhibited similarly exacerbated cardiac dysfunction. Collectively, these results suggest that cardiac stress modulates the epigenome of HSCs, which in turn alters their capacity to generate cardiac macrophage subpopulations. This change in HSCs may be a common driver of repeated HF events and comorbidity by serving as a key carrier of "stress memory."
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukiteru Nakayama
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsuhito Fujiu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Advanced Cardiology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Oshima
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jun Matsuda
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junichi Sugita
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Yuxiang Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohsaku Goto
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunihiro Kani
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryoko Uchida
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Advanced Cardiology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norifumi Takeda
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Morita
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yingda Xiao
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michiko Hayashi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yujin Maru
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eriko Hasumi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiya Kojima
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Soh Ishiguro
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Yusuke Kijima
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nozomu Yachie
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Synthetic Biology Division, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yamazaki
- Division of Stem Cell Therapy, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Ryo Yamamoto
- Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Biology, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Fujimi Kudo
- Department of Systems Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Mio Nakanishi
- Department of Systems Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Atsushi Iwama
- Division of Stem Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryoji Fujiki
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Applied Genomics, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Chiba, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kaneda
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Osamu Ohara
- Department of Applied Genomics, Kazusa DNA Research Institute, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryozo Nagai
- Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Ichiro Manabe
- Department of Systems Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Issei Komuro
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Frontier Cardiovascular Science, Graduate School of Tokyo, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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5
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Pan X, Yang L, Wang S, Liu Y, Yue L, Chen S. Semaglutide ameliorates obesity-induced cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress mediated via reduction of neutrophil Cxcl2, S100a8, and S100a9 expression. Mol Cell Biochem 2024; 479:1133-1147. [PMID: 37318712 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04784-2] [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: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Obesity, which is driven by inflammation and oxidative stress, is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, is an antidiabetic drug with major effects on weight loss. In this study, single-cell transcriptomics was used to examine non-cardiomyocytes to uncover the mechanism of obesity-induced myocardial damage and the cardioprotective impact of semaglutide. We constructed obese mouse models and measured Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and Malonic dialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum and heart tissue to determine the levels of inflammation and oxidative stress in obesity and the effect of semaglutide on these levels. Then, utilizing single-cell transcriptomes to screen for key cell populations and differentially expressed genes (DEGs), we assessed the effects of obesity and semaglutide on non-cardiac cells. Finally, a DEG localization analysis was performed to explore DEGs as well as cell types associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. Semaglutide reduced increased TNF-α, IL-6, ROS, and MDA levels in serum and cardiac tissues in obese mouse. Several genes are closely associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. Chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 2 (Cxcl2), S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100a8), and S100 calcium binding protein A9 (S100a9), which were elevated in obesity but decreased following semaglutide treatment, were also expressed particularly in neutrophils. Finally, by decreasing neutrophil Cxcl2, S100a8, and S100a9 expressions, semaglutide may help to reduce cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress. Semaglutide significantly reduced body weight in obese mice as well as exerted anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects possibly by inhibiting the expression of S100a8, S100a9, and Cxcl2 in neutrophils. These discoveries are expected to reveal new molecular mechanisms underlying obesity-related heart damage and semaglutide's cardioprotective properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Pan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
- Department of Endocrinology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuqi Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
- Department of Endocrinology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhui Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Yue
- Department of Endocrinology, The Third Hospital of Shijiazhuang, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuchun Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Endocrinology, Hebei General Hospital, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
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6
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Bekedam FT, Smal R, Smit MC, Aman J, Vonk-Noordegraaf A, Bogaard HJ, Goumans MJ, De Man FS, Llucià-Valldeperas A. Mechanical stimulation of induced pluripotent stem derived cardiac fibroblasts. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9795. [PMID: 38684844 PMCID: PMC11058244 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60102-w] [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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis contributes to the development of heart failure, and is the response of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) to pressure or volume overload. Limiting factors in CFs research are the poor availability of human cells and the tendency of CFs to transdifferentiate into myofibroblasts when cultured in vitro. The possibility to generate CFs from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), providing a nearly unlimited cell source, opens new possibilities. However, the behaviour of iPSC-CFs under mechanical stimulation has not been studied yet. Our study aimed to assess the behaviour of iPSC-CFs under mechanical stretch and pro-fibrotic conditions. First, we confirm that iPSC-CFs are comparable to primary CFs at gene, protein and functional level. Furthermore, iPSC-derived CFs adopt a pro-fibrotic response to transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). In addition, mechanical stretch inhibits TGF-β-induced fibroblast activation in iPSC-CFs. Thus, the responsiveness to cytokines and mechanical stimulation of iPSC-CFs demonstrates they possess key characteristics of primary CFs and may be useful for disease modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fjodor T Bekedam
- PHEniX Laboratory, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Pulmonary Hypertension and Thrombosis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rowan Smal
- PHEniX Laboratory, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Pulmonary Hypertension and Thrombosis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marisa C Smit
- PHEniX Laboratory, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Pulmonary Hypertension and Thrombosis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jurjan Aman
- PHEniX Laboratory, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Pulmonary Hypertension and Thrombosis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anton Vonk-Noordegraaf
- PHEniX Laboratory, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Pulmonary Hypertension and Thrombosis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Harm Jan Bogaard
- PHEniX Laboratory, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Pulmonary Hypertension and Thrombosis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marie José Goumans
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden UMC, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Frances S De Man
- PHEniX Laboratory, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Pulmonary Hypertension and Thrombosis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Aida Llucià-Valldeperas
- PHEniX Laboratory, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Pulmonary Hypertension and Thrombosis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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7
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Deng L, Pollmeier L, Bednarz R, Cao C, Laurette P, Wirth L, Mamazhakypov A, Bode C, Hein L, Gilsbach R, Lother A. Atlas of cardiac endothelial cell enhancer elements linking the mineralocorticoid receptor to pathological gene expression. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj5101. [PMID: 38446896 PMCID: PMC10917356 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj5101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Endothelial cells play crucial roles in physiology and are increasingly recognized as therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disease. Here, we analyzed the regulatory landscape of cardiac endothelial cells by assessing chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, and 3D chromatin organization and confirmed the functional relevance of enhancer-promoter interactions by CRISPRi-mediated enhancer silencing. We used this dataset to explore mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in cardiovascular disease and compared six different experimental models of heart failure, hypertension, or diabetes. Enhancers that regulate gene expression in diseased endothelial cells were enriched with binding sites for a distinct set of transcription factors, including the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), a known drug target in heart failure and hypertension. For proof of concept, we applied endothelial cell-specific MR deletion in mice to confirm MR-dependent gene expression and predicted direct MR target genes. Overall, we have compiled here a comprehensive atlas of cardiac endothelial cell enhancer elements that provides insight into the role of transcription factors in cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Deng
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM), Cardiovascular Research Track, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Luisa Pollmeier
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rebecca Bednarz
- Institute of Experimental Cardiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Center of Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Can Cao
- Institute of Experimental Cardiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Center of Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrick Laurette
- Institute of Experimental Cardiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Center of Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luisa Wirth
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Argen Mamazhakypov
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christine Bode
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lutz Hein
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Gilsbach
- Institute of Experimental Cardiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- DZHK (German Center of Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Achim Lother
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Medical Intensive Care, Medical Center–University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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8
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Dong Y, Yang Y, Wang H, Feng D, Nist E, Yapundich N, Spurlock B, Craft M, Qian L, Liu J. Single-cell chromatin profiling reveals genetic programs activating proregenerative states in nonmyocyte cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk4694. [PMID: 38381829 PMCID: PMC10881044 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk4694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac regeneration requires coordinated participation of multiple cell types whereby their communications result in transient activation of proregenerative cell states. Although the molecular characteristics and lineage origins of these activated cell states and their contribution to cardiac regeneration have been studied, the extracellular signaling and the intrinsic genetic program underlying the activation of the transient functional cell states remain largely unexplored. In this study, we delineated the chromatin landscapes of the noncardiomyocytes (nonCMs) of the regenerating heart at the single-cell level and inferred the cis-regulatory architectures and trans-acting factors that control cell type-specific gene expression programs. Moreover, further motif analysis and cell-specific genetic manipulations suggest that the macrophage-derived inflammatory signal tumor necrosis factor-α, acting via its downstream transcription factor complex activator protein-1, functions cooperatively with discrete transcription regulators to activate respective nonCM cell types critical for cardiac regeneration. Thus, our study defines the regulatory architectures and intercellular communication principles in zebrafish heart regeneration.
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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
| | - Yuchen Yang
- 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
| | - Haofei Wang
- 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
| | - Dong Feng
- 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
| | - Elizabeth Nist
- 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
| | - Nicholas Yapundich
- 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
| | - Brian Spurlock
- 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
| | - Madison Craft
- 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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9
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He X, Dutta S, Liang J, Paul C, Huang W, Xu M, Chang V, Ao I, Wang Y. Direct cellular reprogramming techniques for cardiovascular regenerative therapeutics. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2024; 102:1-13. [PMID: 37903419 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2023-0088] [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] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of hospitalization affecting approximately 38 million people worldwide. While pharmacological and revascularization techniques can improve the patient's survival and quality of life, they cannot help reversing myocardial infarction injury and heart failure. Direct reprogramming of somatic cells to cardiomyocyte and cardiac progenitor cells offers a new approach to cellular reprogramming and paves the way for translational regenerative medicine. Direct reprogramming can bypass the pluripotent stage with the potential advantage of non-immunogenic cell products, reduced carcinogenic risk, and no requirement for embryonic tissue. The process of directly reprogramming cardiac cells was first achieved through the overexpression of transcription factors such as GATA4, MEF2C, and TBX5. However, over the past decade, significant work has been focused on enhancing direct reprogramming using a mixture of transcription factors, microRNAs, and small molecules to achieve cardiac cell fate. This review discusses the evolution of direct reprogramming, recent progress in achieving efficient cardiac cell fate conversion, and describes the reprogramming mechanisms at a molecular level. We also explore various viral and non-viral delivery methods currently being used to aid in the delivery of reprogramming factors to improve efficiency. However, further studies will be needed to overcome molecular and epigenetic barriers to successfully achieve translational cardiac regenerative therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyu He
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Suchandrima Dutta
- Department of Internal MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Jialiang Liang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Christian Paul
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Meifeng Xu
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Vivian Chang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Ian Ao
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
| | - Yigang Wang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory MedicineCollege of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0529, USA
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10
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Shin K, Begeman IJ, Cao J, Kang J. leptin b and its regeneration enhancer illustrate the regenerative features of zebrafish hearts. Dev Dyn 2024; 253:91-106. [PMID: 36495292 PMCID: PMC10256838 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.556] [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: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zebrafish possess a remarkable regenerative capacity, which is mediated by the induction of various genes upon injury. Injury-dependent transcription is governed by the tissue regeneration enhancer elements (TREEs). Here, we utilized leptin b (lepb), an injury-specific factor, and its TREE to dissect heterogeneity of noncardiomyocytes (CMs) in regenerating hearts. RESULTS Our single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis demonstrated that the endothelium/endocardium(EC) is activated to induce distinct subpopulations upon injury. We demonstrated that lepb can be utilized as a regeneration-specific marker to subset injury-activated ECs. lepb+ ECs robustly induce pro-regenerative factors, implicating lepb+ ECs as a signaling center to interact with other cardiac cells. Our scRNA-seq analysis identified that lepb is also produced by subpopulation of epicardium (Epi) and epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs). To determine whether lepb labels injury-emerging non-CM cells, we tested the activity of lepb-linked regeneration enhancer (LEN) with chromatin accessibility profiles and transgenic lines. While nondetectable in uninjured hearts, LEN directs EC and Epi/EPDC expression upon injury. The endogenous LEN activity was assessed using LEN deletion lines, demonstrating that LEN deletion abolished injury-dependent expression of lepb, but not other nearby genes. CONCLUSIONS Our integrative analyses identify regeneration-emerging cell-types and factors, leading to the discovery of regenerative features of hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwangdeok Shin
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Ian J. Begeman
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
| | - Jingli Cao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Junsu Kang
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
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11
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Wang Q, Spurlock B, Liu J, Qian L. Fibroblast Reprogramming in Cardiac Repair. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2024; 9:145-160. [PMID: 38362341 PMCID: PMC10864899 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is one of the major causes of death worldwide. Limited proliferative capacity of adult mammalian cardiomyocytes has prompted researchers to exploit regenerative therapy after myocardial injury, such as myocardial infarction, to attenuate heart dysfunction caused by such injury. Direct cardiac reprogramming is a recently emerged promising approach to repair damaged myocardium by directly converting resident cardiac fibroblasts into cardiomyocyte-like cells. The achievement of in vivo direct reprogramming of fibroblasts has been shown, by multiple laboratories independently, to improve cardiac function and mitigate fibrosis post-myocardial infarction, which holds great potential for clinical application. There have been numerous pieces of valuable work in both basic and translational research to enhance our understanding and continued refinement of direct cardiac reprogramming in recent years. However, there remain many challenges to overcome before we can truly take advantage of this technique to treat patients with ischemic cardiac diseases. Here, we review recent progress of fibroblast reprogramming in cardiac repair, including the optimization of several reprogramming strategies, mechanistic exploration, and translational efforts, and we make recommendations for future research to further understand and translate direct cardiac reprogramming from bench to bedside. Challenges relating to these efforts will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaozi Wang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brian Spurlock
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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12
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Xie Y, Van Handel B, Qian L, Ardehali R. Recent advances and future prospects in direct cardiac reprogramming. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2023; 2:1148-1158. [PMID: 39196156 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-023-00377-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide despite important advances in modern medical and surgical therapies. As human adult cardiomyocytes have limited regenerative ability, cardiomyocytes lost after myocardial infarction are replaced by fibrotic scar tissue, leading to cardiac dysfunction and heart failure. To replace lost cardiomyocytes, a promising approach is direct cardiac reprogramming, in which cardiac fibroblasts are transdifferentiated into induced cardiomyocyte-like cells (iCMs). Here we review cardiac reprogramming cocktails (including transcription factors, microRNAs and small molecules) that mediate iCM generation. We also highlight mechanistic studies exploring the barriers to and facilitators of this process. We then review recent progress in iCM reprogramming, with a focus on single-cell '-omics' research. Finally, we discuss obstacles to clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifang Xie
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ben Van Handel
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Li Qian
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Reza Ardehali
- Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- The Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX, USA.
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13
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Umbarkar P, Ejantkar S, Ruiz Ramirez SY, Toro Cora A, Zhang Q, Tousif S, Lal H. Cardiac fibroblast GSK-3α aggravates ischemic cardiac injury by promoting fibrosis, inflammation, and impairing angiogenesis. Basic Res Cardiol 2023; 118:35. [PMID: 37656238 PMCID: PMC11340261 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-023-01005-1] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) has been considered to be a promising therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases. GSK-3 is a family of ubiquitously expressed serine/threonine kinases. GSK-3 isoforms appear to play overlapping, unique, and even opposing functions in the heart. Previously, our group identified that cardiac fibroblast (FB) GSK-3β acts as a negative regulator of fibrotic remodeling in the ischemic heart. However, the role of FB-GSK-3α in MI pathology is not defined. To determine the role of FB-GSK-3α in MI-induced adverse cardiac remodeling, GSK-3α was deleted specifically in the residential fibroblast or myofibroblast (MyoFB) using tamoxifen (TAM) inducible Tcf21 or Periostin (Postn) promoter-driven Cre recombinase, respectively. Echocardiographic analysis revealed that FB- or MyoFB-specific GSK-3α deletion prevented the development of dilative remodeling and cardiac dysfunction. Morphometrics and histology studies confirmed improvement in capillary density and a remarkable reduction in hypertrophy and fibrosis in the KO group. We harvested the hearts at 4 weeks post-MI and analyzed signature genes of adverse remodeling. Specifically, qPCR analysis was performed to examine the gene panels of inflammation (TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β), fibrosis (COL1A1, COL3A1, COMP, Fibronectin-1, Latent TGF-β binding protein 2), and hypertrophy (ANP, BNP, MYH7). These molecular markers were essentially normalized due to FB-specific GSK-3α deletion. Further molecular studies confirmed that FB-GSK-3α could regulate NF-kB activation and expression of angiogenesis-related proteins. Our findings suggest that FB-GSK-3α plays a critical role in the pathological cardiac remodeling of ischemic hearts, therefore, it could be therapeutically targeted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prachi Umbarkar
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, UAB|The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1913, USA.
| | - Suma Ejantkar
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, UAB|The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1913, USA
| | - Sulivette Y Ruiz Ramirez
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, UAB|The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1913, USA
| | - Angelica Toro Cora
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, UAB|The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1913, USA
| | - Qinkun Zhang
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, UAB|The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1913, USA
| | - Sultan Tousif
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, UAB|The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1913, USA
| | - Hind Lal
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, UAB|The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294-1913, USA.
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14
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Uscategui Calderon M, Gonzalez BA, Yutzey KE. Cardiomyocyte-fibroblast crosstalk in the postnatal heart. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1163331. [PMID: 37077417 PMCID: PMC10106698 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1163331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
During the postnatal period in mammals, the heart undergoes significant remodeling in response to increased circulatory demands. In the days after birth, cardiac cells, including cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts, progressively lose embryonic characteristics concomitant with the loss of the heart’s ability to regenerate. Moreover, postnatal cardiomyocytes undergo binucleation and cell cycle arrest with induction of hypertrophic growth, while cardiac fibroblasts proliferate and produce extracellular matrix (ECM) that transitions from components that support cellular maturation to production of the mature fibrous skeleton of the heart. Recent studies have implicated interactions of cardiac fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes within the maturing ECM environment to promote heart maturation in the postnatal period. Here, we review the relationships of different cardiac cell types and the ECM as the heart undergoes both structural and functional changes during development. Recent advances in the field, particularly in several recently published transcriptomic datasets, have highlighted specific signaling mechanisms that underlie cellular maturation and demonstrated the biomechanical interdependence of cardiac fibroblast and cardiomyocyte maturation. There is increasing evidence that postnatal heart development in mammals is dependent on particular ECM components and that resulting changes in biomechanics influence cell maturation. These advances, in definition of cardiac fibroblast heterogeneity and function in relation to cardiomyocyte maturation and the extracellular environment provide, support for complex cell crosstalk in the postnatal heart with implications for heart regeneration and disease mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Uscategui Calderon
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Brittany A. Gonzalez
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Katherine E. Yutzey
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- *Correspondence: Katherine E. Yutzey,
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15
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Warwick T, Buchmann GK, Pflüger-Müller B, Spaeth M, Schürmann C, Abplanalp W, Tombor L, John D, Weigert A, Leo-Hansmann M, Dimmeler S, Brandes RP. Acute injury to the mouse carotid artery provokes a distinct healing response. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1125864. [PMID: 36824462 PMCID: PMC9941170 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1125864] [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: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of vascular stenosis with angioplasty results in acute vascular damage, which may lead to restenosis. Owing to the highly complex cellularity of blood vessels, the healing response following this damage is incompletely understood. To gain further insight into this process, scRNA-seq of mouse carotid tissue after wire injury was performed. Stages of acute inflammation, resolution and remodeling were recapitulated in these data. To identify cell types which give rise to neointima, analyses focused on smooth muscle cell and fibroblast populations, and included data integration with scRNA-seq data from myocardial infarction and atherosclerosis datasets. Following carotid injury, a subpopulation of smooth muscle cells which also arises during atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction was identified. So-called stem cell/endothelial cell/monocyte (SEM) cells are candidates for repopulating injured vessels, and were amongst the most proliferative cell clusters following wire-injury of the carotid artery. Importantly, SEM cells exhibit specific transcriptional profiles which could be therapeutically targeted. SEM cell gene expression patterns could also be detected in bulk RNA-sequencing of neointimal tissue isolated from injured carotid vessels by laser capture microdissection. These data indicate that phenotypic plasticity of smooth muscle cells is highly important to the progression of lumen loss following acute carotid injury. Interference with SEM cell formation could be an innovative approach to combat development of restenosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Warwick
- Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Rhein Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Giulia Karolin Buchmann
- Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Rhein Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Beatrice Pflüger-Müller
- Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Rhein Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Manuela Spaeth
- Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Rhein Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Christoph Schürmann
- Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Rhein Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Wesley Abplanalp
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Rhein Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lukas Tombor
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Rhein Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - David John
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Rhein Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Andreas Weigert
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Martin Leo-Hansmann
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Stefanie Dimmeler
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Rhein Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ralf P. Brandes
- Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Rhein Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany,*Correspondence: Ralf P. Brandes,
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16
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Thankam FG, La V, Agrawal DK. Single-cell genomics illustrates heterogeneous phenotypes of myocardial fibroblasts under ischemic insults. Biochem Cell Biol 2023; 101:12-51. [PMID: 36458696 DOI: 10.1139/bcb-2022-0229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Myocardial regenerative strategies are promising where the choice of ideal cell population is crucial for successful translational applications. Herein, we explored the regenerative/repair responses of infarct zone cardiac fibroblast(s) (CF) by unveiling their phenotype heterogeneity at single-cell resolution. CF were isolated from the infarct zone of Yucatan miniswine that suffered myocardial infarction, cultured under simulated ischemic and reperfusion, and grouped into control, ischemia, and ischemia/reperfusion. The single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed 19 unique cell clusters suggesting distinct subpopulations. The status of gene expression (log2 fold change (log2 FC) > 2 and log2 FC < -2) was used to define the characteristics of each cluster unveiling with diverse features, including the pro-survival/cardioprotective (Clusters 1, 3, 5, 9, and 18), vasculoprotective (Clusters 2 and 5), anti-inflammatory (Clusters 4 and 17), proliferative (Clusters 4 and 5), nonproliferative (Clusters 6, 8, 11, 16, 17, and 18), proinflammatory (Cluster 6), profibrotic/pathologic (Clusters 8 and 19), antihypertrophic (Clusters 8 and 10), extracellular matrix restorative (Clusters 9 and 12), angiogenic (Cluster 16), and normal (Clusters 7 and 15) phenotypes. Further understanding of these unique phenotypes of CF will provide significant translational opportunities for myocardial regeneration and cardiac management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Finosh G Thankam
- Department of Translational Research, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Vy La
- Department of Translational Research, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
| | - Devendra K Agrawal
- Department of Translational Research, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766, USA
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17
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Cooke JP, Lai L. Role of angiogenic transdifferentiation in vascular recovery. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1155835. [PMID: 37200975 PMCID: PMC10187761 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1155835] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue repair requires the orchestration of multiple processes involving a multiplicity of cellular effectors, signaling pathways, and cell-cell communication. The regeneration of the vasculature is a critical process for tissue repair and involves angiogenesis, adult vasculogenesis, and often arteriogenesis, which processes enable recovery of perfusion to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the repair or rebuild of the tissue. Endothelial cells play a major role in angiogenesis, whereas circulating angiogenic cells (primarily of hematopoietic origin) participate in adult vasculogenesis, and monocytes/macrophages have a defining role in the vascular remodeling that is necessary for arteriogenesis. Tissue fibroblasts participate in tissue repair by proliferating and generating the extracellular matrix as the structural scaffold for tissue regeneration. Heretofore, fibroblasts were not generally believed to be involved in vascular regeneration. However, we provide new data indicating that fibroblasts may undergo angiogenic transdifferentiation, to directly expand the microvasculature. Transdifferentiation of fibroblasts to endothelial cells is initiated by inflammatory signaling which increases DNA accessibility and cellular plasticity. In the environment of under-perfused tissue, the activated fibroblasts with increased DNA accessibility can now respond to angiogenic cytokines, which provide the transcriptional direction to induce fibroblasts to become endothelial cells. Periphery artery disease (PAD) involves the dysregulation of vascular repair and inflammation. Understanding the relationship between inflammation, transdifferentiation, and vascular regeneration may lead to a new therapeutic approach to PAD.
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18
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Liu M, Liu J, Zhang T, Wang L. Direct cardiac reprogramming: Toward the era of multi-omics analysis. CELL INSIGHT 2022; 1:100058. [PMID: 37193352 PMCID: PMC10120284 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2022.100058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Limited regenerative capacity of adult cardiomyocytes precludes heart repair and regeneration after cardiac injury. Direct cardiac reprograming that converts scar-forming cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) into functional induced-cardiomyocytes (iCMs) offers promising potential to restore heart structure and heart function. Significant advances have been achieved in iCM reprogramming using genetic and epigenetic regulators, small molecules, and delivery strategies. Recent researches on the heterogeneity and reprogramming trajectories elucidated novel mechanisms of iCM reprogramming at single cell level. Here, we review recent progress in iCM reprogramming with a focus on multi-omics (transcriptomic, epigenomic and proteomic) researches to investigate the cellular and molecular machinery governing cell fate conversion. We also highlight the future potential using multi-omics approaches to dissect iCMs conversion for clinal applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengxin Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
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19
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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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20
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Mazurara GR, Dallagnol JCC, Chatenet D, Allen BG, Hébert TE. The complicated lives of GPCRs in cardiac fibroblasts. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 323:C813-C822. [PMID: 35938678 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00120.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The role of different G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the cardiovascular system is well understood in cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In the former, stimulation of Gs-coupled receptors leads to increases in contractility, while stimulation of Gq-coupled receptors modulates cellular survival and hypertrophic responses. In VSMCs, stimulation of GPCRs also modulates contractile and cell growth phenotypes. Here, we will focus on the relatively less well studied effects of GPCRs in cardiac fibroblasts, focusing on key signalling events involved in the activation and differentiation of these cells. We also review the hierarchy of signalling events driving the fibrotic response and the communications between fibroblasts and other cells in the heart. We discuss how such events may be distinct depending on where the GPCRs and their associated signalling machinery are localized in these cells with an emphasis on nuclear membrane-localized receptors. Finally, we explore what such connections between cell surface and nuclear GPCR signalling might mean for cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace R Mazurara
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Juliana C C Dallagnol
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.,Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Groupe de Recherche en Ingénierie des Peptides et en Pharmacothérapie (GRIPP), Université du Québec, Laval, Québec, Canada.,Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - David Chatenet
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Groupe de Recherche en Ingénierie des Peptides et en Pharmacothérapie (GRIPP), Université du Québec, Laval, Québec, Canada
| | - Bruce G Allen
- Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Terence E Hébert
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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21
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Talbott HE, Mascharak S, Griffin M, Wan DC, Longaker MT. Wound healing, fibroblast heterogeneity, and fibrosis. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:1161-1180. [PMID: 35931028 PMCID: PMC9357250 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 81.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblasts are highly dynamic cells that play a central role in tissue repair and fibrosis. However, the mechanisms by which they contribute to both physiologic and pathologic states of extracellular matrix deposition and remodeling are just starting to be understood. In this review article, we discuss the current state of knowledge in fibroblast biology and heterogeneity, with a primary focus on the role of fibroblasts in skin wound repair. We also consider emerging techniques in the field, which enable an increasingly nuanced and contextualized understanding of these complex systems, and evaluate limitations of existing methodologies and knowledge. Collectively, this review spotlights a diverse body of research examining an often-overlooked cell type-the fibroblast-and its critical functions in wound repair and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather E Talbott
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Shamik Mascharak
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michelle Griffin
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Derrick C Wan
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Michael T Longaker
- Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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22
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Lendahl U, Muhl L, Betsholtz C. Identification, discrimination and heterogeneity of fibroblasts. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3409. [PMID: 35701396 PMCID: PMC9192344 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30633-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts, the principal cell type of connective tissue, secrete extracellular matrix components during tissue development, homeostasis, repair and disease. Despite this crucial role, the identification and distinction of fibroblasts from other cell types are challenging and laden with caveats. Rapid progress in single-cell transcriptomics now yields detailed molecular portraits of fibroblasts and other cell types in our bodies, which complement and enrich classical histological and immunological descriptions, improve cell class definitions and guide further studies on the functional heterogeneity of cell subtypes and states, origins and fates in physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent advances in the understanding of fibroblast identification and heterogeneity and how they discriminate from other cell types. In this review, the authors look at how recent progress in single-cell transcriptomics complement and enrich the classical, largely morphological, portraits of fibroblasts. The detailed molecular information now available provides new insights into fibroblast identity, heterogeneity and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urban Lendahl
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neurobiology, Care sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, SE-14183, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Lars Muhl
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Blickagången 16, SE-141 57, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Christer Betsholtz
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Blickagången 16, SE-141 57, Huddinge, Sweden. .,Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 20, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.
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23
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Deciphering Cardiac Biology and Disease by Single-Cell Transcriptomic Profiling. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12040566. [PMID: 35454155 PMCID: PMC9032111 DOI: 10.3390/biom12040566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
By detecting minute molecular changes in hundreds to millions of single cells, single-cell RNA sequencing allows for the comprehensive characterization of the diversity and dynamics of cells in the heart. Our understanding of the heart has been transformed through the recognition of cellular heterogeneity, the construction of regulatory networks, the building of lineage trajectories, and the mapping of intercellular crosstalk. In this review, we introduce cardiac progenitors and their transcriptional regulation during embryonic development, highlight cellular heterogeneity and cell subtype functions in cardiac health and disease, and discuss insights gained from the study of pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes.
