A Cell Atlas of the Dahl SS Thoracic Aortic Perivascular Adipose Tissue

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is increasingly recognized for its function in mechanotransduction. To examine the cell-specificity of recognized mechanotransducers we use single nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) of the thoracic aorta PVAT (taPVAT) from male Dahl SS rats compared to subscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT). Approximately 30,000 nuclei from taPVAT and BAT each were characterized by snRNAseq, identifying 8 major cell types expected and one unexpected (nuclei with oligodendrocyte marker genes). Cell-specific differential gene expression analysis between taPVAT and BAT identified up to 511 genes (adipocytes) with many (=20%) being unique to individual cell types. Piezo1 was the most highly, widely expressed mechanotransducer. Presence of PIEZO1 in the PVAT was confirmed by RNAscope® and IHC; antagonism of PIEZO1 impaired the tissue's ability to hold tension. Collectively, the cell compositions of taPVAT and BAT are highly similar, and PIEZO1 is likely a mechanotransducer in taPVAT. Overall design: Nuclei isolated from 2 naïve male Dahl SS rats each from subscapular brown adipose tissue and thoracic aorta perivascular adipose tissue.