Organ-specific regulatory logic orchestrates gene expression in the coelomic mesothelium

A prominent example is the epicardium, which plays an essential role during heart development. Little is known about the mechanisms behind gene regulation in the coelomic mesothelium, and organ-specific enhancer logic that endows specialization.

Using gene regulatory network inference via single-cell multi-omics, our study reveals trans- and cis-regulatory elements (CREs) that regulate mesothelial gene expression in three organs: heart, lung, and pancreas. Here, we expand on pivotal transcription factors (TFs) and CREs specific to the epicardium. In contrast, we find that the TF MAF may orchestrate pan-mesothelial gene expression via conserved CREs, which are absent from non-mesothelial lineages.