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24
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Picchio V, Bordin A, Floris E, Cozzolino C, Dhori X, Peruzzi M, Frati G, De Falco E, Pagano F, Chimenti I. The dynamic facets of the cardiac stroma: from classical markers to omics and translational perspectives. Am J Transl Res 2022; 14:1172-1187. [PMID: 35273721 PMCID: PMC8902528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac stromal cells have been long underestimated in their functions in homeostasis and repair. Recent evidence has changed this perspective in that many more players and facets than just "cardiac fibroblasts" have entered the field. Single cell transcriptomic studies on cardiac interstitial cells have shed light on the phenotypic plasticity of the stroma, whose transcriptional profile is dynamically regulated in homeostatic conditions and in response to external stimuli. Different populations and/or functional states that appear in homeostasis and pathology have been described, particularly increasing the complexity of studying the cardiac response to injury. In this review, we outline current phenotypical and molecular markers, and the approaches developed for identifying and classifying cardiac stromal cells. Significant advances in our understanding of cardiac stromal populations will provide a deeper knowledge on myocardial functional cellular components, as well as a platform for future developments of novel therapeutic strategies to counteract cardiac fibrosis and adverse cardiac remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Picchio
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeItaly
| | - Antonella Bordin
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeItaly
| | - Erica Floris
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeItaly
| | - Claudia Cozzolino
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeItaly
| | - Xhulio Dhori
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeItaly
| | - Mariangela Peruzzi
- Mediterranea CardiocentroNapoli, Italy
- Department of Clinical, Internal Medicine, Anaesthesiology and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of RomeItaly
| | - Giacomo Frati
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeItaly
- IRCCS NeuromedPozzilli, Italy
| | - Elena De Falco
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeItaly
- Mediterranea CardiocentroNapoli, Italy
| | - Francesca Pagano
- Biochemistry and Cellular Biology Institute, CNRMonterotondo, Italy
| | - Isotta Chimenti
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of RomeItaly
- Mediterranea CardiocentroNapoli, Italy
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25
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Multimerin-1 and cancer: a review. Biosci Rep 2022; 42:230760. [PMID: 35132992 PMCID: PMC8881648 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20211248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Multimerin-1 (MMRN1) is a platelet protein with a role in haemostasis and coagulation. It is also present in endothelial cells (ECs) and the extracellular matrix (ECM), where it may be involved in cell adhesion, but its molecular functions and protein–protein interactions in these cellular locations have not been studied in detail yet. In recent years, MMRN1 has been identified as a differentially expressed gene (DEG) in various cancers and it has been proposed as a possible cancer biomarker. Some evidence suggest that MMRN1 expression is regulated by methylation, protein interactions, and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in different cancers. This raises the questions if a functional role of MMRN1 is being targeted during cancer development, and if MMRN1’s differential expression pattern correlates with cancer progression. As a result, it is timely to review the current state of what is known about MMRN1 to help inform future research into MMRN1’s molecular mechanisms in cancer.
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26
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Xie Y, Liu J, Qian L. Direct cardiac reprogramming comes of age: Recent advance and remaining challenges. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2022; 122:37-43. [PMID: 34304993 PMCID: PMC8782931 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The adult human heart has limited regenerative capacity. As such, the massive cardiomyocyte loss due to myocardial infarction leads to scar formation and adverse cardiac remodeling, which ultimately results in chronic heart failure. Direct cardiac reprogramming that converts cardiac fibroblast into functional cardiomyocyte-like cells (also called iCMs) holds great promise for heart regeneration. Cardiac reprogramming has been achieved both in vitro and in vivo by using a variety of cocktails that comprise transcription factors, microRNAs, or small molecules. During the past several years, great progress has been made in improving reprogramming efficiency and understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms. Here, we summarize the direct cardiac reprogramming methods, review the current advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cardiac reprogramming, and highlight the novel insights gained from single-cell omics studies. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and future directions for the field.
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27
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Alex L, Tuleta I, Harikrishnan V, Frangogiannis NG. Validation of Specific and Reliable Genetic Tools to Identify, Label, and Target Cardiac Pericytes in Mice. J Am Heart Assoc 2022; 11:e023171. [PMID: 34935413 PMCID: PMC9075200 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.121.023171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background In the myocardium, pericytes are often confused with other interstitial cell types, such as fibroblasts. The lack of well-characterized and specific tools for identification, lineage tracing, and conditional targeting of myocardial pericytes has hampered studies on their role in heart disease. In the current study, we characterize and validate specific and reliable strategies for labeling and targeting of cardiac pericytes. Methods and Results Using the neuron-glial antigen 2 (NG2)DsRed reporter line, we identified a large population of NG2+ periendothelial cells in mouse atria, ventricles, and valves. To examine possible overlap of NG2+ mural cells with fibroblasts, we generated NG2DsRed; platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) αEGFP pericyte/fibroblast dual reporter mice. Myocardial NG2+ pericytes and PDGFRα+ fibroblasts were identified as nonoverlapping cellular populations with distinct transcriptional signatures. PDGFRα+ fibroblasts expressed high levels of fibrillar collagens, matrix metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases, and genes encoding matricellular proteins, whereas NG2+ pericytes expressed high levels of Pdgfrb, Adamts1, and Vtn. To validate the specificity of pericyte Cre drivers, we crossed these lines with PDGFRαEGFP fibroblast reporter mice. The constitutive NG2Cre driver did not specifically track mural cells, labeling many cardiomyocytes. However, the inducible NG2CreER driver specifically traced vascular mural cells in the ventricle and in the aorta, without significant labeling of PDGFRα+ fibroblasts. In contrast, the inducible PDGFRβCreER line labeled not only mural cells but also the majority of cardiac and aortic fibroblasts. Conclusions Fibroblasts and pericytes are topographically and transcriptomically distinct populations of cardiac interstitial cells. The inducible NG2CreER driver optimally targets cardiac pericytes; in contrast, the inducible PDGFRβCreER line lacks specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Alex
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology)The Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research InstituteAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNY
| | - Izabela Tuleta
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology)The Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research InstituteAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNY
| | - Venugopal Harikrishnan
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology)The Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research InstituteAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNY
| | - Nikolaos G. Frangogiannis
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology)The Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research InstituteAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNY
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28
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OUP accepted manuscript. Cardiovasc Res 2022; 118:1380-1382. [DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvac037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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29
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Corker A, Neff LS, Broughton P, Bradshaw AD, DeLeon-Pennell KY. Organized Chaos: Deciphering Immune Cell Heterogeneity's Role in Inflammation in the Heart. Biomolecules 2021; 12:11. [PMID: 35053159 PMCID: PMC8773626 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
During homeostasis, immune cells perform daily housekeeping functions to maintain heart health by acting as sentinels for tissue damage and foreign particles. Resident immune cells compose 5% of the cellular population in healthy human ventricular tissue. In response to injury, there is an increase in inflammation within the heart due to the influx of immune cells. Some of the most common immune cells recruited to the heart are macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and T-cells. In this review, we will discuss what is known about cardiac immune cell heterogeneity during homeostasis, how these cell populations change in response to a pathology such as myocardial infarction or pressure overload, and what stimuli are regulating these processes. In addition, we will summarize technologies used to evaluate cell heterogeneity in models of cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Corker
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.C.); (L.S.N.); (P.B.); (A.D.B.)
| | - Lily S. Neff
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.C.); (L.S.N.); (P.B.); (A.D.B.)
| | - Philip Broughton
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.C.); (L.S.N.); (P.B.); (A.D.B.)
| | - Amy D. Bradshaw
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.C.); (L.S.N.); (P.B.); (A.D.B.)
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
| | - Kristine Y. DeLeon-Pennell
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA; (A.C.); (L.S.N.); (P.B.); (A.D.B.)
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
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30
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Dai Z, Nomura S. Recent Progress in Cardiovascular Research Involving Single-Cell Omics Approaches. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:783398. [PMID: 34977189 PMCID: PMC8716466 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.783398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although the spectrum of the heart from development to disease has long been studied, it remains largely enigmatic. The emergence of single-cell omics technologies has provided a powerful toolbox for defining cell heterogeneity, unraveling previously unknown pathways, and revealing intercellular communications, thereby boosting biomedical research and obtaining numerous novel findings over the last 7 years. Not only cell atlases of normal and developing hearts that provided substantial research resources, but also some important findings regarding cell-type-specific disease gene program, could never have been established without single-cell omics technologies. Herein, we briefly describe the latest technological advances in single-cell omics and summarize the major findings achieved by such approaches, with a focus on development and homeostasis of the heart, myocardial infarction, and heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Seitaro Nomura
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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31
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Li G, Luan C, Dong Y, Xie Y, Zentz SC, Zelt R, Roach J, Liu J, Qian L, Li Y, Yang Y. ExpressHeart: Web Portal to Visualize Transcriptome Profiles of Non-Cardiomyocyte Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8943. [PMID: 34445647 PMCID: PMC8396223 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Unveiling the molecular features in the heart is essential for the study of heart diseases. Non-cardiomyocytes (nonCMs) play critical roles in providing structural and mechanical support to the working myocardium. There is an increasing amount of single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data characterizing the transcriptomic profiles of nonCM cells. However, no tool allows researchers to easily access the information. Thus, in this study, we develop an open-access web portal, ExpressHeart, to visualize scRNA-seq data of nonCMs from five laboratories encompassing three species. ExpressHeart enables comprehensive visualization of major cell types and subtypes in each study; visualizes gene expression in each cell type/subtype in various ways; and facilitates identifying cell-type-specific and species-specific marker genes. ExpressHeart also provides an interface to directly combine information across datasets, for example, generating lists of high confidence DEGs by taking the intersection across different datasets. Moreover, ExpressHeart performs comparisons across datasets. We show that some homolog genes (e.g., Mmp14 in mice and mmp14b in zebrafish) are expressed in different cell types between mice and zebrafish, suggesting different functions across species. We expect ExpressHeart to serve as a valuable portal for investigators, shedding light on the roles of genes on heart development in nonCM cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Li
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
| | - Changfei Luan
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (C.L.); (S.C.Z.)
| | - Yanhan Dong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (Y.D.); (Y.X.); (J.L.); (L.Q.)
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yifang Xie
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (Y.D.); (Y.X.); (J.L.); (L.Q.)
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Scott C. Zentz
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (C.L.); (S.C.Z.)
| | - Rob Zelt
- Research Computing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (R.Z.); (J.R.)
| | - Jeff Roach
- Research Computing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (R.Z.); (J.R.)
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (Y.D.); (Y.X.); (J.L.); (L.Q.)
- 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; (Y.D.); (Y.X.); (J.L.); (L.Q.)
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yun Li
- Department of Biostatistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (C.L.); (S.C.Z.)
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Yuchen Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (Y.D.); (Y.X.); (J.L.); (L.Q.)
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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