Dataset Information

Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals differential cell subpopulations and distinct phenotype transition in normal and dissected ascending aorta.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Acute thoracic aortic dissection (ATAD) is a fatal condition characterized by tear of intima, formation of false lumen and rupture of aorta. However, the subpopulations of normal and dissected aorta remain less studied.

Methods

Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed including 5 patients with ATAD and 4 healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to verify the findings.

Results

We got 8 cell types from human ascending aorta and identified 50 subpopulations including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), endothelial cells, fibroblasts, neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages. Six transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 4 metalloreductase (STEAP4) was identified as a new marker of synthetic VSMCs. CytoTRACE identified subpopulations with higher differentiation potential in specified cell types including synthetic VSMCs, enolase 1⁺ fibroblasts and myeloid-derived neutrophils. Synthetic VSMCs-derived C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) might interact with neutrophils and fibroblasts via C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3), respectively, which might recruit neutrophils and induce transdifferentitation of fibroblasts into synthetic VSMCs.

Conclusion

We characterized signatures of different cell types in normal and dissected human ascending aorta and identified a new marker for isolation of synthetic VSMCs. Moreover, we proposed a potential mechanism that synthetic VSMCs might interact with neutrophils and fibroblasts via CXCL12-CXCR4/ACKR3 axis whereby deteriorating the progression of ATAD, which might provide new insights to better understand the development and progression of ATAD.

SUBMITTER: He YB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9764678 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals differential cell subpopulations and distinct phenotype transition in normal and dissected ascending aorta.

He Yu-Bin YB Jin Hai-Zhen HZ Zhao Jin-Long JL Wang Chong C Ma Wen-Rui WR Xing Jie J Zhang Xiao-Bin XB Zhang Yang-Yang YY Dai Huang-Dong HD Zhao Nai-Shi NS Zhang Jian-Feng JF Zhang Guan-Xin GX Zhang Jing J

Molecular medicine (Cambridge, Mass.) 20221219 1

<h4>Background</h4>Acute thoracic aortic dissection (ATAD) is a fatal condition characterized by tear of intima, formation of false lumen and rupture of aorta. However, the subpopulations of normal and dissected aorta remain less studied.<h4>Methods</h4>Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed including 5 patients with ATAD and 4 healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to verify the findings.<h4>Results</h4>We got 8 cell types from human ascending aorta and identi ...[more]

PMID: 36536281

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Project description:Background: Acute thoracic aortic dissection (ATAD) is a fatal condition characterized by tear of intima and formation of false lumen whereby leading to the rupture of aorta. To better understand the potential mechanism of ATAD, we analyzed characterization of different cell types between ATAD and control group and predicted interactions among different cell types which might promote the progression of ATAD. Methods: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed including 5 patients with ATAD and 4 healthy controls. Cells were digested from ascending aortic tissues and subpopulations of most cell types were identified on the basis of scRNA-seq data. The gene expression profiles of each cell type and related changes between ATAD and control group were analyzed via bioinformatic analysis. We also predicted potential interaction among different cell types and verified the results by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF). Results: We got 8 cell types from human ascending aorta and 50 subpopulations were identified after re-clustering including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), endothelial cells, fibroblasts, neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages. Higher proportion of synthetic VSMCs, dysfunctional neutrophils and monocytes were seen in ATAD group compared with control group. Next, we predicted cell differentiation trajectory of VSMCs, fibroblasts and neutrophils via CytoTRACE, then identified subpopulations with higher differentiation potential. Moreover, the hub genes of VSMCs, fibroblasts and neutrophils were examined by weighted gene co-expression network analysis. Further analysis revealed that six transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 4 metalloreductase (STEAP4) might be a new marker for isolation of synthetic VSMCs by verification with IHC and IF. We also found synthetic VSMCs-derived C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) might interact with neutrophils and fibroblasts via combination with C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) and atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3), respectively, which might recruit neutrophils and induce transdifferentitation of FBs into synthetic VSMCs. Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated integrative composition of different cell types in normal and dissected human ascending aorta and identified a new marker favorable to isolation of synthetic VSMCs. Furthermore, we also proposed a potential mechanism that synthetic VSMCs could interact with neutrophils and fibroblasts via CXCL12-CXCR4/ACKR3 axis whereby deteriorating the progression of ATAD. In total, these findings in our study might provide new insights to better understand the development and progression of ATAD.

Project description:Objectives Ascending aortic aneurysms are associated with pre-existing conditions, including connective tissue disorders (i.e., Marfan syndrome) and bicuspid aortic valves. The underlying mechanisms remain uncertain. Even less is known regarding ascending aortic aneurysms in individuals with normal (i.e., tricuspid) aortic valves (TAV), and without known aneurysm-associated disorders. Regardless of etiology, the risk of aortic complications increases with biological age. Phenotypic modulation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is a feature of ascending aortic aneurysms, whereby contractile SMCs are replaced with synthetic SMCs that are capable of degrading the aortic wall. We asked whether age itself causes dysfunctional SMC phenotype modulation, independent of aortic dilatation or pre-existing aneurysm-associated diseases. Methods Non-dilated ascending aortic samples were obtained intra-operatively from 40 patients undergoing aortic valve surgery (range: 20–82 years old, mean: 59.1 ± 15.2). Patients with known genetic diseases or aortic valve malformations were excluded. Tissue was divided, and a portion was formalin-fixed and immunolabeled for alpha-smooth muscle actin (ASMA), a contractile SMC protein, and markers of synthetic (vimentin) or senescent (p16/p21) SMCs. Another fragment was used for SMC isolation (n = 10). Cultured SMCs were fixed at cell passage 2 and stained for phenotype markers, or were cultured indefinitely to determine replicative capacity. Results In whole tissue, ASMA decreased (R2 = 0.47, P < 0.0001), while vimentin increased (R2 = 0.33, P = 0.02) with age. In cultured SMCs, ASMA decreased (R2 = 0.35, P = 0.03) and vimentin increased (R2 = 0.25, P = 0.04) with age. p16 (R2 = 0.34, P = 0.02) and p21 (R2 = 0.29, P = 0.007) also increased with age in SMCs. Furthermore, the replicative capacity of SMCs from older patients was decreased compared to that of younger patients (P = 0.03). Conclusion By investigating non-dilated aortic samples from individuals with normal TAVs, we found that age itself has a negative impact on SMCs in the ascending aortic wall, whereby SMCs switched from the contractile phenotype to maladaptive synthetic or senescent states with increased age. Therefore, based on our findings, modification of SMC phenotype should be studied as a therapeutic consideration against aneurysms in the future, regardless of etiology.

Dataset Information

Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals differential cell subpopulations and distinct phenotype transition in normal and dissected ascending aorta.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Publications

Single-cell transcriptomic analysis reveals differential cell subpopulations and distinct phenotype transition in normal and dissected ascending aorta.

Similar Datasets

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