Single-cell analysis of human fetal epicardium reveals its cellular composition and identifies CRIP1 as a modulator of EMT

• DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.06.002
• Publication Date: 2023-06-29T14:33:39Z
• Authors: Thomas J. Streef; Esmee J. Groeneveld; Tessa van Herwaarden; Jesper Hjortnaes; Marie José Goumans; Anke M. Smits
• Keywords: Cell fate determination; Single-Cell Analysis; Cell type

The epicardium plays an essential role in cardiogenesis by providing cardiac cell types and paracrine cues to the developing myocardium. human adult is quiescent, but recapitulation of developmental features may contribute repair. fate epicardial cells proposed be determined persistence specific subpopulations. Reports on this heterogeneity have been inconsistent, data regarding are scarce. Here we specifically isolated fetal used single-cell RNA sequencing define its composition identify regulators processes. Few subpopulations were observed, a clear distinction between epithelial mesenchymal was present, resulting novel population-specific markers. Additionally, identified CRIP1 as previously unknown regulator involved epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Overall, our cell-enriched dataset provides excellent platform study great detail.