|
1
|
Li H, Tang Q, Yang T, Wang Z, Li D, Wang L, Li L, Chen Y, Huang H, Zhang Y, Chen Y. Segregation of morphogenetic regulatory function of Shox2 from its cell fate guardian role in sinoatrial node development. Commun Biol 2024; 7:385. [PMID: 38553636 PMCID: PMC10980793 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06039-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Shox2 plays a vital role in the morphogenesis and physiological function of the sinoatrial node (SAN), the primary cardiac pacemaker, manifested by the formation of a hypoplastic SAN and failed differentiation of pacemaker cells in Shox2 mutants. Shox2 and Nkx2-5 are co-expressed in the developing SAN and regulate the fate of the pacemaker cells through a Shox2-Nkx2-5 antagonistic mechanism. Here we show that simultaneous inactivation of Nkx2-5 in the SAN of Shox2 mutants (dKO) rescued the pacemaking cell fate but not the hypoplastic defects, indicating uncoupling of SAN cell fate determination and morphogenesis. Single-cell RNA-seq revealed that the presumptive SAN cells of Shox2-/- mutants failed to activate pacemaking program but remained in a progenitor state preceding working myocardium, while both wildtype and dKO SAN cells displayed normal pacemaking cell fate with similar cellular state. Shox2 thus acts as a safeguard but not a determinant to ensure the pacemaking cell fate through the Shox2-Nkx2-5 antagonistic mechanism, which is segregated from its morphogenetic regulatory function in SAN development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hua Li
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Engineering and Regenerative Medicine of Fujian Province University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350122, PR China.
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA.
- Southern Center for Biomedical Research and Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neural Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, PR China.
| | - Qinghuang Tang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
- Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14214, USA
| | - Tianfang Yang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Zhengsen Wang
- Southern Center for Biomedical Research and Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neural Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, PR China
| | - Dainan Li
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Linyan Wang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
- Department of Stomatology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610021, PR China
| | - Liwen Li
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Yaoyi Chen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Hai Huang
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA
| | - Yanding Zhang
- Southern Center for Biomedical Research and Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neural Biology, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, 350108, PR China
| | - YiPing Chen
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA.
| |
Collapse
|