BNC1 regulates cell heterogeneity in human pluripotent stem cell-derived epicardium.

ABSTRACT: The murine developing epicardium heterogeneously expresses the transcription factors TCF21 and WT1. Here, we show that this cell heterogeneity is conserved in human epicardium, regulated by BNC1 and associated with cell fate and function. Single cell RNA sequencing of epicardium derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-epi) revealed that distinct epicardial subpopulations are defined by high levels of expression for the transcription factors BNC1 or TCF21. WT1⁺ cells are included in the BNC1⁺ population, which was confirmed in human foetal hearts. THY1 emerged as a membrane marker of the TCF21 population. We show that THY1⁺ cells can differentiate into cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), whereas THY1^- cells were predo

SUBMITTER: Gambardella L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6955213 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature