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Coordination of endothelial cell positioning and fate specification by the epicardium. Nat Commun 2021; 12:4155. [PMID: 34230480 PMCID: PMC8260743 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24414-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The organization of an integrated coronary vasculature requires the specification of immature endothelial cells (ECs) into arterial and venous fates based on their localization within the heart. It remains unclear how spatial information controls EC identity and behavior. Here we use single-cell RNA sequencing at key developmental timepoints to interrogate cellular contributions to coronary vessel patterning and maturation. We perform transcriptional profiling to define a heterogenous population of epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs) that express unique chemokine signatures. We identify a population of Slit2+ EPDCs that emerge following epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which we term vascular guidepost cells. We show that the expression of guidepost-derived chemokines such as Slit2 are induced in epicardial cells undergoing EMT, while mesothelium-derived chemokines are silenced. We demonstrate that epicardium-specific deletion of myocardin-related transcription factors in mouse embryos disrupts the expression of key guidance cues and alters EPDC-EC signaling, leading to the persistence of an immature angiogenic EC identity and inappropriate accumulation of ECs on the epicardial surface. Our study suggests that EC pathfinding and fate specification is controlled by a common mechanism and guided by paracrine signaling from EPDCs linking epicardial EMT to EC localization and fate specification in the developing heart. It remains unclear how spatial information controls endothelial cell identity and behavior in the developing heart. Here the authors perform single cell RNA sequencing at key developmental timepoints in mice to interrogate cellular contributions to coronary vessel patterning and maturation in the epicardium.
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2
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Sun X, Malandraki-Miller S, Kennedy T, Bassat E, Klaourakis K, Zhao J, Gamen E, Vieira JM, Tzahor E, Riley PR. The extracellular matrix protein agrin is essential for epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition during heart development. Development 2021; 148:261801. [PMID: 33969874 PMCID: PMC8172119 DOI: 10.1242/dev.197525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
During heart development, epicardial cells residing within the outer layer undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migrate into the underlying myocardium to support organ growth and morphogenesis. Disruption of epicardial EMT results in embryonic lethality, yet its regulation is poorly understood. Here, we report epicardial EMT within the mesothelial layer of the mouse embryonic heart at ultra-high resolution using scanning electron microscopy combined with immunofluorescence analyses. We identified morphologically active EMT regions that associated with key components of the extracellular matrix, including the basement membrane-associated proteoglycan agrin. Deletion of agrin resulted in impaired EMT and compromised development of the epicardium, accompanied by downregulation of Wilms' tumor 1. Agrin enhanced EMT in human embryonic stem cell-derived epicardial-like cells by decreasing β-catenin and promoting pFAK localization at focal adhesions, and promoted the aggregation of dystroglycan within the Golgi apparatus in murine epicardial cells. Loss of agrin resulted in dispersal of dystroglycan in vivo, disrupting basement membrane integrity and impairing EMT. Our results provide new insights into the role of the extracellular matrix in heart development and implicate agrin as a crucial regulator of epicardial EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Sun
- Burdon-Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.,British Heart Foundation - Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine, CRM, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Sophia Malandraki-Miller
- Burdon-Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.,British Heart Foundation - Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine, CRM, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Tahnee Kennedy
- Burdon-Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.,British Heart Foundation - Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine, CRM, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Elad Bassat
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Konstantinos Klaourakis
- Burdon-Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.,British Heart Foundation - Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine, CRM, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Jia Zhao
- Burdon-Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.,British Heart Foundation - Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine, CRM, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Elisabetta Gamen
- Burdon-Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.,British Heart Foundation - Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine, CRM, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Joaquim Miguel Vieira
- Burdon-Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.,British Heart Foundation - Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine, CRM, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Eldad Tzahor
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Paul R Riley
- Burdon-Sanderson Cardiac Science Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.,British Heart Foundation - Oxbridge Centre of Regenerative Medicine, CRM, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
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3
