Region- and Cell-type-Resolved Multiomic Atlas of the Heart

Fan Zhang1, Yunzhi Wang2, Jiajun Zhu2

  • 1Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Human Phenome Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Department of Pathology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.

Insights

This study maps the heart proteome across cell types and regions in mice and humans. It reveals altered pathways in dilated cardiomyopathy and identifies all-trans retinoic acid as a potential heart failure treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Proteomics
  • Molecular Cardiology

Background:

  • Understanding the heart's molecular network is crucial for deciphering its function and disease mechanisms.
  • Previous proteomic studies lacked cell-type and region-specific resolution.
  • The molecular basis of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To create a comprehensive cell-type and region-resolved proteome atlas of the mouse heart.
  • To analyze regional proteomic differences in human hearts, including those with DCM.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for heart failure.

Main Methods:

  • In-depth proteomic analysis of mouse heart cell types and regions.
  • Proteomic profiling of human heart tissues from four regions, comparing DCM and unaffected samples.
  • Functional experiments to validate therapeutic potential of identified pathways.

Main Results:

  • Identified 11,794 proteins across mouse heart cell types and 11,995 across regions.
  • Quantified 8201 proteins in human DCM tissue and 8316 in adjacent healthy tissue.
  • Found enrichment of the retinoic acid synthesis pathway in DCM ventricles; all-trans retinoic acid rescued heart failure models.

Conclusions:

  • The study presents a panoramic heart proteome map, detailing cell-type and regional molecular features.
  • Discovered altered transcription factor-target gene axes in DCM.
  • Demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of all-trans retinoic acid for heart failure, offering a valuable resource for cardiovascular research.