Cell state · L2
MESO.activated_migratory
250 cells in the full atlas (not the displayed sample).
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Marker genes
ARHGAP42, BHLHE40, CADM3, DLC1, DPYSL3, EGR3, FAM163A, FOXN3, GALNT15, GAS7, NGF, NR4A1, PAMR1, PDLIM3, PODXL, RARB, SPARCL1, STUM, TRPM3, TSHZ2
Annotation genes
ARHGAP42, DLC1, NR4A1, PODXL, SPARCL1
Annotation rationales
Cytoskeletal/RhoGAP regulators ARHGAP42 and DLC1 (RhoA/Rac tuning) together with scaffold PDLIM3 and the anti-adhesive glycoprotein PODXL support shape change, reduced adhesiveness, and mesothelial sheet motility. The IEG nuclear receptor NR4A1 and bHLH clock/stress effector BHLHE40 mark acute activation downstream of stretch/catecholamines on the epicardium and adipose serosa. SPARCL1 provides a matricellular cue that reduces cell–matrix adhesion, aiding delamination. Presence of NGF suggests neuro-immune guidance to vessels/nerves growing beneath the mesothelium. This constellation matches epicardial/mesothelial activation with partial EMT.
Functional implications
Heart: enable epicardial cell emigration/EMT to seed fibroblast and SMC-like progeny, deposit guidance ECM (SPARCL1) for neovascularization, and pattern pericardial innervation (via NGF), thereby supporting post-injury remodeling. Adipose: mobilize serosal cells to reseal torn mesothelium, generate stromal fibroblast-like cells for omental/falciform repair, and tune axon–adipocyte crosstalk for lipolysis and vascular tone; PODXL keeps a slippery surface to minimize adhesions.
Marker and functional descriptions are atlas annotations. Explore gene expression, trait associations and regulatory elements in the interactive browsers; see the browser guide.