Unveiling the Intricate Cartography of the Human Heart

Scientists have created the most detailed cell catalogue of the human heart to date, mapping eight regions and profiling 75 different cell states. Using single-cell transcriptomics methods, researchers analyzed over 700,000 individual cells and nuclei from tissue samples of 25 donor hearts. The study revealed the presence of glial cells supporting signaling processes in pacemaker cells, immune cells producing antibodies to protect the heart from infections, and a population of cells in the myocardium that are sensitive to stress and inflammation. The findings could lead to new ways to improve heart treatments and further research into heart diseases.