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Feeder-Free Generation and Characterization of Endocardial and Cardiac Valve Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

ABSTRACT: Valvular heart disease presents a significant health burden, yet advancements in valve biology and novel therapeutics have been hindered by the lack of accessibility to human valve cells. In this study, we have developed a scalable and feeder-free method to differentiate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into endocardial cells. Importantly, we show that these endocardial cells are transcriptionally and phenotypically distinct from vascular endothelial cells and can be directed to undergo endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) to generate cardiac valve cell populations. Following this, we identified two distinct populations—one population undergoes EndMT to become valvular interstitial cells (VICs), while the other population reinforces their endothelial identity to become valvular endothelial cells (VECs). We then characterized our iPSC-derived cell populations and identified putative markers for these populations through bulk RNAseq transcriptome analyses. Lastly, we validated our VIC and VEC populations by comparing our transcriptomic data to pseudobulk data generated from single-cell RNAseq of normal valve tissue from a 15-week-old human fetus. By increasing the accessibility to these cell populations, we aim to accelerate discoveries for cardiac valve biology and disease.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE226476 | GEO | 2023/03/03

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Valve remodeling is a complex process involving extracellular matrix organization, development of trilaminar structures, and physical elongation of valve leaflets. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating valve remodeling and their roles in congenital valve disorders remain poorly understood. Semilunar valves and atrioventricular valves from healthy and age-matched human fetal hearts with pulmonary stenosis (PS) were collected. Single-Cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to determine the transcriptomic landscape of multiple valvular cell subtypes in valve remodeling and disease. Spatial localization of newly-identified cell subtypes was determined via immunofluorescence and RNA in situ hybridization. The molecular mechanisms mediating valve development was investigated utilizing primary human fetal valve interstitial cells (VICs) and endothelial cells (VECs). scRNA-seq analysis of healthy human fetal valves identified a novel APOE+ elastin-producing VIC subtype (Elastin-VIC) spatially located underneath VECs sensing the unidirectional flow. Knockdown of APOE in fetal VICs resulted in significant elastogenesis defects. In pulmonary valve with PS, we observed decreased expression of APOE and other genes regulating elastogenesis such as EMILIN1 and LOXL1, as well as elastin fragmentation. These findings suggested the crucial role of APOE in regulating elastogenesis during valve remodeling. Furthermore, cell-cell interaction analysis revealed that JAG1 from unidirectional VECs activates NOTCH signaling in Elastin-VICs through NOTCH3. In vitro Jag1 treatment in VICs increased the expression of elastogenesis-related genes and enhanced contractile functions with related gene expression. This was accompanied by activation of NOTCH signaling and elastogenesis observed in VICs co-cultured with VECs in the presence of unidirectional flow. Notably, we found that the JAG1-NOTCH3 signaling pair was drastically reduced in the PS valves. Lastly, we demonstrated that APOE is indispensable for JAG1-induced NOTCH activation in VICs, reinforcing the presence of a synergistic intrinsic and external regulatory network involving APOE and NOTCH signaling that is responsible for regulating elastogenesis during human valve remodeling. scRNA-seq analysis of human fetal valves identified a novel Elastin-VIC subpopulation, and revealed mechanism of intrinsic APOE and external NOTCH signaling from VECs sensing unidirectional flow in regulating elastogenesis during valve remodeling. These mechanisms may contribute to the pathogenesis of elastic malformation in congenital valve disease.

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Feeder-Free Generation and Characterization of Endocardial and Cardiac Valve Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

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