Exploration of conserved human adipose subpopulations using targeted single cell nuclei RNAseq datasets

Smooth muscle cells and pericytes are mural cells. Pericytes can differentiate into myofibroblasts, chondrocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells, and adipocytes, marking them as a distinct progenitor population. Our goal was to molecularly define the progenitor cell populations in human adipose tissues and test the adipogenic potential of human mural cells. Single-cell transcriptomic profiling of primary human cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) treated with either lipogenic media or VSMC differentiation media was conducted to elucidate signals associated with the lipogenic phenotype observed in these primary vascular cells. VSMCs were obtained from two sources. Either derived from a surgically removed aortic wall of an abdominal aortic aneurysm patient, or purchased from ATCC (cat# PCS-100-012TM). Group one (DM) underwent VSMC differentiation, cultured with VSMC differentiation medium (DM, SmBM2 containing 2% FBS and 1mg/ml heparin). Group two (Adipo-B) underwent lipogenesis treatment, cultured with lipogenic induction medium (Lipo-T). Cells were harvested and fixed. Fixed cells were subjected probe-targeted scRNAseq.