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Jiang H, Song S, Li J, Yin Q, Hu S, Nie Y. Establishment and characterization of an immortalized epicardial cell line. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:6070-6081. [PMID: 33822475 PMCID: PMC8406488 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16496] [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: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, the increasing significance of the epicardium in cardiac development and regeneration is beginning to be recognized. However, because of the small proportion of primary epicardial cells and the limited cell culture time, further research on the mechanism of epicardial cells is hindered. Here, we transfected simian virus 40 Large T (SV40-LT) into primary epicardial cells to establish an immortalized cell line, named EpiSV40. We further demonstrated that EpiSV40 can be easy to culture and has the proliferation, migration and differentiation capacities comparable to primary epicardial cells. EpiSV40 can serve as an ideal in vitro model for epicardial cell research, which will booster the study of the epicardium in cardiac development and heart regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haobin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseFuwai HospitalNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseaseChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Shen Song
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseFuwai HospitalNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseaseChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Jiacheng Li
- Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center and Center for Reproductive MedicineCollege of Life SciencesThird HospitalPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Qianqian Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseFuwai HospitalNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseaseChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Shengshou Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseFuwai HospitalNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseaseChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Yu Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular DiseaseFuwai HospitalNational Center for Cardiovascular DiseaseChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
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Xu Q, Yang Y, Hou J, Chen T, Fei Y, Wang Q, Zhou Q, Li W, Ren J, Li YG. A carbon nanotubes based in situ multifunctional power assist system for restoring failed heart function. BMC Biomed Eng 2021; 3:5. [PMID: 33771225 PMCID: PMC7995575 DOI: 10.1186/s42490-021-00051-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND End-stage heart failure is a major risk of mortality. The conductive super-aligned carbon nanotubes sheets (SA-CNTs) has been applied to restore the structure and function of injured myocardium through tissue engineering, and developed as efficient cardiac pacing electrodes. However, the interfacial interaction between SA-CNTs and the surface cells is unclear, and it remains challenge to restore the diminished contraction for a seriously damaged heart. RESULTS A concept of a multifunctional power assist system (MPS) capable of multipoint pacing and contraction assisting is proposed. This device is designed to work with the host heart and does not contact blood, thus avoiding long-term anticoagulation required in current therapies. Pacing electrode constructed by SA--CNTs promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and directs the migration of pro-regenerative epicardial cells. Meanwhile, the power assist unit reveals an excellent frequency response to alternating voltage, with natural heart mimicked systolic/diastolic amplitudes. Moreover, this system exhibits an excellent pacing when attached to the surface of a rabbit heart, and presents nice biocompatibility in both in vitro and in vivo evaluation. CONCLUSIONS This MPS provides a promising non-blood contact strategy to restore in situ the normal blood-pumping function of a failed heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanfu Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yuli Yang
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jianwen Hou
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Taizhong Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yudong Fei
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Qing Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jing Ren
- School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Yi-Gang Li
- Department of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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5
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Abstract
The heart is lined by a single layer of mesothelial cells called the epicardium that provides important cellular contributions for embryonic heart formation. The epicardium harbors a population of progenitor cells that undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition displaying characteristic conversion of planar epithelial cells into multipolar and invasive mesenchymal cells before differentiating into nonmyocyte cardiac lineages, such as vascular smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and fibroblasts. The epicardium is also a source of paracrine cues that are essential for fetal cardiac growth, coronary vessel patterning, and regenerative heart repair. Although the epicardium becomes dormant after birth, cardiac injury reactivates developmental gene programs that stimulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; however, it is not clear how the epicardium contributes to disease progression or repair in the adult. In this review, we will summarize the molecular mechanisms that control epicardium-derived progenitor cell migration, and the functional contributions of the epicardium to heart formation and cardiomyopathy. Future perspectives will be presented to highlight emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at harnessing the regenerative potential of the fetal epicardium for cardiac repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pearl Quijada
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute (P.Q., E.M.S.), University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY.,Department of Medicine (P.Q., E.M.S.), University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY
| | | | - Eric M Small
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute (P.Q., E.M.S.), University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY.,Department of Medicine (P.Q., E.M.S.), University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY
