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Tanimura K, Aldrich MC, Jaworski J, Xing J, Okawa S, Chandra D, Nouraie SM, Nyunoya T. Identifying a Genetic Link Between Lung Function and Psoriasis. Ann Hum Genet 2024. [PMID: 39718377 DOI: 10.1111/ahg.12587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2024] [Revised: 12/03/2024] [Accepted: 12/07/2024] [Indexed: 12/25/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The common genetic underpinnings of psoriasis and pulmonary comorbidities have yet to be explored. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with psoriasis and their relationship with pulmonary function using data from the UK Biobank (UKBB) and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Biobank (BioVU). RESULTS Out of the 63 psoriasis-associated SNPs identified in previous genome-wide association studies within the European population, we successfully identified 53 SNPs, including proxy SNPs in UKBB database. Following adjustments using age and sex, 31 SNPs displayed statistically significant associations with psoriasis. Among these, 16 SNPs exhibited significant associations with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), 14 with forced vital capacity (FVC), and 5 with the FEV1/FVC ratio in the UKBB. In the validation analysis using the BioVU database, 27 of the 31 psoriasis-associated SNPs were available for examination. Notably, the minor allele of SNP rs8016947 was confirmed to be significant, indicating a reduced risk for psoriasis and improved FEV1. Similarly, the minor alleles of SNPs rs17716942 and rs8016947 were associated with a reduced risk of psoriasis and enhanced FVC. However, none of the 5 SNPs significantly associated with the FEV1/FVC ratio in the UKBB displayed significance in the BioVU dataset. CONCLUSION This study has unveiled genetic variants that bridge the realms of psoriasis and lung function. The genes associated with these variants, including IFIH1, Grancalcin gene (GCA), and NFKB inhibitor alpha gene (NFKBIA), regulate innate immune responses, which suggests that immunodysregulation, a central element in psoriasis pathogenesis, may also impact lung function, alluding to a "skin-lung axis."
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Vasan L, Chinchalongporn V, Saleh F, Zinyk D, Ke C, Suresh H, Ghazale H, Belfiore L, Touahri Y, Oproescu AM, Patel S, Rozak M, Amemiya Y, Han S, Moffat A, Black SE, McLaurin J, Near J, Seth A, Goubran M, Reiner O, Gillis J, Wang C, Okawa S, Schuurmans C. Examining the NEUROG2-lineage and associated-gene expression in human cortical organoids. Development 2024:dev.202703. [PMID: 39680368 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 12/07/2024] [Indexed: 12/17/2024]
Abstract
Proneural genes are conserved drivers of neurogenesis across the animal kingdom. How their functions have adapted to guide human-specific neurodevelopmental features is poorly understood. Here, we mined transcriptomic data from human fetal cortices and generated from human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived cortical organoids (COs) to show that NEUROG1 and NEUROG2 are most highly expressed in basal neural progenitor cells, with pseudotime trajectory analyses indicating that NEUROG1-derived lineages predominate early and NEUROG2 lineages later. Using ChIP-qPCR, gene silencing and overexpression studies in COs, we show NEUROG2 is necessary and sufficient to directly transactivate known target genes (NEUROD1, EOMES, RND2). To identify new targets, we engineered NEUROG2-mCherry knock-in hESCs for CO generation. The mCherry-high CO cell transcriptome is enriched in extracellular matrix (ECM)-associated genes, and two genes associated with human-accelerated regions; PPP1R17 and FZD8. We show NEUROG2 binds COL1A1, COL3A1 and PPP1R17 regulatory elements and induces their ectopic expression in COs, although NEUROG2 is not required for this expression. Neurog2 similarly induces Col3a1 and Ppp1r17 in murine P19 cells. These data are consistent with a conservation of NEUROG2 function across mammalian species.
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Rao RJ, Yang J, Jiang S, El-Khoury W, Hafeez N, Okawa S, Tai YY, Tang Y, Aaraj YA, Sembrat JC, Chan SY. Post-transcriptional regulation of IFI16 promotes inflammatory endothelial pathophenotypes observed in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2024. [PMID: 39657959 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00048.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 10/31/2024] [Indexed: 12/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease driven by endothelial cell inflammation and dysfunction, resulting in the pathological remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature. Innate immune activation has been linked to PAH development; however, the regulation, propagation, and reversibility of the induction of inflammation in PAH is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate a role for interferon inducible protein 16 (IFI16), an innate immune sensor, as a modulator of endothelial inflammation in pulmonary hypertension, utilizing human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs). Inflammatory stimulus of PAECs with IL-1b up-regulates IFI16 expression, inducing proinflammatory cytokine up-regulation and cellular apoptosis. IFI16 mRNA stability is regulated by post-transcriptional m6A modification, mediated by Wilms' tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP), a structural stabilizer of the methyltransferase complex, via regulation of m6A methylation of IFI16. Additionally, m6A levels are increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of PAH patients compared to control, indicating that quantifying this epigenetic change in patients may hold potential as a biomarker for disease identification. In summary, our study demonstrates IFI16 mediates inflammatory endothelial pathophenotypes seen in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
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Mommaerts K, Okawa S, Schmitt M, Kofanova O, Turner TR, Ben RN, Del Sol A, Mathieson W, Schwamborn JC, Acker JP, Betsou F. Ice recrystallization inhibitors enable efficient cryopreservation of induced pluripotent stem cells: A functional and transcriptomic analysis. Stem Cell Res 2024; 81:103583. [PMID: 39467374 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2024.103583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 10/14/2024] [Indexed: 10/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The successful use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for research or clinical applications requires the development of robust, efficient, and reproducible cryopreservation protocols. After cryopreservation, the survival rate of iPSCs is suboptimal and cell line-dependent. We assessed the use of ice recrystallization inhibitors (IRIs) for cryopreservation of human iPSCs. A toxicity screening study was performed to assess specific small-molecule carbohydrate-based IRIs and concentrations for further evaluation. Then, a cryopreservation study compared the cryoprotective efficiency of 15 mM IRIs in 5 % or 10 % DMSO-containing solutions and with CryoStor® CS10. Three iPSC lines were cryopreserved as single-cell suspensions in the cryopreservation solutions and post-thaw characteristics, including pluripotency and differential gene expression were assessed. We demonstrate the fitness-for-purpose of 15 mM IRI in 5 % DMSO as an efficient cryoprotective solution for iPSCs in terms of post-thaw recovery, viability, pluripotency, and transcriptomic changes. This mRNA sequencing dataset has the potential to be used for molecular mechanism analysis relating to cryopreservation. Use of IRIs can reduce DMSO concentrations and its associated toxicities, thereby improving the utility, effectiveness, and efficiency of cryopreservation.
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Kelly NJ, Chaudhary R, Khoury WE, Kalepalli N, Wang J, Patel P, Chan IN, Rahman H, Saiyed A, Shah AN, McClung CA, Okawa S, Nouraie SM, Chan SY. Health outcomes after national acute sleep deprivation events among the American public. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.10.29.24316369. [PMID: 39574850 PMCID: PMC11581059 DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.29.24316369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2024]
Abstract
Background Sleep is increasingly recognized as essential to human health, yet the adverse health consequences of acute sleep deprivation are unknown. Using actigraphic, genomic, and health data from the All of Us ( AoU ) Research Program, we characterized the detrimental health consequences of acute sleep deprivation in the American public. Methods LOESS smoothing was performed on sleep estimates from Fitbit users (N = 14,681) between June 1, 2016 and July 1, 2022. Dates when population minutes slept were less than the 90% confidence interval of the LOESS regression were named acute sleep deprivation events (ASDEs). Phenome-wide disease incidence among the AoU population (N = 287,012) in the 10 days post-ASDE was compared to a preceding reference period by McNemar test. Circadian rhythm and sleep duration-associated SNPs were screened to identify genotypes associated with shorter ASDE sleep duration. Influences of sleep and circadian genotype on post-ASDE influenza risk were modeled using binomial family generalized estimating equations. Findings We identified 32 ASDEs spanning political and non-political events. A phenome-wide screen found increased risk of influenza (OR = 1.54 [1.40, 1.70], P -value = 1.00 x 10 -18 ) following ASDEs. 56 SNPs were associated with decreased sleep duration on ASDEs. Higher quantiles of ASDE-related SNP genotype burden were associated with less ASDE sleep duration and a greater risk of influenza-associated healthcare visits. Interpretation National political and non-political events are associated with acute sleep deprivation and greater influenza risk which is amplified by sleep genotypes. These findings should inform public health vigilance surrounding major national events.
