1
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Bannerman D, Gil de Gomez SP, Wu Q, Fernandes I, Zhao Y, Wagner KT, Okhovatian S, Landau S, Raftian N, Bodenstein DF, Wang Y, Nash TR, Vunjak-Novakovic G, Keller G, Epelman S, Radisic M. Heart-on-a-Chip Model of Epicardial-Myocardial Interaction in Ischemia Reperfusion Injury. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302642. [PMID: 38683053 PMCID: PMC11338737 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302642] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Epicardial cells (EPIs) form the outer layer of the heart and play an important role in development and disease. Current heart-on-a-chip platforms still do not fully mimic the native cardiac environment due to the absence of relevant cell types, such as EPIs. Here, using the Biowire II platform, engineered cardiac tissues with an epicardial outer layer and inner myocardial structure are constructed, and an image analysis approach is developed to track the EPI cell migration in a beating myocardial environment. Functional properties of EPI cardiac tissues improve over two weeks in culture. In conditions mimicking ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI), the EPI cardiac tissues experience less cell death and a lower impact on functional properties. EPI cell coverage is significantly reduced and more diffuse under normoxic conditions compared to the post-IRI conditions. Upon IRI, migration of EPI cells into the cardiac tissue interior is observed, with contributions to alpha smooth muscle actin positive cell population. Altogether, a novel heart-on-a-chip model is designed to incorporate EPIs through a formation process that mimics cardiac development, and this work demonstrates that EPI cardiac tissues respond to injury differently than epicardium-free controls, highlighting the importance of including EPIs in heart-on-a-chip constructs that aim to accurately mimic the cardiac environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn Bannerman
- Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Simon Pascual Gil de Gomez
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Qinghua Wu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ian Fernandes
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yimu Zhao
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karl T. Wagner
- Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sargol Okhovatian
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shira Landau
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Naimeh Raftian
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David F. Bodenstein
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ying Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Trevor R. Nash
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gordon Keller
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Slava Epelman
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre
| | - Milica Radisic
- Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto General Health Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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2
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Foglio E, D'Avorio E, Nieri R, Russo MA, Limana F. Epicardial EMT and cardiac repair: an update. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:219. [PMID: 39026298 PMCID: PMC11264588 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03823-z] [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: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a pivotal role in both heart development and injury response and involves dynamic cellular changes that are essential for cardiogenesis and myocardial repair. Specifically, epicardial EMT is a crucial process in which epicardial cells lose polarity, migrate into the myocardium, and differentiate into various cardiac cell types during development and repair. Importantly, following EMT, the epicardium becomes a source of paracrine factors that support cardiac growth at the last stages of cardiogenesis and contribute to cardiac remodeling after injury. As such, EMT seems to represent a fundamental step in cardiac repair. Nevertheless, endogenous EMT alone is insufficient to stimulate adequate repair. Redirecting and amplifying epicardial EMT pathways offers promising avenues for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies and treatment approaches for heart disease. In this review, we present a synthesis of recent literature highlighting the significance of epicardial EMT reactivation in adult heart disease patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Foglio
- Technoscience, Parco Scientifico e Tecnologico Pontino, Latina, Italy
| | - Erica D'Avorio
- Dipartimento di Promozione delle Scienze Umane e della Qualità della Vita, San Raffaele University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Riccardo Nieri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Federica Limana
- Dipartimento di Promozione delle Scienze Umane e della Qualità della Vita, San Raffaele University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
- Laboratorio di Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, IRCCS San Raffaele Roma, Rome, Italy.
