Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals CD34 as a marker of human sinoatrial node pacemaker cardiomyocytes

Abstract The sinoatrial node regulates the heart rate throughout life. Failure of this primary pacemaker results in life-threatening, slow heart rhythm. Despite its critical function, the cellular and molecular composition of the human sinoatrial node is not resolved. Particularly, no cell surface m...

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Main Authors: Amos A. Lim, Delaram Pouyabahar, Mishal Ashraf, Kate Huang, Michelle Lohbihler, Brandon M. Murareanu, Matthew L. Chang, Maggie Kwan, Faisal J. Alibhai, Thinh Tran, Amine Mazine, Michael A. Laflamme, Gary D. Bader, Zachary Laksman, Stephanie Protze
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-11-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54337-4
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author Amos A. Lim
Delaram Pouyabahar
Mishal Ashraf
Kate Huang
Michelle Lohbihler
Brandon M. Murareanu
Matthew L. Chang
Maggie Kwan
Faisal J. Alibhai
Thinh Tran
Amine Mazine
Michael A. Laflamme
Gary D. Bader
Zachary Laksman
Stephanie Protze
author_facet Amos A. Lim
Delaram Pouyabahar
Mishal Ashraf
Kate Huang
Michelle Lohbihler
Brandon M. Murareanu
Matthew L. Chang
Maggie Kwan
Faisal J. Alibhai
Thinh Tran
Amine Mazine
Michael A. Laflamme
Gary D. Bader
Zachary Laksman
Stephanie Protze
author_sort Amos A. Lim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The sinoatrial node regulates the heart rate throughout life. Failure of this primary pacemaker results in life-threatening, slow heart rhythm. Despite its critical function, the cellular and molecular composition of the human sinoatrial node is not resolved. Particularly, no cell surface marker to identify and isolate sinoatrial node pacemaker cells has been reported. Here we use single-nuclei/cell RNA sequencing of fetal and human pluripotent stem cell-derived sinoatrial node cells to reveal that they consist of three subtypes of pacemaker cells: Core Pacemaker, Sinus Venosus, and Transitional Cells. Our study identifies a host of sinoatrial node pacemaker markers including MYH11, BMP4, and the cell surface antigen CD34. We demonstrate that sorting for CD34+ cells from stem cell differentiation cultures enriches for sinoatrial node cells exhibiting a functional pacemaker phenotype. This sinoatrial node pacemaker cell surface marker is highly valuable for stem cell-based disease modeling, drug discovery, cell replacement therapies, and the targeted delivery of therapeutics to sinoatrial node cells in vivo using antibody-drug conjugates.
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spelling doaj-art-f73cd776dca1419b9175c6eed03fe7ce2024-12-01T12:33:55ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-11-0115112210.1038/s41467-024-54337-4Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals CD34 as a marker of human sinoatrial node pacemaker cardiomyocytesAmos A. Lim0Delaram Pouyabahar1Mishal Ashraf2Kate Huang3Michelle Lohbihler4Brandon M. Murareanu5Matthew L. Chang6Maggie Kwan7Faisal J. Alibhai8Thinh Tran9Amine Mazine10Michael A. Laflamme11Gary D. Bader12Zachary Laksman13Stephanie Protze14McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health NetworkDepartment of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoCentre for Heart and Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia and St. Paul’s HospitalCentre for Heart and Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia and St. Paul’s HospitalMcEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health NetworkMcEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health NetworkMcEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health NetworkMcEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health NetworkMcEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health NetworkDepartment of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoMcEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health NetworkMcEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health NetworkDepartment of Molecular Genetics, University of TorontoCentre for Heart and Lung Innovation, University of British Columbia and St. Paul’s HospitalMcEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health NetworkAbstract The sinoatrial node regulates the heart rate throughout life. Failure of this primary pacemaker results in life-threatening, slow heart rhythm. Despite its critical function, the cellular and molecular composition of the human sinoatrial node is not resolved. Particularly, no cell surface marker to identify and isolate sinoatrial node pacemaker cells has been reported. Here we use single-nuclei/cell RNA sequencing of fetal and human pluripotent stem cell-derived sinoatrial node cells to reveal that they consist of three subtypes of pacemaker cells: Core Pacemaker, Sinus Venosus, and Transitional Cells. Our study identifies a host of sinoatrial node pacemaker markers including MYH11, BMP4, and the cell surface antigen CD34. We demonstrate that sorting for CD34+ cells from stem cell differentiation cultures enriches for sinoatrial node cells exhibiting a functional pacemaker phenotype. This sinoatrial node pacemaker cell surface marker is highly valuable for stem cell-based disease modeling, drug discovery, cell replacement therapies, and the targeted delivery of therapeutics to sinoatrial node cells in vivo using antibody-drug conjugates.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54337-4
spellingShingle Amos A. Lim
Delaram Pouyabahar
Mishal Ashraf
Kate Huang
Michelle Lohbihler
Brandon M. Murareanu
Matthew L. Chang
Maggie Kwan
Faisal J. Alibhai
Thinh Tran
Amine Mazine
Michael A. Laflamme
Gary D. Bader
Zachary Laksman
Stephanie Protze
Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals CD34 as a marker of human sinoatrial node pacemaker cardiomyocytes
Nature Communications
title Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals CD34 as a marker of human sinoatrial node pacemaker cardiomyocytes
title_full Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals CD34 as a marker of human sinoatrial node pacemaker cardiomyocytes
title_fullStr Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals CD34 as a marker of human sinoatrial node pacemaker cardiomyocytes
title_full_unstemmed Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals CD34 as a marker of human sinoatrial node pacemaker cardiomyocytes
title_short Single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals CD34 as a marker of human sinoatrial node pacemaker cardiomyocytes
title_sort single cell transcriptome analysis reveals cd34 as a marker of human sinoatrial node pacemaker cardiomyocytes
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-54337-4
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