Single Cell Transcriptional Sequencing of Epicardium-Derived Cells and Endothelial Cells During Cardiac Development

The goal of this study was to perform transcriptional profiling of single epicardium-derived cells during early cardiac development. Epicardium enriched Wilms Tumor Gene 1 (Wt1) genetic lineage tracing mouse line (Wt1CreERT2/+; R26mTmG) was utilized to collect fluorescently labeled epicardial cells at embryonic day (E) 12.5 and following epicardial-to-mesenchymal transition at E16.5. Additionally, single cell transcriptional profiling was performed in endothelial cells that were collected from Wt1CreERT2/+ mice and Wt1CreERT2/+;MRTF-A-/-;MRTF-Bflox/flox to generate myocardin-related transcription factor A and B gene deletions in the epicardium and evaluate the impact of deleting a mechanosensitive gene program on coronary vasculature development at E14.5. This transcriptional data provides a resource to determine relative mRNA changes in epicardium-derived cells and endothelial cells during significant stages of cardiac development. Overall design: Evaluation of the transcriptome of single epicardium-derived cells during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Evaluation of single endothelial cells following deletion of a mechanosensitive gene program (MRTF-A and -B deletion) in the epicardium.