Project description:This study establishes the homeodomain only protein, HOPX, as a determinant controlling the molecular switch between cardiomyocyte progenitor and maturation gene programs. This dataset is about time-course CAGE (capped analysis of gene expression) data with genome-wide active transcription footprinting. HOPX CRISPRi cells were differentiated into cardiomyocytes ± DOX and analyzed by CAGE sequencing, among other methods. The study revealed that HOPX interacts with and controls core cardiac networks by regulating the activity of mutually exclusive developmental gene programs.
Project description:Mammalian cardiomyocytes rapidly mature after birth, with hallmarks such as cell-cycle exit, binucleation, and metabolic switch to oxidative phosphorylation of lipids. The causes and transcriptional programs regulating cardiomyocyte maturation are not fully understood yet. Thus, we performed single cell RNA-seq of neonatal and postnatal day 7 rat hearts to identify the key factors for this process and found AP-1 as a key factor to regulate cardiomyocyte maturation. To find the mechanism of AP-1 during cardiomyocyte maturation, we performed RNA-seq analysis of neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes and found Ap-1 promote cardiomyocyte maturation by regulating cardiomyocyte metabolism.
Project description:Hopx appears to be needed for persistence of Th1 effector memory cells. IFN-gamma-producing Th cells are significantly reduced in Hopx-deficient mice compared to Hopx-expressing littermates and Hopx-deficient Th1 cells show a defective persistence upon adoptive transfer. Moreover, Hopx protects Th1 cells from Fas-mediated cell death in vitro. To further dissect the role of Hopx and to identify target genes of Hopx, we have performed transcriptome analysis to compare gene expression in Hopx-deficient versus Hopx-competent Th1 cells. In agreement with the role of Hopx in supporting survival of Th1 effector memory cells, anti-apoptotic cells were up-regulated and pro-apoptotic genes were down-regulated in Hopx-competent compared to Hopx-deficient Th1 cells.
Project description:Cardiac maturation lays the foundation for postnatal heart development and disease, yet little is known about the contributions of the microenvironment to cardiomyocyte maturation. By integrating single-cell RNA-sequencing data of mouse hearts at multiple postnatal stages, we construct cellular interactomes and regulatory signaling networks. Here we report switching of fibroblast subtypes from a neonatal to adult state and this drives cardiomyocyte maturation. Molecular and functional maturation of neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes and human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes are considerably enhanced upon coculture with corresponding adult cardiac fibroblasts. Further, single-cell analysis of in vivo and in vitro cardiomyocyte maturation trajectories identify highly conserved signaling pathways, pharmacological targeting of which substantially delays cardiomyocyte maturation in postnatal hearts, and markedly enhances cardiomyocyte proliferation and improves cardiac function in infarcted hearts. Together, we identify cardiac fibroblasts as a key constituent in the microenvironment promoting cardiomyocyte maturation, providing insights into how the manipulation of cardiomyocyte maturity may impact on disease development and regeneration.
Project description:Mechanical forces regulate cell behavior and tissue morphogenesis. In particular, cardiac tissues require mechanical stimuli generated by the heartbeat for differentiation and maturation, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes remain unclear. Here, we first show that mechanical forces acting via the mechanosensitive factor Vinculin (VCL) are essential for cardiomyocyte myofilament maturation and that cardiac contractility regulates the localization and activation of Vinculin. To further analyze the role of Vinculin in myofilament maturation, we examined its interactome in contracting cardiomyocytes and found many cytoskeletal factors including actinins. We also identified Slingshot protein phosphatase 1 (SSH1), which we show is recruited by Vinculin to regulate F-actin rearrangement and myofilament maturation through its association with the actin depolymerizing factor Cofilin (CFL). Together, our results reveal that mechanical forces generated by cardiac contractility regulate cardiomyocyte maturation through the VCL-SSH1-CFL axis, providing mechanistic insight into how mechanical forces are transmitted intracellularly to regulate myofilament maturation.