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Rao RJ, Yang J, Jiang S, El-Khoury W, Hafeez N, Okawa S, Tai YY, Tang Y, Al Aaraj Y, Sembrat J, Chan SY. Post-transcriptional regulation of IFI16 promotes inflammatory endothelial pathophenotypes observed in pulmonary arterial hypertension. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.19.613988. [PMID: 39345560 PMCID: PMC11429958 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.19.613988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease driven by endothelial cell inflammation and dysfunction, resulting in the pathological remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature. Innate immune activation has been linked to PAH development; however, the regulation, propagation, and reversibility of the induction of inflammation in PAH is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate a role for interferon inducible protein 16 (IFI16), an innate immune sensor, as a modulator of endothelial inflammation in pulmonary hypertension, utilizing human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs). Inflammatory stimulus of PAECs with IL-1β up-regulates IFI16 expression, inducing proinflammatory cytokine up-regulation and cellular apoptosis. IFI16 mRNA stability is regulated by post-transcriptional m6A modification, mediated by Wilms' tumor 1-associated protein (WTAP), a structural stabilizer of the methyltransferase complex, via regulation of m6A methylation of IFI16. Additionally, m6A levels are increased in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of PAH patients compared to control, indicating that quantifying this epigenetic change in patients may hold potential as a biomarker for disease identification. In summary, our study demonstrates IFI16 mediates inflammatory endothelial pathophenotypes seen in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
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Touahri Y, Hanna J, Tachibana N, Okawa S, Liu H, David LA, Olender T, Vasan L, Pak A, Mehta DN, Chinchalongporn V, Balakrishnan A, Cantrup R, Dixit R, Mattar P, Saleh F, Ilnytskyy Y, Murshed M, Mains PE, Kovalchuk I, Lefebvre JL, Leong HS, Cayouette M, Wang C, Del Sol A, Brand M, Reese BE, Schuurmans C. Pten regulates endocytic trafficking of cell adhesion and Wnt signaling molecules to pattern the retina. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114005. [PMID: 38551961 PMCID: PMC11290456 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114005] [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: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The retina is exquisitely patterned, with neuronal somata positioned at regular intervals to completely sample the visual field. Here, we show that phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) controls starburst amacrine cell spacing by modulating vesicular trafficking of cell adhesion molecules and Wnt proteins. Single-cell transcriptomics and double-mutant analyses revealed that Pten and Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule Dscam) are co-expressed and function additively to pattern starburst amacrine cell mosaics. Mechanistically, Pten loss accelerates the endocytic trafficking of DSCAM, FAT3, and MEGF10 off the cell membrane and into endocytic vesicles in amacrine cells. Accordingly, the vesicular proteome, a molecular signature of the cell of origin, is enriched in exocytosis, vesicle-mediated transport, and receptor internalization proteins in Pten conditional knockout (PtencKO) retinas. Wnt signaling molecules are also enriched in PtencKO retinal vesicles, and the genetic or pharmacological disruption of Wnt signaling phenocopies amacrine cell patterning defects. Pten thus controls vesicular trafficking of cell adhesion and signaling molecules to establish retinal amacrine cell mosaics.
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Hamsanathan S, Anthonymuthu T, Prosser D, Lokshin A, Greenspan SL, Resnick NM, Perera S, Okawa S, Narasimhan G, Gurkar AU. A molecular index for biological age identified from the metabolome and senescence-associated secretome in humans. Aging Cell 2024; 23:e14104. [PMID: 38454639 PMCID: PMC11019119 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14104] [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: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Unlike chronological age, biological age is a strong indicator of health of an individual. However, the molecular fingerprint associated with biological age is ill-defined. To define a high-resolution signature of biological age, we analyzed metabolome, circulating senescence-associated secretome (SASP)/inflammation markers and the interaction between them, from a cohort of healthy and rapid agers. The balance between two fatty acid oxidation mechanisms, β-oxidation and ω-oxidation, associated with the extent of functional aging. Furthermore, a panel of 25 metabolites, Healthy Aging Metabolic (HAM) index, predicted healthy agers regardless of gender and race. HAM index was also validated in an independent cohort. Causal inference with machine learning implied three metabolites, β-cryptoxanthin, prolylhydroxyproline, and eicosenoylcarnitine as putative drivers of biological aging. Multiple SASP markers were also elevated in rapid agers. Together, our findings reveal that a network of metabolic pathways underlie biological aging, and the HAM index could serve as a predictor of phenotypic aging in humans.
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Barvaux S, Okawa S, Del Sol A. SinCMat: A single-cell-based method for predicting functional maturation transcription factors. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:270-284. [PMID: 38215756 PMCID: PMC10874865 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.12.006] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
A major goal of regenerative medicine is to generate tissue-specific mature and functional cells. However, current cell engineering protocols are still unable to systematically produce fully mature functional cells. While existing computational approaches aim at predicting transcription factors (TFs) for cell differentiation/reprogramming, no method currently exists that specifically considers functional cell maturation processes. To address this challenge, here, we develop SinCMat, a single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)-based computational method for predicting cell maturation TFs. Based on a model of cell maturation, SinCMat identifies pairs of identity TFs and signal-dependent TFs that co-target genes driving functional maturation. A large-scale application of SinCMat to the Mouse Cell Atlas and Tabula Sapiens accurately recapitulates known maturation TFs and predicts novel candidates. We expect SinCMat to be an important resource, complementary to preexisting computational methods, for studies aiming at producing functionally mature cells.
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Tai YY, Yu Q, Tang Y, Sun W, Kelly NJ, Okawa S, Zhao J, Schwantes-An TH, Lacoux C, Torrino S, Aaraj YA, Khoury WE, Negi V, Liu M, Corey CG, Belmonte F, Vargas SO, Schwartz B, Bhat B, Chau BN, Karnes JH, Satoh T, Barndt RJ, Wu H, Parikh VN, Wang J, Zhang Y, McNamara D, Li G, Speyer G, Wang B, Shiva S, Kaufman B, Kim S, Gomez D, Mari B, Cho MH, Boueiz A, Pauciulo MW, Southgate L, Trembath RC, Sitbon O, Humbert M, Graf S, Morrell NW, Rhodes CJ, Wilkins MR, Nouraie M, Nichols WC, Desai AA, Bertero T, Chan SY. Allele-specific control of rodent and human lncRNA KMT2E-AS1 promotes hypoxic endothelial pathology in pulmonary hypertension. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadd2029. [PMID: 38198571 PMCID: PMC10947529 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.add2029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Hypoxic reprogramming of vasculature relies on genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic circuitry, but the control points are unknown. In pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a disease driven by hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-dependent vascular dysfunction, HIF-2α promoted expression of neighboring genes, long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) histone lysine N-methyltransferase 2E-antisense 1 (KMT2E-AS1) and histone lysine N-methyltransferase 2E (KMT2E). KMT2E-AS1 stabilized KMT2E protein to increase epigenetic histone 3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3), driving HIF-2α-dependent metabolic and pathogenic endothelial activity. This lncRNA axis also increased HIF-2α expression across epigenetic, transcriptional, and posttranscriptional contexts, thus promoting a positive feedback loop to further augment HIF-2α activity. We identified a genetic association between rs73184087, a single-nucleotide variant (SNV) within a KMT2E intron, and disease risk in PAH discovery and replication patient cohorts and in a global meta-analysis. This SNV displayed allele (G)-specific association with HIF-2α, engaged in long-range chromatin interactions, and induced the lncRNA-KMT2E tandem in hypoxic (G/G) cells. In vivo, KMT2E-AS1 deficiency protected against PAH in mice, as did pharmacologic inhibition of histone methylation in rats. Conversely, forced lncRNA expression promoted more severe PH. Thus, the KMT2E-AS1/KMT2E pair orchestrates across convergent multi-ome landscapes to mediate HIF-2α pathobiology and represents a key clinical target in pulmonary hypertension.
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Saito T, Mikami T, Hirano T, Nagahama H, Enatsu R, Komatsu K, Okawa S, Akiyama Y, Mikuni N. Microbleeds Due to Reperfusion Enhance Early Seizures after Carotid Ligation in a Rat Ischemic Model. Neurol Med Chir (Tokyo) 2023. [PMID: 37019650 DOI: 10.2176/jns-nmc.2022-0372] [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: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Impaired reperfusion in ischemic brain disease is a condition that we are increasingly confronted with owing to recent advances in reperfusion therapy. In the present study, rat models of reperfusion were investigated to determine the causes of acute seizures using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathological specimens. Rat models of bilateral common carotid artery ligation followed by reperfusion and complete occlusion were created. We compared the incidence of seizures, mortality within 24 h, MRI, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to evaluate ischemic or hemorrhagic changes and metabolites in the brain parenchyma. In addition, the histopathological specimens were compared with those observed on MRI. In multivariate analysis, the predictive factors of mortality were seizure (odds ratios (OR), 106.572), reperfusion or occlusion (OR, 0.056), and the apparent diffusion coefficient value of the striatum (OR, 0.396). The predictive factors of a convulsive seizure were reperfusion or occlusion (OR, 0.007) and the number of round-shaped hyposignals (RHS) on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) (OR, 2.072). The incidence of convulsive seizures was significantly correlated with the number of RHS in the reperfusion model. RHS on SWI was confirmed pathologically as microbleeds in the extravasation of the brain parenchyma and was distributed around the hippocampus and cingulum bundle. MRS analysis showed that the N-acetyl aspartate level was significantly lower in the reperfusion group than in the occlusion group. In the reperfusion model, RHS on SWI was a risk factor for convulsive seizures. The location of the RHS also influenced the incidence of convulsive seizures.
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Kanazawa S, Funasaka H, Fukaya H, Okawa S. Aphasia with No Apparent Paralysis in Progressive Stroke of the Anterior Choroidal Artery. Intern Med 2023; 62:1059-1062. [PMID: 36047127 PMCID: PMC10125816 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0009-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Some anterior choroidal artery (AChA) infarctions in the posterior limbs of the internal capsule (plIC) have been reported to cause aphasia, typically with apparent paralysis. We herein report an 84-year-old woman with AChA infarction. Although her dysarthria remained mild with no apparent paralysis, we overlooked progression to branch atheromatous disease-related infarct with exacerbation of her anomia, which delayed the initiation of more intense therapy. Even in AChA infarction, especially when the lesion is located mainly in the anterior part of the plIC, as in our case, it is possible to encounter progressive stroke predominantly with aphasia.
