IFN-γ activates an immune-like regulatory network in the cardiac vascular endothelium

Abstract

AbstractThe regulatory mechanisms underlying the response to pro-inflammatory cytokines during myocarditis are poorly understood. Here, we use iPSC-derived cardiovascular progenitor cells (CVPCs) to model the response to interferon gamma (IFN-γ) during myocarditis. We generate RNA-seq and ATAC-seq for four CVPCs that were treated with IFN-γ and compare them with paired untreated controls. Transcriptional differences after treatment show that IFN-γ initiates an innate immune cell-like response in the vascular cardiac endothelium. IFN-γ treatment also shifts the CVPC transcriptome towards the adult coronary artery and aorta profiles and expands the relative endothelial cell population in all four CVPC lines. Analysis of the accessible chromatin shows that IFN-γ is a potent chromatin remodeler and establishes an IRF-STAT immune-cell like regulatory network. Our findings reveal insights into the endothelial-specific protective mechanisms during myocarditis.