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3
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Palmer JA, Rosenthal N, Teichmann SA, Litvinukova M. Revisiting Cardiac Biology in the Era of Single Cell and Spatial Omics. Circ Res 2024; 134:1681-1702. [PMID: 38843288 PMCID: PMC11149945 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.124.323672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Throughout our lifetime, each beat of the heart requires the coordinated action of multiple cardiac cell types. Understanding cardiac cell biology, its intricate microenvironments, and the mechanisms that govern their function in health and disease are crucial to designing novel therapeutical and behavioral interventions. Recent advances in single-cell and spatial omics technologies have significantly propelled this understanding, offering novel insights into the cellular diversity and function and the complex interactions of cardiac tissue. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the cellular landscape of the heart, bridging the gap between suspension-based and emerging in situ approaches, focusing on the experimental and computational challenges, comparative analyses of mouse and human cardiac systems, and the rising contextualization of cardiac cells within their niches. As we explore the heart at this unprecedented resolution, integrating insights from both mouse and human studies will pave the way for novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions, ultimately improving outcomes for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack A. Palmer
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom (J.A.P., S.A.T.)
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus (J.A.P., S.A.T.), University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nadia Rosenthal
- The Jackson Laboratory for Mammalian Genetics, Bar Harbor, ME (N.R.)
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, United Kingdom (N.R.)
| | - Sarah A. Teichmann
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom (J.A.P., S.A.T.)
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus (J.A.P., S.A.T.), University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Theory of Condensed Matter Group, Department of Physics, Cavendish Laboratory (S.A.T.), University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Monika Litvinukova
- University Hospital Würzburg, Germany (M.L.)
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max Planck Research Group at the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany (M.L.)
- Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Helmholtz Munich, Germany (M.L.)
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4
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Guerricchio L, Barile L, Bollini S. Evolving Strategies for Extracellular Vesicles as Future Cardiac Therapeutics: From Macro- to Nano-Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6187. [PMID: 38892376 PMCID: PMC11173118 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116187] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease represents the foremost cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, with a steadily increasing incidence due to the growth of the ageing population. Cardiac dysfunction leading to heart failure may arise from acute myocardial infarction (MI) as well as inflammatory- and cancer-related chronic cardiomyopathy. Despite pharmacological progress, effective cardiac repair represents an unmet clinical need, with heart transplantation being the only option for end-stage heart failure. The functional profiling of the biological activity of extracellular vesicles (EVs) has recently attracted increasing interest in the field of translational research for cardiac regenerative medicine. The cardioprotective and cardioactive potential of human progenitor stem/cell-derived EVs has been reported in several preclinical studies, and EVs have been suggested as promising paracrine therapy candidates for future clinical translation. Nevertheless, some compelling aspects must be properly addressed, including optimizing delivery strategies to meet patient needs and enhancing targeting specificity to the cardiac tissue. Therefore, in this review, we will discuss the most relevant aspects of the therapeutic potential of EVs released by human progenitors for cardiovascular disease, with a specific focus on the strategies that have been recently implemented to improve myocardial targeting and administration routes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Guerricchio
- Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy;
| | - Lucio Barile
- Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, CH-6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland;
- Euler Institute, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, CH-6900 Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Sveva Bollini
- Biology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy;
- Cellular Oncology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
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5
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Butler K, Ahmed S, Jablonski J, Hookway TA. Engineered Cardiac Microtissue Biomanufacturing Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Epicardial Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.13.593960. [PMID: 38798424 PMCID: PMC11118268 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.13.593960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Epicardial cells are a crucial component in constructing in vitro 3D tissue models of the human heart, contributing to the ECM environment and the resident mesenchymal cell population. Studying the human epicardium and its development from the proepicardial organ is difficult, but induced pluripotent stem cells can provide a source of human epicardial cells for developmental modeling and for biomanufacturing heterotypic cardiac tissues. This study shows that a robust population of epicardial cells (approx. 87.7% WT1+) can be obtained by small molecule modulation of the Wnt signaling pathway. The population maintains WT1 expression and characteristic epithelial morphology over successive passaging, but increases in size and decreases in cell number, suggesting a limit to their expandability in vitro. Further, low passage number epicardial cells formed into more robust 3D microtissues compared to their higher passage counterparts, suggesting that the ideal time frame for use of these epicardial cells for tissue engineering and modeling purposes is early on in their differentiated state. Additionally, the differentiated epicardial cells displayed two distinct morphologic sub populations with a subset of larger, more migratory cells which led expansion of the epicardial cells across various extracellular matrix environments. When incorporated into a mixed 3D co-culture with cardiomyocytes, epicardial cells promoted greater remodeling and migration without impairing cardiomyocyte function. This study provides an important characterization of stem cell-derived epicardial cells, identifying key characteristics that influence their ability to fabricate consistent engineered cardiac tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirk Butler
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Binghamton University, the State University of New York, Binghamton NY 13902
| | - Saif Ahmed
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Binghamton University, the State University of New York, Binghamton NY 13902
| | - Justin Jablonski
- Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY14627
| | - Tracy A. Hookway
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Binghamton University, the State University of New York, Binghamton NY 13902
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6
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Butler D, Reyes DR. Heart-on-a-chip systems: disease modeling and drug screening applications. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1494-1528. [PMID: 38318723 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00829k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide, casting a substantial economic footprint and burdening the global healthcare system. Historically, pre-clinical CVD modeling and therapeutic screening have been performed using animal models. Unfortunately, animal models oftentimes fail to adequately mimic human physiology, leading to a poor translation of therapeutics from pre-clinical trials to consumers. Even those that make it to market can be removed due to unforeseen side effects. As such, there exists a clinical, technological, and economical need for systems that faithfully capture human (patho)physiology for modeling CVD, assessing cardiotoxicity, and evaluating drug efficacy. Heart-on-a-chip (HoC) systems are a part of the broader organ-on-a-chip paradigm that leverages microfluidics, tissue engineering, microfabrication, electronics, and gene editing to create human-relevant models for studying disease, drug-induced side effects, and therapeutic efficacy. These compact systems can be capable of real-time measurements and on-demand characterization of tissue behavior and could revolutionize the drug development process. In this review, we highlight the key components that comprise a HoC system followed by a review of contemporary reports of their use in disease modeling, drug toxicity and efficacy assessment, and as part of multi-organ-on-a-chip platforms. We also discuss future perspectives and challenges facing the field, including a discussion on the role that standardization is expected to play in accelerating the widespread adoption of these platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derrick Butler
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
| | - Darwin R Reyes
- Microsystems and Nanotechnology Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA.
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7
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Avolio E, Campagnolo P, Katare R, Madeddu P. The role of cardiac pericytes in health and disease: therapeutic targets for myocardial infarction. Nat Rev Cardiol 2024; 21:106-118. [PMID: 37542118 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-023-00913-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Millions of cardiomyocytes die immediately after myocardial infarction, regardless of whether the culprit coronary artery undergoes prompt revascularization. Residual ischaemia in the peri-infarct border zone causes further cardiomyocyte damage, resulting in a progressive decline in contractile function. To date, no treatment has succeeded in increasing the vascularization of the infarcted heart. In the past decade, new approaches that can target the heart's highly plastic perivascular niche have been proposed. The perivascular environment is populated by mesenchymal progenitor cells, fibroblasts, myofibroblasts and pericytes, which can together mount a healing response to the ischaemic damage. In the infarcted heart, pericytes have crucial roles in angiogenesis, scar formation and stabilization, and control of the inflammatory response. Persistent ischaemia and accrual of age-related risk factors can lead to pericyte depletion and dysfunction. In this Review, we describe the phenotypic changes that characterize the response of cardiac pericytes to ischaemia and the potential of pericyte-based therapy for restoring the perivascular niche after myocardial infarction. Pericyte-related therapies that can salvage the area at risk of an ischaemic injury include exogenously administered pericytes, pericyte-derived exosomes, pericyte-engineered biomaterials, and pharmacological approaches that can stimulate the differentiation of constitutively resident pericytes towards an arteriogenic phenotype. Promising preclinical results from in vitro and in vivo studies indicate that pericytes have crucial roles in the treatment of coronary artery disease and the prevention of post-ischaemic heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Avolio
- Bristol Medical School, Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Paola Campagnolo
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Rajesh Katare
- Department of Physiology, HeartOtago, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Paolo Madeddu
- Bristol Medical School, Translational Health Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
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8
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Wang R, Lu D, Song R, Du L, Yang X, Wu ST, Wang X, Wong J, Xu Z, Zhao Q, Liu R, Zheng X. Epicardial CCM2 Promotes Cardiac Development and Repair Via its Regulation on Cytoskeletal Reorganization. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2024; 9:203-219. [PMID: 38510716 PMCID: PMC10950406 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2023.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The epicardium provides epicardial-derived cells and molecular signals to support cardiac development and regeneration. Zebrafish and mouse studies have shown that ccm2, a cerebral cavernous malformation disease gene, is essential for cardiac development. Endocardial cell-specific deletion of Ccm2 in mice has previously established that Ccm2 is essential for maintenance of the cardiac jelly for cardiac development during early gestation. The current study aimed to explore the function of Ccm2 in epicardial cells for heart development and regeneration. Through genetic deletion of Ccm2 in epicardial cells, our in vivo and ex vivo experiments revealed that Ccm2 is required by epicardial cells to support heart development. Ccm2 regulates epicardial cell adhesion, cell polarity, cell spreading, and migration. Importantly, the loss of Ccm2 in epicardial cells delays cardiac function recovery and aggravates cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction. Molecularly, Ccm2 targets the production of cytoskeletal and matrix proteins to maintain epicardial cell function and behaviors. Epicardial Ccm2 plays a critical role in heart development and regeneration via its regulation of cytoskeleton reorganization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammation Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medical Laboratory, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Dongbo Lu
- Department of Pharmacology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammation Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Renhua Song
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program, Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Luping Du
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xi Yang
- Department of Pharmacology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammation Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shi-ting Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammation Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaohong Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammation Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Justin Wong
- Epigenetics and RNA Biology Program, Centenary Institute and Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zhelong Xu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials (Ministry of Education), Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Renjing Liu
- Vascular Epigenetics Laboratory, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xiangjian Zheng
- Department of Pharmacology and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Inflammation Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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9
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Balbi C, Smart N. Epicardioids: a novel tool for cardiac regeneration research? Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:e164-e166. [PMID: 38006323 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Balbi
- Cellular and Molecular Cardiology Lab, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino-EOC, Via Chiesa 5, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Laboratories for Translational Research, EOC, Via Chiesa 5, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Smart
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics, University of Oxford South Parks Road, Sherrington Building, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, IMS-Tetsuya Nakamura Building, Old Road Campus, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
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10
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Song C, Kong F, Nong H, Cai L, Tian Y, Hou H, Wang L, Qiu X. Ammonium Persulfate-Loaded Carboxylic Gelatin-Methacrylate Nanoparticles Promote Cardiac Repair by Activating Epicardial Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition via Autophagy and the mTOR Pathway. ACS NANO 2023; 17:20246-20261. [PMID: 37782701 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Restoring damaged myocardial tissue with therapeutic exogenous cells still has some limitations, such as immunological rejection, immature cardiac properties, risk of tumorigenicity, and a low cell survival rate in the ischemic myocardium microenvironment. Activating the endogenous stem cells with functional biomaterials might overcome these limitations. Research has highlighted the multiple differentiation potential of epicardial cells via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in both heart development and cardiac regeneration. In our previous research, a carboxylic gelatin-methacrylate (carbox-GelMA) nanoparticle (NP) was fabricated to carry ammonium persulfate (APS), and APS-loaded carbox-GelMA NPs (NPs/APS) could drive the EMT of MCF-7 cells in vitro and promote cancer cell migration and invasion in vivo. The present study explored the roles of functional NPs/APS in the EMT of Wilms' tumor 1-positive (WT1+) epicardial cells and in the repair of myocardial infarction (MI). The WT1+ epicardial cells transformed into endothelial-like cells after being treated with NPs/APS in vitro, and the cardiac functions were improved significantly after injecting NPs/APS into the infarcted hearts in vivo. Furthermore, simultaneous activation of both autophagy and the mTOR pathway was confirmed during the NPs/APS-induced EMT process in WT1+ epicardial cells. Together, this study highlights the function of NPs/APS in the repair of MI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Song
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510900, China
| | - Fanxuan Kong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Huijia Nong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials Research Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Liu Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials Research Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ye Tian
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials Research Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Honghao Hou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Leyu Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Biomaterials Research Center, School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiaozhong Qiu
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510900, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510515, China
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11
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Sanchez-Fernandez C, Rodriguez-Outeiriño L, Matias-Valiente L, Ramírez de Acuña F, Franco D, Aránega AE. Understanding Epicardial Cell Heterogeneity during Cardiogenesis and Heart Regeneration. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:376. [PMID: 37754805 PMCID: PMC10531887 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10090376] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The outermost layer of the heart, the epicardium, is an essential cell population that contributes, through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), to the formation of different cell types and provides paracrine signals to the developing heart. Despite its quiescent state during adulthood, the adult epicardium reactivates and recapitulates many aspects of embryonic cardiogenesis in response to cardiac injury, thereby supporting cardiac tissue remodeling. Thus, the epicardium has been considered a crucial source of cell progenitors that offers an important contribution to cardiac development and injured hearts. Although several studies have provided evidence regarding cell fate determination in the epicardium, to date, it is unclear whether epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs) come from specific, and predetermined, epicardial cell subpopulations or if they are derived from a common progenitor. In recent years, different approaches have been used to study cell heterogeneity within the epicardial layer using different experimental models. However, the data generated are still insufficient with respect to revealing the complexity of this epithelial layer. In this review, we summarize the previous works documenting the cellular composition, molecular signatures, and diversity within the developing and adult epicardium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sanchez-Fernandez
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Lara Rodriguez-Outeiriño
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Lidia Matias-Valiente
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Felicitas Ramírez de Acuña
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Amelia Eva Aránega
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
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12
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Liu Y, Wang M, Yu Y, Li C, Zhang C. Advances in the study of exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells and cardiac cells for the treatment of myocardial infarction. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:202. [PMID: 37580705 PMCID: PMC10424417 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01227-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myocardial infarction has long been the leading cause of death in coronary heart disease, which is characterized by irreversible cardiomyocyte death and restricted blood supply. Conventional reperfusion therapy can further aggravate myocardial injury. Stem cell therapy, especially with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), has emerged as a promising approach to promote cardiac repair and improve cardiac function. MSCs may induce these effects by secreting exosomes containing therapeutically active RNA, proteins and lipids. Notably, normal cardiac function depends on intracardiac paracrine signaling via exosomes, and exosomes secreted by cardiac cells can partially reflect changes in the heart during disease, so analyzing these vesicles may provide valuable insights into the pathology of myocardial infarction as well as guide the development of new treatments. The present review examines how exosomes produced by MSCs and cardiac cells may influence injury after myocardial infarction and serve as therapies against such injury. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchang Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Minrui Wang
- School of Basic Medical Science, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Chunhong Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
| | - Chunxiang Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
- Laboratory of Nucleic Acids in Medicine for National High-Level Talents, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China.
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13
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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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14
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Streef TJ, Groeneveld EJ, van Herwaarden T, Hjortnaes J, Goumans MJ, Smits AM. Single-cell analysis of human fetal epicardium reveals its cellular composition and identifies CRIP1 as a modulator of EMT. Stem Cell Reports 2023:S2213-6711(23)00229-1. [PMID: 37390825 PMCID: PMC10362506 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.06.002] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The epicardium plays an essential role in cardiogenesis by providing cardiac cell types and paracrine cues to the developing myocardium. The human adult epicardium is quiescent, but recapitulation of developmental features may contribute to adult cardiac repair. The cell fate of epicardial cells is proposed to be determined by the developmental persistence of specific subpopulations. Reports on this epicardial heterogeneity have been inconsistent, and data regarding the human developing epicardium are scarce. Here we specifically isolated human fetal epicardium and used single-cell RNA sequencing to define its composition and to identify regulators of developmental processes. Few specific subpopulations were observed, but a clear distinction between epithelial and mesenchymal cells was present, resulting in novel population-specific markers. Additionally, we identified CRIP1 as a previously unknown regulator involved in epicardial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Overall, our human fetal epicardial cell-enriched dataset provides an excellent platform to study the developing epicardium in great detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Streef
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Esmee J Groeneveld
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tessa van Herwaarden
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jesper Hjortnaes
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marie José Goumans
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Anke M Smits
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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15
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Smits AM, Goumans MJ. Chasing youth on the outside: unique features of the human fetal epicardium. NATURE CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH 2022; 1:1130-1131. [PMID: 39196167 DOI: 10.1038/s44161-022-00191-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Anke M Smits
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
| | - Marie Jose Goumans
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
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16
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Song BW, Kim S, Kim R, Jeong S, Moon H, Kim H, Vasileva EA, Mishchenko NP, Fedoreyev SA, Stonik VA, Lee MY, Kim J, Kim HK, Han J, Chang W. Regulation of Inflammation-Mediated Endothelial to Mesenchymal Transition with Echinochrome a for Improving Myocardial Dysfunction. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:756. [PMID: 36547903 PMCID: PMC9781361 DOI: 10.3390/md20120756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a process by which endothelial cells (ECs) transition into mesenchymal cells (e.g., myofibroblasts and smooth muscle cells) and induce fibrosis of cells/tissues, due to ischemic conditions in the heart. Previously, we reported that echinochrome A (EchA) derived from sea urchin shells can modulate cardiovascular disease by promoting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity; however, the mechanism underlying these effects was unclear. We investigated the role of EchA in the EndMT process by treating human umbilical vein ECs (HUVECs) with TGF-β2 and IL-1β, and confirmed the regulation of cell migration, inflammatory, oxidative responses and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, we developed an EndMT-induced myocardial infarction (MI) model to investigate the effect of EchA in vivo. After EchA was administered once a day for a total of 3 days, the histological and functional improvement of the myocardium was investigated to confirm the control of the EndMT. We concluded that EchA negatively regulates early or inflammation-related EndMT and reduces the myofibroblast proportion and fibrosis area, meaning that it may be a potential therapy for cardiac regeneration or cardioprotection from scar formation and cardiac fibrosis due to tissue granulation. Our findings encourage the study of marine bioactive compounds for the discovery of new therapeutics for recovering ischemic cardiac injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeong-Wook Song
- Institute for Bio-Medical Convergence, Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea
| | - Sejin Kim
- Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Ran Kim
- Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Seongtae Jeong
- Institute for Bio-Medical Convergence, Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanbyeol Moon
- Institute for Bio-Medical Convergence, Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea
| | - Hojin Kim
- Institute for Bio-Medical Convergence, Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon 22711, Republic of Korea
| | - Elena A. Vasileva
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Natalia P. Mishchenko
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Sergey A. Fedoreyev
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Valentin A. Stonik
- G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Far-Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Min Young Lee
- Department of Molecular Physiology, College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongmin Kim
- Department of Life Systems, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung Kyu Kim
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Inje University, Busan 47392, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Han
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Center, Smart Marine Therapeutic Center, Inje University, Busan 47392, Republic of Korea
| | - Woochul Chang
- Department of Biology Education, College of Education, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
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17
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Anto Michel N, Ljubojevic-Holzer S, Bugger H, Zirlik A. Cellular Heterogeneity of the Heart. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:868466. [PMID: 35548426 PMCID: PMC9081371 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.868466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in technology such as the introduction of high throughput multidimensional tools like single cell sequencing help to characterize the cellular composition of the human heart. The diversity of cell types that has been uncovered by such approaches is by far greater than ever expected before. Accurate identification of the cellular variety and dynamics will not only facilitate a much deeper understanding of cardiac physiology but also provide important insights into mechanisms underlying its pathological transformation. Distinct cellular patterns of cardiac cell clusters may allow differentiation between a healthy heart and a sick heart while potentially predicting future disease at much earlier stages than currently possible. These advances have already extensively improved and will ultimately revolutionize our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease as such. In this review, we will provide an overview of the cells present in the human and rodent heart as well as genes that may be used for their identification.
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18
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Regulation of Epicardial Cell Fate during Cardiac Development and Disease: An Overview. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063220. [PMID: 35328640 PMCID: PMC8950551 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The epicardium is the outermost cell layer in the vertebrate heart that originates during development from mesothelial precursors located in the proepicardium and septum transversum. The epicardial layer plays a key role during cardiogenesis since a subset of epicardial-derived cells (EPDCs) undergo an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT); migrate into the myocardium; and differentiate into distinct cell types, such as coronary vascular smooth muscle cells, cardiac fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and presumably a subpopulation of cardiomyocytes, thus contributing to complete heart formation. Furthermore, the epicardium is a source of paracrine factors that support cardiac growth at the last stages of cardiogenesis. Although several lineage trace studies have provided some evidence about epicardial cell fate determination, the molecular mechanisms underlying epicardial cell heterogeneity remain not fully understood. Interestingly, seminal works during the last decade have pointed out that the adult epicardium is reactivated after heart damage, re-expressing some embryonic genes and contributing to cardiac remodeling. Therefore, the epicardium has been proposed as a potential target in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In this review, we summarize the previous knowledge regarding the regulation of epicardial cell contribution during development and the control of epicardial reactivation in cardiac repair after damage.
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19
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Mehanna RA, Essawy MM, Barkat MA, Awaad AK, Thabet EH, Hamed HA, Elkafrawy H, Khalil NA, Sallam A, Kholief MA, Ibrahim SS, Mourad GM. Cardiac stem cells: Current knowledge and future prospects. World J Stem Cells 2022; 14:1-40. [PMID: 35126826 PMCID: PMC8788183 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v14.i1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Regenerative medicine is the field concerned with the repair and restoration of the integrity of damaged human tissues as well as whole organs. Since the inception of the field several decades ago, regenerative medicine therapies, namely stem cells, have received significant attention in preclinical studies and clinical trials. Apart from their known potential for differentiation into the various body cells, stem cells enhance the organ's intrinsic regenerative capacity by altering its environment, whether by exogenous injection or introducing their products that modulate endogenous stem cell function and fate for the sake of regeneration. Recently, research in cardiology has highlighted the evidence for the existence of cardiac stem and progenitor cells (CSCs/CPCs). The global burden of cardiovascular diseases’ morbidity and mortality has demanded an in-depth understanding of the biology of CSCs/CPCs aiming at improving the outcome for an innovative therapeutic strategy. This review will discuss the nature of each of the CSCs/CPCs, their environment, their interplay with other cells, and their metabolism. In addition, important issues are tackled concerning the potency of CSCs/CPCs in relation to their secretome for mediating the ability to influence other cells. Moreover, the review will throw the light on the clinical trials and the preclinical studies using CSCs/CPCs and combined therapy for cardiac regeneration. Finally, the novel role of nanotechnology in cardiac regeneration will be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radwa A Mehanna
- Medical Physiology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Marwa M Essawy
- Oral Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Mona A Barkat
- Human Anatomy and Embryology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Ashraf K Awaad
- Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Eman H Thabet
- Medical Physiology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Heba A Hamed
- Histology and Cell Biology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Hagar Elkafrawy
- Medical Biochemistry Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Nehal A Khalil
- Medical Biochemistry Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Abeer Sallam
- Medical Physiology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Marwa A Kholief
- Forensic Medicine and Clinical toxicology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Samar S Ibrahim
- Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Ghada M Mourad
- Histology and Cell Biology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
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20
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Mehanna RA, Essawy MM, Barkat MA, Awaad AK, Thabet EH, Hamed HA, Elkafrawy H, Khalil NA, Sallam A, Kholief MA, Ibrahim SS, Mourad GM. Cardiac stem cells: Current knowledge and future prospects. World J Stem Cells 2022. [PMID: 35126826 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v14.i1.1]] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Regenerative medicine is the field concerned with the repair and restoration of the integrity of damaged human tissues as well as whole organs. Since the inception of the field several decades ago, regenerative medicine therapies, namely stem cells, have received significant attention in preclinical studies and clinical trials. Apart from their known potential for differentiation into the various body cells, stem cells enhance the organ's intrinsic regenerative capacity by altering its environment, whether by exogenous injection or introducing their products that modulate endogenous stem cell function and fate for the sake of regeneration. Recently, research in cardiology has highlighted the evidence for the existence of cardiac stem and progenitor cells (CSCs/CPCs). The global burden of cardiovascular diseases' morbidity and mortality has demanded an in-depth understanding of the biology of CSCs/CPCs aiming at improving the outcome for an innovative therapeutic strategy. This review will discuss the nature of each of the CSCs/CPCs, their environment, their interplay with other cells, and their metabolism. In addition, important issues are tackled concerning the potency of CSCs/CPCs in relation to their secretome for mediating the ability to influence other cells. Moreover, the review will throw the light on the clinical trials and the preclinical studies using CSCs/CPCs and combined therapy for cardiac regeneration. Finally, the novel role of nanotechnology in cardiac regeneration will be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radwa A Mehanna
- Medical Physiology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Marwa M Essawy
- Oral Pathology Department, Faculty of Dentistry/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Mona A Barkat
- Human Anatomy and Embryology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Ashraf K Awaad
- Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Eman H Thabet
- Medical Physiology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Heba A Hamed
- Histology and Cell Biology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Hagar Elkafrawy
- Medical Biochemistry Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Nehal A Khalil
- Medical Biochemistry Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Abeer Sallam
- Medical Physiology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Marwa A Kholief
- Forensic Medicine and Clinical toxicology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Samar S Ibrahim
- Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt
| | - Ghada M Mourad
- Histology and Cell Biology Department/Center of Excellence for Research in Regenerative Medicine and Applications, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21500, Egypt.
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21
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Wasserman AH, Huang AR, Lewis-Israeli YR, Dooley MD, Mitchell AL, Venkatesan M, Aguirre A. Oxytocin promotes epicardial cell activation and heart regeneration after cardiac injury. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:985298. [PMID: 36247002 PMCID: PMC9561106 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.985298] [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: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, and frequently leads to massive heart injury and the loss of billions of cardiac muscle cells and associated vasculature. Critical work in the last 2 decades demonstrated that these lost cells can be partially regenerated by the epicardium, the outermost mesothelial layer of the heart, in a process that highly recapitulates its role in heart development. Upon cardiac injury, mature epicardial cells activate and undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to form epicardium-derived progenitor cells (EpiPCs), multipotent progenitors that can differentiate into several important cardiac lineages, including cardiomyocytes and vascular cells. In mammals, this process alone is insufficient for significant regeneration, but it might be possible to prime it by administering specific reprogramming factors, leading to enhanced EpiPC function. Here, we show that oxytocin (OXT), a hypothalamic neuroendocrine peptide, induces epicardial cell proliferation, EMT, and transcriptional activity in a model of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived epicardial cells. In addition, we demonstrate that OXT is produced after cardiac cryoinjury in zebrafish, and that it elicits significant epicardial activation promoting heart regeneration. Oxytocin signaling is also critical for proper epicardium development in zebrafish embryos. The above processes are significantly impaired when OXT signaling is inhibited chemically or genetically through RNA interference. RNA sequencing data suggests that the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) pathway is the primary mediator of OXT-induced epicardial activation. Our research reveals for the first time an evolutionary conserved brain-controlled mechanism inducing cellular reprogramming and regeneration of the injured mammalian and zebrafish heart, a finding that could contribute to translational advances for the treatment of cardiac injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron H Wasserman
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Amanda R Huang
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Yonatan R Lewis-Israeli
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - McKenna D Dooley
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Allison L Mitchell
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Manigandan Venkatesan
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Aitor Aguirre
- Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States
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