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Hartmann A, Okawa S, Zaffaroni G, del Sol A. Author Correction: SeesawPred: a web application for predicting cell-fate determinants in cell differentiation. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21760. [PMID: 36526715 PMCID: PMC9758207 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25606-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
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Zheng M, Okawa S, Bravo M, Chen F, Martínez-Chantar ML, del Sol A. ChemPert: mapping between chemical perturbation and transcriptional response for non-cancer cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 51:D877-D889. [PMID: 36200827 PMCID: PMC9825489 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Prior knowledge of perturbation data can significantly assist in inferring the relationship between chemical perturbations and their specific transcriptional response. However, current databases mostly contain cancer cell lines, which are unsuitable for the aforementioned inference in non-cancer cells, such as cells related to non-cancer disease, immunology and aging. Here, we present ChemPert (https://chempert.uni.lu/), a database consisting of 82 270 transcriptional signatures in response to 2566 unique perturbagens (drugs, small molecules and protein ligands) across 167 non-cancer cell types, as well as the protein targets of 57 818 perturbagens. In addition, we develop a computational tool that leverages the non-cancer cell datasets, which enables more accurate predictions of perturbation responses and drugs in non-cancer cells compared to those based onto cancer databases. In particular, ChemPert correctly predicted drug effects for treating hepatitis and novel drugs for osteoarthritis. The ChemPert web interface is user-friendly and allows easy access of the entire datasets and the computational tool, providing valuable resources for both experimental researchers who wish to find datasets relevant to their research and computational researchers who need comprehensive non-cancer perturbation transcriptomics datasets for developing novel algorithms. Overall, ChemPert will facilitate future in silico compound screening for non-cancer cells.
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Koyama S, Aida J, Mori Y, Okawa S, Odani S, Miyashiro I. COVID-19 Effects on Income and Dental Visits: A Cross-sectional Study. JDR Clin Trans Res 2022; 7:307-314. [PMID: 35533247 DOI: 10.1177/23800844221094479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In April 2020, the Japanese government declared a state of emergency owing to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which resulted in reduced workforce and job losses. Furthermore, income is one of the most consistent predictors of dental visits. Therefore, this study examined the association between income changes and dental clinic visits during the COVID-19 state of emergency in Japan. METHODS An online, self-reported cross-sectional survey about health activities including dental visits during the first COVID-19 state of emergency was conducted in Osaka, Japan (June 23 to July 12, 2020). Among participants with toothaches, the assessment for the association between "refrained from visiting a dentist despite wanting treatment for toothache during the state of emergency (refrained treatment)" and income changes before and after the state of emergency using a multivariate Poisson regression model adjusted for sex, age, self-rated health, frequency of regular dental visits, and employment status. RESULTS Among 27,575 participants, 3,895 (14.1%) had toothaches, and 1,906 (6.9%) reported refrained treatment. Among people with decreased income (n = 8,152, 29.6% of overall participants), the proportions of the refrained treatment group were 8.0% (income decreased by 1%-49%), 9.9% (50%-99% decreased), and 9.1% (100% decreased). Among participants with toothache, after adjusting for all variables, compared with participants with no income change, we observed significantly higher prevalence ratios (PRs) for refrained treatment in those who experienced a decreased income owing to COVID-19 (1%-49% decrease: PR = 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.005-1.17; 50%-99% decrease: PR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.06-1.32; 100% decrease: PR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.04-1.33). CONCLUSION Decreased income was associated with refrained dental treatment during the COVID-19 state of emergency in Osaka, Japan. The economic damage related to the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to oral health inequalities. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER STATEMENT Our study found that individuals with decreased income owing to COVID-19 before and after the state of emergency showed significantly higher prevalence ratios for refraining from visiting a dentist despite wanting treatment for toothache. We believe that our study makes a significant contribution because it provides novel, basic data that economic damages related to the COVID-19 pandemic might expand to oral health inequalities.
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Hu Y, Jiang Y, Behnan J, Ribeiro MM, Kalantzi C, Zhang MD, Lou D, Häring M, Sharma N, Okawa S, Del Sol A, Adameyko I, Svensson M, Persson O, Ernfors P. Neural network learning defines glioblastoma features to be of neural crest perivascular or radial glia lineages. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm6340. [PMID: 35675414 PMCID: PMC9177076 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm6340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma is believed to originate from nervous system cells; however, a putative origin from vessel-associated progenitor cells has not been considered. We deeply single-cell RNA-sequenced glioblastoma progenitor cells of 18 patients and integrated 710 bulk tumors and 73,495 glioma single cells of 100 patients to determine the relation of glioblastoma cells to normal brain cell types. A novel neural network-based projection of the developmental trajectory of normal brain cells uncovered two principal cell-lineage features of glioblastoma, neural crest perivascular and radial glia, carrying defining methylation patterns and survival differences. Consistently, introducing tumorigenic alterations in naïve human brain perivascular cells resulted in brain tumors. Thus, our results suggest that glioblastoma can arise from the brains' vasculature, and patients with such glioblastoma have a significantly poorer outcome.
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Han S, Okawa S, Wilkinson GA, Ghazale H, Adnani L, Dixit R, Tavares L, Faisal I, Brooks MJ, Cortay V, Zinyk D, Sivitilli A, Li S, Malik F, Ilnytskyy Y, Angarica VE, Gao J, Chinchalongporn V, Oproescu AM, Vasan L, Touahri Y, David LA, Raharjo E, Kim JW, Wu W, Rahmani W, Chan JAW, Kovalchuk I, Attisano L, Kurrasch D, Dehay C, Swaroop A, Castro DS, Biernaskie J, Del Sol A, Schuurmans C. Proneural genes define ground-state rules to regulate neurogenic patterning and cortical folding. Neuron 2021; 109:2847-2863.e11. [PMID: 34407390 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2021.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Asymmetric neuronal expansion is thought to drive evolutionary transitions between lissencephalic and gyrencephalic cerebral cortices. We report that Neurog2 and Ascl1 proneural genes together sustain neurogenic continuity and lissencephaly in rodent cortices. Using transgenic reporter mice and human cerebral organoids, we found that Neurog2 and Ascl1 expression defines a continuum of four lineage-biased neural progenitor cell (NPC) pools. Double+ NPCs, at the hierarchical apex, are least lineage restricted due to Neurog2-Ascl1 cross-repression and display unique features of multipotency (more open chromatin, complex gene regulatory network, G2 pausing). Strikingly, selectively eliminating double+ NPCs by crossing Neurog2-Ascl1 split-Cre mice with diphtheria toxin-dependent "deleter" strains locally disrupts Notch signaling, perturbs neurogenic symmetry, and triggers cortical folding. In support of our discovery that double+ NPCs are Notch-ligand-expressing "niche" cells that control neurogenic periodicity and cortical folding, NEUROG2, ASCL1, and HES1 transcript distribution is modular (adjacent high/low zones) in gyrencephalic macaque cortices, prefiguring future folds.
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Palomo-Irigoyen M, Pérez-Andrés E, Iruarrizaga-Lejarreta M, Barreira-Manrique A, Tamayo-Caro M, Vila-Vecilla L, Moreno-Cugnon L, Beitia N, Medrano D, Fernández-Ramos D, Lozano JJ, Okawa S, Lavín JL, Martín-Martín N, Sutherland JD, de Juan VG, Gonzalez-Lopez M, Macías-Cámara N, Mosén-Ansorena D, Laraba L, Hanemann CO, Ercolano E, Parkinson DB, Schultz CW, Araúzo-Bravo MJ, Ascensión AM, Gerovska D, Iribar H, Izeta A, Pytel P, Krastel P, Provenzani A, Seneci P, Carrasco RD, Del Sol A, Martinez-Chantar ML, Barrio R, Serra E, Lazaro C, Flanagan AM, Gorospe M, Ratner N, Aransay AM, Carracedo A, Varela-Rey M, Woodhoo A. HuR/ELAVL1 drives malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor growth and metastasis. J Clin Invest 2021; 130:3848-3864. [PMID: 32315290 PMCID: PMC7324187 DOI: 10.1172/jci130379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells can develop a strong addiction to discrete molecular regulators, which control the aberrant gene expression programs that drive and maintain the cancer phenotype. Here, we report the identification of the RNA-binding protein HuR/ELAVL1 as a central oncogenic driver for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), which are highly aggressive sarcomas that originate from cells of the Schwann cell lineage. HuR was found to be highly elevated and bound to a multitude of cancer-associated transcripts in human MPNST samples. Accordingly, genetic and pharmacological inhibition of HuR had potent cytostatic and cytotoxic effects on tumor growth, and strongly suppressed metastatic capacity in vivo. Importantly, we linked the profound tumorigenic function of HuR to its ability to simultaneously regulate multiple essential oncogenic pathways in MPNST cells, including the Wnt/β-catenin, YAP/TAZ, RB/E2F, and BET pathways, which converge on key transcriptional networks. Given the exceptional dependency of MPNST cells on HuR for survival, proliferation, and dissemination, we propose that HuR represents a promising therapeutic target for MPNST treatment.
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Ribeiro MM, Okawa S, Del Sol A. TransSynW: A single-cell RNA-sequencing based web application to guide cell conversion experiments. Stem Cells Transl Med 2020; 10:230-238. [PMID: 33125830 PMCID: PMC7848352 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.20-0227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Generation of desired cell types by cell conversion remains a challenge. In particular, derivation of novel cell subtypes identified by single‐cell technologies will open up new strategies for cell therapies. The recent increase in the generation of single‐cell RNA‐sequencing (scRNA‐seq) data and the concomitant increase in the interest expressed by researchers in generating a wide range of functional cells prompted us to develop a computational tool for tackling this challenge. Here we introduce a web application, TransSynW, which uses scRNA‐seq data for predicting cell conversion transcription factors (TFs) for user‐specified cell populations. TransSynW prioritizes pioneer factors among predicted conversion TFs to facilitate chromatin opening often required for cell conversion. In addition, it predicts marker genes for assessing the performance of cell conversion experiments. Furthermore, TransSynW does not require users' knowledge of computer programming and computational resources. We applied TransSynW to different levels of cell conversion specificity, which recapitulated known conversion TFs at each level. We foresee that TransSynW will be a valuable tool for guiding experimentalists to design novel protocols for cell conversion in stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
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Zaffaroni G, Okawa S, Morales-Ruiz M, del Sol A. An integrative method to predict signalling perturbations for cellular transitions. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:e72. [PMID: 30949696 PMCID: PMC6614844 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Induction of specific cellular transitions is of clinical importance, as it allows to revert disease cellular phenotype, or induce cellular reprogramming and differentiation for regenerative medicine. Signalling is a convenient way to accomplish such transitions without transfer of genetic material. Here we present the first general computational method that systematically predicts signalling molecules, whose perturbations induce desired cellular transitions. This probabilistic method integrates gene regulatory networks (GRNs) with manually-curated signalling pathways obtained from MetaCore from Clarivate Analytics, to model how signalling cues are received and processed in the GRN. The method was applied to 219 cellular transition examples, including cell type transitions, and overall correctly predicted experimentally validated signalling molecules, consistently outperforming other well-established approaches, such as differential gene expression and pathway enrichment analyses. Further, we validated our method predictions in the case of rat cirrhotic liver, and identified the activation of angiopoietins receptor Tie2 as a potential target for reverting the disease phenotype. Experimental results indicated that this perturbation induced desired changes in the gene expression of key TFs involved in fibrosis and angiogenesis. Importantly, this method only requires gene expression data of the initial and desired cell states, and therefore is suited for the discovery of signalling interventions for disease treatments and cellular therapies.
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Dries R, Stryjewska A, Coddens K, Okawa S, Notelaers T, Birkhoff J, Dekker M, Verfaillie CM, Del Sol A, Mulugeta E, Conidi A, Grosveld FG, Huylebroeck D. Integrative and perturbation-based analysis of the transcriptional dynamics of TGFβ/BMP system components in transition from embryonic stem cells to neural progenitors. Stem Cells 2019; 38:202-217. [PMID: 31675135 PMCID: PMC7027912 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Cooperative actions of extrinsic signals and cell‐intrinsic transcription factors alter gene regulatory networks enabling cells to respond appropriately to environmental cues. Signaling by transforming growth factor type β (TGFβ) family ligands (eg, bone morphogenetic proteins [BMPs] and Activin/Nodal) exerts cell‐type specific and context‐dependent transcriptional changes, thereby steering cellular transitions throughout embryogenesis. Little is known about coordinated regulation and transcriptional interplay of the TGFβ system. To understand intrafamily transcriptional regulation as part of this system's actions during development, we selected 95 of its components and investigated their mRNA‐expression dynamics, gene‐gene interactions, and single‐cell expression heterogeneity in mouse embryonic stem cells transiting to neural progenitors. Interrogation at 24 hour intervals identified four types of temporal gene transcription profiles that capture all stages, that is, pluripotency, epiblast formation, and neural commitment. Then, between each stage we performed esiRNA‐based perturbation of each individual component and documented the effect on steady‐state mRNA levels of the remaining 94 components. This exposed an intricate system of multilevel regulation whereby the majority of gene‐gene interactions display a marked cell‐stage specific behavior. Furthermore, single‐cell RNA‐profiling at individual stages demonstrated the presence of detailed co‐expression modules and subpopulations showing stable co‐expression modules such as that of the core pluripotency genes at all stages. Our combinatorial experimental approach demonstrates how intrinsically complex transcriptional regulation within a given pathway is during cell fate/state transitions.
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Okawa S, Tabuchi T, Morishima T, Koyama S, Taniyama Y, Miyashiro I. Hospital volume and five-year survival after cancer surgery in 2007-2011 in Osaka, Japan. Eur J Public Health 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz186.352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The relationship between hospital volume (HV) and patient outcome is well-known evidence, and hospital volume is widely used as a quality indicator. In Japan, however, few studies are available on the associations between HV and survival after cancer surgery. This study aimed at examining the association between HV and longitudinal survival after surgeries of major cancer sites.
Methods
This is a retrospective observational study. Using the Osaka Cancer Registry database, we identified patients who were diagnosed as major sites of cancer (esophageal, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, lung, breast, and uterus cancer) between 2007 and 2011, and undergone surgeries in Osaka. To define the quartiles of HV (high, medium, low, and very low-volume hospitals), we ranked hospitals by annual surgical volume, sorted patients in descending order of HV, and assigned them into four equal-sized groups. The study outcome was five-year survival from the diagnosis. We analyzed the associations between hospital volume and survival among eligible patients aged between 15 and 84 years old, using Cox proportional hazard models. In the models, we adjusted for characteristics of patient and treatment received by the patients.
Results
A sample of 86,867 patients were analyzed. The mortality hazards of patients treated at very low-volume hospitals were 1.4 - 2.1 times higher than that of patients treated at high-volume hospital in all selected cancers. However, absolute differences (percent points) in adjusted survival rates between high- and very low-volume hospitals were varied by cancer site: esophagus (24.2), stomach (14.9), colorectum (11.5), pancreas (9.2), lung (10.8), breast (2.4), and uterus (3.3).
Conclusions
Very low-volume hospitals showed the poorest patient survival after cancer resections. Healthcare quality assessment at lower-volume hospitals and referrals to higher-volume hospitals are potential measures to improve survival of cancer patients.
Key messages
Patients treated at lower-volume hospitals had a higher mortality risk than those treated at higher-volume hospitals. Healthcare quality assessments and effective referrals of high-risk patients are potential interventions to improve patient survival.
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Okawa S, Del Sol A. A general computational approach to predicting synergistic transcriptional cores that determine cell subpopulation identities. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:3333-3343. [PMID: 30820550 PMCID: PMC6468312 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in single-cell RNA-sequencing techniques reveal the existence of distinct cell subpopulations. Identification of transcription factors (TFs) that define the identity of these subpopulations poses a challenge. Here, we postulate that identity depends on background subpopulations, and is determined by a synergistic core combination of TFs mainly uniquely expressed in each subpopulation, but also TFs more broadly expressed across background subpopulations. Building on this view, we develop a new computational method for determining such synergistic identity cores of subpopulations within a given cell population. Our method utilizes an information-theoretic measure for quantifying transcriptional synergy, and implements a novel algorithm for searching for optimal synergistic cores. It requires only single-cell RNA-seq data as input, and does not rely on any prior knowledge of candidate genes or gene regulatory networks. Hence, it can be directly applied to any cellular systems, including those containing novel subpopulations. The method is capable of recapitulating known experimentally validated identity TFs in eight published single-cell RNA-seq datasets. Furthermore, some of these identity TFs are known to trigger cell conversions between subpopulations. Thus, this methodology can help design strategies for cell conversion within a cell population, guiding experimentalists in the field of stem cell research and regenerative medicine.
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Okawa S, Udagawa H, Naito T, Kirita K, Ikeda T, Zenke Y, Matsumoto S, Yoh K, Niho S, Goto K. P2.04-72 Clinical Feature and Management of Acquired Resistance to PD-1 Inhibitor in Advanced NSCLC. J Thorac Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2019.08.1577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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de Soysa TY, Ranade SS, Okawa S, Ravichandran S, Huang Y, Salunga HT, Schricker A, Del Sol A, Gifford CA, Srivastava D. Single-cell analysis of cardiogenesis reveals basis for organ-level developmental defects. Nature 2019; 572:120-124. [PMID: 31341279 PMCID: PMC6719697 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1414-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Organogenesis involves integration of myriad cell types, and dysregulation of cellular gene networks results in birth defects, affecting 5 per cent of live births. Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common malformations and result from disruption of discrete subsets of cardiac progenitor cells1, yet the transcriptional changes in individual progenitors that lead to organ-level defects remain unknown. Here, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to interrogate early cardiac progenitor cells as they become specified during normal and abnormal cardiogenesis, revealing how dysregulation of specific cellular sub-populations has catastrophic consequences. A network-based computational method for scRNA-seq that predicts lineage-specifying transcription factors2,3 identified Hand2 as a specifier of outflow tract cells but not right ventricular cells, despite failure of right ventricular formation in Hand2-null mice4. Temporal single-cell transcriptome analysis of Hand2-null embryos revealed failure of outflow tract myocardium specification, whereas right ventricular myocardium was specified but failed to properly differentiate and migrate. Loss of Hand2 also led to dysregulation of retinoic acid signaling and disruption of anterior-posterior patterning of cardiac progenitors. This work reveals transcriptional determinants that specify fate and differentiation in individual cardiac progenitor cells, and exposes mechanisms of disrupted cardiac development at single-cell resolution, providing a framework to investigate congenital heart defects.
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