Identification of a multipotent Twist2-expressing cell population in the adult heart.

ABSTRACT: Twist transcription factors function as ancestral regulators of mesodermal cell fates in organisms ranging from Drosophila to mammals. Through lineage tracing of Twist2 (Tw2)-expressing cells with tamoxifen-inducible Tw2-CreERT2 and tdTomato (tdTO) reporter mice, we discovered a unique cell population that progressively contributes to cardiomyocytes (CMs), endothelial cells, and fibroblasts in the adult heart. Clonal analysis confirmed the ability of Tw2-derived tdTO⁺ (Tw2-tdTO⁺) cells to form CMs in vitro. Within the adult heart, Tw2-tdTO⁺ CMs accounted for ∼13% of total CMs, the majority of which resulted from fusion of Tw2-tdTO⁺ cells with existing CMs. Tw2-tdTO⁺ cells also contribute to cardiac remodeling after injury. We co

SUBMITTER: Min YL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6130356 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature