Single-cell transcriptomic atlas of primate cardiopulmonary aging

Cell Res. 2021 Apr;31(4):415-432. doi: 10.1038/s41422-020-00412-6. Epub 2020 Sep 10.

Abstract

Aging is a major risk factor for many diseases, especially in highly prevalent cardiopulmonary comorbidities and infectious diseases including Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Resolving cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with aging in higher mammals is therefore urgently needed. Here, we created young and old non-human primate single-nucleus/cell transcriptomic atlases of lung, heart and artery, the top tissues targeted by SARS-CoV-2. Analysis of cell type-specific aging-associated transcriptional changes revealed increased systemic inflammation and compromised virus defense as a hallmark of cardiopulmonary aging. With age, expression of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was increased in the pulmonary alveolar epithelial barrier, cardiomyocytes, and vascular endothelial cells. We found that interleukin 7 (IL7) accumulated in aged cardiopulmonary tissues and induced ACE2 expression in human vascular endothelial cells in an NF-κB-dependent manner. Furthermore, treatment with vitamin C blocked IL7-induced ACE2 expression. Altogether, our findings depict the first transcriptomic atlas of the aged primate cardiopulmonary system and provide vital insights into age-linked susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2, suggesting that geroprotective strategies may reduce COVID-19 severity in the elderly.

MeSH terms

  • Aging*
  • Alveolar Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Alveolar Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Alveolar Epithelial Cells / virology
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / genetics
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Ascorbic Acid / pharmacology
  • COVID-19 / pathology
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • Cell Line
  • Endothelial Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelial Cells / virology
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-7 / metabolism
  • Interleukin-7 / pharmacology
  • Macaca fascicularis
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / virology
  • RNA-Seq
  • SARS-CoV-2 / isolation & purification
  • SARS-CoV-2 / physiology*
  • Single-Cell Analysis
  • Transcriptome* / drug effects

Substances

  • Interleukin-7
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Ascorbic Acid