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Long X, Wei J, Fang Q, Yuan X, Du J. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the transcriptional heterogeneity of Tbx18-positive cardiac cells during heart development. Funct Integr Genomics 2024; 24:18. [PMID: 38265516 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01290-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
The T-box family transcription factor 18 (Tbx18) has been found to play a critical role in regulating the development of the mammalian heart during the primary stages of embryonic development while the cellular heterogeneity and landscape of Tbx18-positive (Tbx18+) cardiac cells remain incompletely characterized. Here, we analyzed prior published single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) mouse heart data to explore the heterogeneity of Tbx18+ cardiac cell subpopulations and provide a comprehensive transcriptional landscape of Tbx18+ cardiac cells during their development. Bioinformatic analysis methods were utilized to identify the heterogeneity between cell groups. Based on the gene expression characteristics, Tbx18+ cardiac cells can be classified into a minimum of two distinct cell populations, namely fibroblast-like cells and cardiomyocytes. In terms of temporal heterogeneity, these cells exhibit three developmental stages, namely the MEM stage, ML_P0 stage, and P stage Tbx18+ cardiac cells. Furthermore, Tbx18+ cardiac cells encompass several cell types, including cardiac progenitor-like cells, cardiomyocytes, and epicardial/stromal cells, as determined by specific transcriptional regulatory networks. The scRNA-seq results revealed the involvement of extracellular matrix (ECM) signals and epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the development of Tbx18+ cardiac cells. The utilization of a lineage-tracing model served to validate the crucial function of Tbx18 in the differentiation of cardiac cells. Consequently, these findings offer a comprehensive depiction of the cellular heterogeneity within Tbx18+ cardiac cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianglin Long
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Jiangjun Wei
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Qinghua Fang
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Xin Yuan
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China.
| | - Jianlin Du
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China.
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Carmona R, López-Sánchez C, Garcia-Martinez V, Garcia-López V, Muñoz-Chápuli R, Lozano-Velasco E, Franco D. Novel Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms Governing Embryonic Epicardium Formation. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:440. [PMID: 37998498 PMCID: PMC10672416 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10110440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The embryonic epicardium originates from the proepicardium, an extracardiac primordium constituted by a cluster of mesothelial cells. In early embryos, the embryonic epicardium is characterized by a squamous cell epithelium resting on the myocardium surface. Subsequently, it invades the subepicardial space and thereafter the embryonic myocardium by means of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Within the myocardium, epicardial-derived cells present multilineage potential, later differentiating into smooth muscle cells and contributing both to coronary vasculature and cardiac fibroblasts in the mature heart. Over the last decades, we have progressively increased our understanding of those cellular and molecular mechanisms driving proepicardial/embryonic epicardium formation. This study provides a state-of-the-art review of the transcriptional and emerging post-transcriptional mechanisms involved in the formation and differentiation of the embryonic epicardium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Carmona
- Department of Human Anatomy, Legal Medicine and History of Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain;
| | - Carmen López-Sánchez
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (C.L.-S.); (V.G.-M.)
| | - Virginio Garcia-Martinez
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (C.L.-S.); (V.G.-M.)
| | - Virginio Garcia-López
- Department of Medical and Surgical Therapeutics, Pharmacology Area, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain;
| | - Ramón Muñoz-Chápuli
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain;
| | - Estefanía Lozano-Velasco
- Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain;
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain;
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Moazzen H, Bolaji MD, Leube RE. Desmosomes in Cell Fate Determination: From Cardiogenesis to Cardiomyopathy. Cells 2023; 12:2122. [PMID: 37681854 PMCID: PMC10487268 DOI: 10.3390/cells12172122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Desmosomes play a vital role in providing structural integrity to tissues that experience significant mechanical tension, including the heart. Deficiencies in desmosomal proteins lead to the development of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (AC). The limited availability of preventative measures in clinical settings underscores the pressing need to gain a comprehensive understanding of desmosomal proteins not only in cardiomyocytes but also in non-myocyte residents of the heart, as they actively contribute to the progression of cardiomyopathy. This review focuses specifically on the impact of desmosome deficiency on epi- and endocardial cells. We highlight the intricate cross-talk between desmosomal proteins mutations and signaling pathways involved in the regulation of epicardial cell fate transition. We further emphasize that the consequences of desmosome deficiency differ between the embryonic and adult heart leading to enhanced erythropoiesis during heart development and enhanced fibrogenesis in the mature heart. We suggest that triggering epi-/endocardial cells and fibroblasts that are in different "states" involve the same pathways but lead to different pathological outcomes. Understanding the details of the different responses must be considered when developing interventions and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Moazzen
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (M.D.B.); (R.E.L.)
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Liu C, Yang F, Su X, Zhang Z, Xing Y. ScRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics: exploring the occurrence and treatment of coronary-related diseases starting from development. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1064949. [PMID: 37416923 PMCID: PMC10319627 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1064949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a new technology that can be used to explore molecular changes in complex cell clusters at the single-cell level. Single-cell spatial transcriptomic technology complements the cell-space location information lost during single-cell sequencing. Coronary artery disease is an important cardiovascular disease with high mortality rates. Many studies have explored the physiological development and pathological changes in coronary arteries from the perspective of single cells using single-cell spatial transcriptomic technology. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms underlying coronary artery development and diseases as revealed by scRNA-seq combined with spatial transcriptomic technology. Based on these mechanisms, we discuss the possible new treatments for coronary diseases.
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Diao W, Yan J, Wang X, Qian Q, Wang H. Mechanisms regarding cardiac toxicity triggered by up-regulation of miR-144 in larval zebrafish upon exposure to triclosan. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 443:130297. [PMID: 36368065 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although triclosan (TCS) is ubiquitously detected in environmental media and organisms, little information is available on its cardiotoxicity and underlying mechanisms. Herein, acute TCS exposure (0.69-1.73 μM) to zebrafish from embryos (6 hpf) to larvae (72 hpf) resulted in cardiac development defects, including increased angle between atrium and ventricle, prolonged SV-BA distance, linearized heart and pericardial cyst in 72-hpf larvae. These malformations resulted from interfered oxidative-stress pathways, reflecting in accumulated ROS and MDA and inhibited SOD and CAT activities. By RT-qPCR, the transcription levels of four cardiac development-related marker genes were significantly up-regulated except for gata4. Besides, miR-144 was identified as a regulatory molecule of TCS-induced cardiac defects by integrating analyses of artificial intervene expression and RNA-Seq data. Interestingly, the target genes of miR-144 were found and interacted with the above marker genes through constructing protein-protein interaction networks. After intervening the expression of miR-144 by microinjecting and activating Wnt pathway by an agonist BML-284, we confirmed that up-regulated miR-144 suppressed the expression of angiogenesis-related genes and negatively regulated Wnt pathway, further triggering angiogenesis disorders and cardiac phenotypic malformation. These findings unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms regarding TCS-induced cardiac development toxicity, and contribute to early warning and risk management of TCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqi Diao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China; School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jin Yan
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Xuedong Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Qiuhui Qian
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China.
| | - Huili Wang
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
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Hachim D, Zhao J, Bhankharia J, Nuñez-Toldra R, Brito L, Seong H, Becce M, Ouyang L, Grigsby CL, Higgins SG, Terracciano CM, Stevens MM. Polysaccharide-Polyplex Nanofilm Coatings Enhance Nanoneedle-Based Gene Delivery and Transfection Efficiency. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2202303. [PMID: 35770803 PMCID: PMC7615482 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202202303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Non-viral vectors represent versatile and immunologically safer alternatives for nucleic acid delivery. Nanoneedles and high-aspect ratio nanostructures are unconventional but interesting delivery systems, in which delivery is mediated by surface interactions. Herein, nanoneedles are synergistically combined with polysaccharide-polyplex nanofilms and enhanced transfection efficiency is observed, compared to polyplexes in suspension. Different polyplex-polyelectrolyte nanofilm combinations are assessed and it is found that transfection efficiency is enhanced when using polysaccharide-based polyanions, rather than being only specific for hyaluronic acid, as suggested in earlier studies. Moreover, results show that enhanced transfection is not mediated by interactions with the CD44 receptor, previously hypothesized as a major mechanism mediating enhancement via hyaluronate. In cardiac tissue, nanoneedles are shown to increase the transfection efficiency of nanofilms compared to flat substrates; while in vitro, high transfection efficiencies are observed in nanostructures where cells present large interfacing areas with the substrate. The results of this study demonstrate that surface-mediated transfection using this system is efficient and safe, requiring amounts of nucleic acid with an order of magnitude lower than standard culture transfection. These findings expand the spectrum of possible polyelectrolyte combinations that can be used for the development of suitable non-viral vectors for exploration in further clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hachim
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Juzhi Zhao
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Jash Bhankharia
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Raquel Nuñez-Toldra
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Liliana Brito
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Hyejeong Seong
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Michele Becce
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Liliang Ouyang
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Christopher L. Grigsby
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 171 65, Sweden
| | - Stuart G. Higgins
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | | | - Molly M. Stevens
- Department of Materials, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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