Hapln1a⁺ cells guide coronary growth during heart morphogenesis and regeneration.

ABSTRACT: Although several tissues and chemokines orchestrate coronary formation, the guidance cues for coronary growth remain unclear. Here, we profile the juvenile zebrafish epicardium during coronary vascularization and identify hapln1a⁺ cells enriched with vascular-regulating genes. hapln1a⁺ cells not only envelop vessels but also form linear structures ahead of coronary sprouts. Live-imaging demonstrates that coronary growth occurs along these pre-formed structures, with depletion of hapln1a⁺ cells blocking this growth. hapln1a⁺ cells also pre-lead coronary sprouts during regeneration and hapln1a⁺ cell loss inhibits revascularization. Further, we identify serpine1 expression in hapln1a⁺ cells adjacent to coronary sprouts, and serpine1 inhibition blocks vascularization and revascularization. Moreover, we observe the hapln1a substrate, hyaluronan, forming linear structures along and preceding coronary vessels. Depletion of hapln1a⁺ cells or serpine1 activity inhibition disrupts hyaluronan structure. Our studies reveal that hapln1a⁺ cells and serpine1 are required for coronary production by establishing a microenvironment to facilitate guided coronary growth.

SUBMITTER: Sun J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10264374 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature