HAND1 level controls the specification of multipotent cardiac and extraembryonic progenitors from human pluripotent stem cells

ABSTRACT: Diverse sets of progenitors contribute to the development of the embryonic heart, but the mechanisms of their specification have remained elusive. Here, using a human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) model, we deciphered cardiac and non-cardiac lineage trajectories in differentiation and identified transcription factors underpinning cell specification, identity and function. We discovered a concentration-dependent, fate determining function for the basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor HAND1 in mesodermal progenitors and uncovered its gene regulatory network. At low expression level, HAND1 directs differentiation towards multipotent juxta-cardiac field progenitors able to make cardiomyocytes and epicardial cells, whereas at high level it promotes the development of extraembryonic mesoder

SUBMITTER: Matthew, James Birket 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_1038-S44318-025-00409-0 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other