An intersegmental single-cell profile reveals aortic heterogeneity and identifies a novel Malat1⁺ vascular smooth muscle subtype involved in abdominal aortic aneurysm formation.

ABSTRACT: The developmental origin, anatomical location, and other factors contribute to aortic heterogeneity in a physiological state. On this basis, vascular diseases occur at different ratios based on position specificity, even with the same risk factor. However, the continuous intersegmental aortic profile has been rarely reported at the single-cell level. To reveal aortic heterogeneity, we identified 15 cell subtypes from five continuous aortic segments by marker genes and functional definitions. The EC1 subtype highly expressed Vcam1 and Scarb2 genes in the aortic arch, which were reported to be associated with atherosclerosis. The newly identified Fbn1⁺ fibroblasts were found highly expressed in thoracic segments. More importantly, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) demonstrated

SUBMITTER: Yu L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9043217 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature