Single-Cell Profiling of Dynamic Epicardial Cell States During Myocardial Infarction

The epicardium is reactivated after myocardial infarction (MI); however, the gene expression profiles of post-MI adult epicardial subpopulations remain incompletely defined.

Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on lineage-traced Wt1 ⁺ epicardial cells from Wt1 ^{CreERT 2 /+} ; R26 ^tdT/+ ; Pdgfra ^nGFP/+ adult mice after sham surgery or at 7 and 14 days after permanent artery ligation to induce MI. Immunostaining was performed on Wt1 -lineage-traced cardiac tissue to validate spatial expression after ischemic injury.

Unbiased clustering identified nine transcriptionally distinct epicardial populations, encompassing mesothelial, fibroblast/mesenchymal, transitional, and proliferative phenotypes. Fibroblast-like epicardial cells (Wt1 ⁺ /Pdgfra ⁺ ) showed time-dependent expression profiles associated with upregulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and extracellular matrix (ECM) gene programs. At 7 days post-MI, there was notable enrichment of genes related to chemokines and Wnt components. By 14 days post-MI, the expression profile shifted toward immune regulation. In contrast, a Wt1 ^high /Msln ⁺ population showed minimal upregulation of EMT gene programs but enhanced paracrine signaling related to wound healing and semaphorins, suggesting reactivation of reparative and angiogenic functions akin to those of the epicardium during embryonic development. Immunostaining and in situ hybridization fluorescence analyses validated laminar epicardial cell placement after MI, comprising a surface Msln ⁺ sheet, an overlapping Wt1 -lineage band, and a subadjacent PDGFRα ⁺ and Periostin ⁺ compartment that expands 7-14 days after MI and regresses by day 28 post-ischemia.

Our data define epicardial gene programs in which a signaling epithelial cell surface overlays an effector mesenchymal cell stroma to coordinate angiogenesis, leukocyte recruitment, and ECM remodeling. This study presents the first integrated single-cell atlas of epicardial-derived cells across multiple post-ischemic timepoints, offering new insights into their reparative potential and dynamic signaling diversity in the injured adult heart.