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Cao J, Wang J, Jackman CP, Cox AH, Trembley MA, Balowski JJ, Cox BD, De Simone A, Dickson AL, Di Talia S, Small EM, Kiehart DP, Bursac N, Poss KD. Tension Creates an Endoreplication Wavefront that Leads Regeneration of Epicardial Tissue. Dev Cell 2017; 42:600-615.e4. [PMID: 28950101 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 06/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Mechanisms that control cell-cycle dynamics during tissue regeneration require elucidation. Here we find in zebrafish that regeneration of the epicardium, the mesothelial covering of the heart, is mediated by two phenotypically distinct epicardial cell subpopulations. These include a front of large, multinucleate leader cells, trailed by follower cells that divide to produce small, mononucleate daughters. By using live imaging of cell-cycle dynamics, we show that leader cells form by spatiotemporally regulated endoreplication, caused primarily by cytokinesis failure. Leader cells display greater velocities and mechanical tension within the epicardial tissue sheet, and experimentally induced tension anisotropy stimulates ectopic endoreplication. Unbalancing epicardial cell-cycle dynamics with chemical modulators indicated autonomous regenerative capacity in both leader and follower cells, with leaders displaying an enhanced capacity for surface coverage. Our findings provide evidence that mechanical tension can regulate cell-cycle dynamics in regenerating tissue, stratifying the source cell features to improve repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingli Cao
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jinhu Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Christopher P Jackman
- Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Amanda H Cox
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Michael A Trembley
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14624, USA; Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14624, USA
| | - Joseph J Balowski
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Ben D Cox
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Alessandro De Simone
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Amy L Dickson
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Stefano Di Talia
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Eric M Small
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14624, USA; Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14624, USA; Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14624, USA
| | | | - Nenad Bursac
- Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Kenneth D Poss
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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7
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Moerkamp AT, Lodder K, van Herwaarden T, Dronkers E, Dingenouts CKE, Tengström FC, van Brakel TJ, Goumans MJ, Smits AM. Human fetal and adult epicardial-derived cells: a novel model to study their activation. Stem Cell Res Ther 2016; 7:174. [PMID: 27899163 PMCID: PMC5129650 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-016-0434-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The epicardium, a cell layer covering the heart, plays an important role during cardiogenesis providing cardiovascular cell types and instructive signals, but becomes quiescent during adulthood. Upon cardiac injury the epicardium is activated, which includes induction of a developmental gene program, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration. However, the response of the adult epicardium is suboptimal compared to the active contribution of the fetal epicardium to heart development. To understand the therapeutic value of epicardial-derived cells (EPDCs), a direct comparison of fetal and adult sources is paramount. Such analysis has been hampered by the lack of appropriate culture systems. Methods Human fetal and adult EPDCs were isolated from cardiac specimens obtained after informed consent. EPDCs were cultured in the presence of an inhibitor of the TGFβ receptor ALK5. EMT was induced by stimulation with 1 ng/ml TGFβ. PCR, immunofluorescent staining, scratch assay, tube formation assay and RT2-PCR for human EMT genes were performed to functionally characterize and compare fetal and adult EPDCs. Results In this study, a novel protocol is presented that allows efficient isolation of human EPDCs from fetal and adult heart tissue. In vitro, EPDCs maintain epithelial characteristics and undergo EMT upon TGFβ stimulation. Although similar in several aspects, we observed important differences between fetal and adult EPDCs. Fetal and adult cells display equal migration abilities in their epithelial state. However, while TGFβ stimulation enhanced adult EPDC migration, it resulted in a reduced migration in fetal EPDCs. Matrigel assays revealed the ability of adult EPDCs to form tube-like structures, which was absent in fetal cells. Furthermore, we observed that fetal cells progress through EMT faster and undergo spontaneous EMT when TGFβ signaling is not suppressed, indicating that fetal EPDCs more rapidly respond to environmental changes. Conclusions Our data suggest that fetal and adult EPDCs are in a different state of activation and that their phenotypic plasticity is determined by this activation state. This culture system allows us to establish the cues that determine epicardial activation, behavior, and plasticity and thereby optimize the adult response post-injury. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-016-0434-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asja T Moerkamp
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kirsten Lodder
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa van Herwaarden
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Esther Dronkers
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Calinda K E Dingenouts
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Fredrik C Tengström
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas J van Brakel
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Marie-José Goumans
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Anke M Smits
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, P.O Box 9600, Postzone S-1-P, 2300RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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