A cell atlas of the human outflow tract of the heart and its adult derivatives

Abstract

AbstractThe outflow tract (OFT) of the heart carries blood away from the heart into the great arteries. During embryogenesis the OFT divides to the aorta and pulmonary trunk, which originate from the left and right ventricles, respectively, creating the double circulation present in mammals. Defects in this area account for one-third of all congenital heart disease cases. Although model systems have greatly enhanced our understanding of the cell lineages that contribute to the OFT, our knowledge of OFT development in humans remains limited. Here, we present comprehensive transcriptomic data on the developing OFT at two distinct timepoints (embryonic and fetal) and its adult derivatives, the aortic valves, providing a large reference framework of OFT cell repertoires and their gene expression profiles. Using spatial transcriptomics, we describe the distribution of cell populations. Our findings define the cellular and molecular signatures of the OFT and its distinct cell lineages, which is critical for understanding congenital heart defects and developing cardiac tissue for regenerative medicine.