Single-cell RNA Sequencing: In-depth Decoding of Heart Biology and Cardiovascular Diseases

Abstract

Background: The cardiac system is a combination of a complex structure, various cells, and versatile specified functions and sophisticated regulatory mechanisms. Moreover, cardiac diseases that encompass a wide range of endogenous conditions, remain a serious health burden worldwide. Recent genome-wide profiling techniques have taken the lead in uncovering a new realm of cell types and molecular programs driving physiological and pathological processes in various organs and diseases. In particular, the emerging technique single-cell RNA sequencing dominates a breakthrough in decoding the cell heterogeneity, phenotype transition, and developmental dynamics in cardiovascular science. Conclusion: Herein, we review recent advances in single cellular studies of cardiovascular system and summarize new insights provided by single-cell RNA sequencing in heart developmental sciences, stem-cell researches as well as normal or disease-related working mechanisms.

Strategy of Patient-Specific Therapeutics in Cardiovascular Disease Through Single-Cell RNA Sequencing

“…Recently, several studies have identified a method to activate HOPX, a key development regulator of CMs, suggesting that stimulating HOPX might facilitate the maturation of hiPSC-CMs in-vitro. 20) 30) Furthermore, the data from scRNA-seq and bulk RNA suggested that NR2F2 and HEY2 promoted the earlier atrial-like and ventricular-like properties in hiPSC-CMs respectively. 20) 31) Although there is on-going research on identifying the regulators of CM maturation and factors that induce differentiation into specific CM subtypes, the result from in-vitro studies might not fully reflect the in-vivo human development.…”

“… 20) 30) Furthermore, the data from scRNA-seq and bulk RNA suggested that NR2F2 and HEY2 promoted the earlier atrial-like and ventricular-like properties in hiPSC-CMs respectively. 20) 31) Although there is on-going research on identifying the regulators of CM maturation and factors that induce differentiation into specific CM subtypes, the result from in-vitro studies might not fully reflect the in-vivo human development. However, it will still be useful to model a normal and abnormal heart tissues for the subsequence endeavor in elucidating the pathogenesis of congenital heart diseases.…”

“…With the ability to find rare cell populations, identify heterogeneity within one cell type, understand cell-cell interaction, and analyze cellular trajectory, the scRNA-seq technique helps to reveal the signal which affects the changes in heart traits and the differentiation process of progenitor cells during the cardiac development. 20) It is also useful to sequence the human fetus heart tissue or small human adult heart tissues as it is capable of detecting the transcriptome of very few cells within a small sample size. 19) CMs, which take up most of human heart atrial tissues and ventricular tissues, become distributed in various regions by the action of key genes during the cardiac development, where they have slightly different functions depending on each region.…”

Advances in application of single-cell RNA sequencing in cardiovascular research

“…The pathogenesis related to the cardiovascular system has not been fully elucidated due to the diverse cellular interactions and complex regulatory mechanisms. Although there has been great progress in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease owing to the development of anatomy, genomics, and other disciplines and the development of inspection technology ( 2 ), understanding the cellular heterogeneity and gene interactions in cardiac tissue development and cardiac cell differentiation trajectories and in disease states requires further research. The limitations of action hinder the in-depth study of the pathogenesis and the effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment plans.…”

Single Cell Sequencing Coming of Edge

“…The review entitled Single-cell RNA Sequencing: In-depth Decoding of Heart Biology and Cardiovascular Diseases by Dr. Chen [ 4 ] reviewed recent advances in single cell studies of cardiovascular system and summarized new insights provided by scRNA-seq in heart developmental sciences, stem-cell researches as well as normal or disease-related mechanisms.…”