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Carmona R, López-Sánchez C, Garcia-Martinez V, Garcia-López V, Muñoz-Chápuli R, Lozano-Velasco E, Franco D. Novel Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms Governing Embryonic Epicardium Formation. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:440. [PMID: 37998498 PMCID: PMC10672416 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10110440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The embryonic epicardium originates from the proepicardium, an extracardiac primordium constituted by a cluster of mesothelial cells. In early embryos, the embryonic epicardium is characterized by a squamous cell epithelium resting on the myocardium surface. Subsequently, it invades the subepicardial space and thereafter the embryonic myocardium by means of an epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Within the myocardium, epicardial-derived cells present multilineage potential, later differentiating into smooth muscle cells and contributing both to coronary vasculature and cardiac fibroblasts in the mature heart. Over the last decades, we have progressively increased our understanding of those cellular and molecular mechanisms driving proepicardial/embryonic epicardium formation. This study provides a state-of-the-art review of the transcriptional and emerging post-transcriptional mechanisms involved in the formation and differentiation of the embryonic epicardium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Carmona
- Department of Human Anatomy, Legal Medicine and History of Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain;
| | - Carmen López-Sánchez
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (C.L.-S.); (V.G.-M.)
| | - Virginio Garcia-Martinez
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; (C.L.-S.); (V.G.-M.)
| | - Virginio Garcia-López
- Department of Medical and Surgical Therapeutics, Pharmacology Area, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain;
| | - Ramón Muñoz-Chápuli
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain;
| | - Estefanía Lozano-Velasco
- Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain;
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain;
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2
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Sanchez-Fernandez C, Rodriguez-Outeiriño L, Matias-Valiente L, Ramírez de Acuña F, Franco D, Aránega AE. Understanding Epicardial Cell Heterogeneity during Cardiogenesis and Heart Regeneration. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:376. [PMID: 37754805 PMCID: PMC10531887 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10090376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The outermost layer of the heart, the epicardium, is an essential cell population that contributes, through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), to the formation of different cell types and provides paracrine signals to the developing heart. Despite its quiescent state during adulthood, the adult epicardium reactivates and recapitulates many aspects of embryonic cardiogenesis in response to cardiac injury, thereby supporting cardiac tissue remodeling. Thus, the epicardium has been considered a crucial source of cell progenitors that offers an important contribution to cardiac development and injured hearts. Although several studies have provided evidence regarding cell fate determination in the epicardium, to date, it is unclear whether epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs) come from specific, and predetermined, epicardial cell subpopulations or if they are derived from a common progenitor. In recent years, different approaches have been used to study cell heterogeneity within the epicardial layer using different experimental models. However, the data generated are still insufficient with respect to revealing the complexity of this epithelial layer. In this review, we summarize the previous works documenting the cellular composition, molecular signatures, and diversity within the developing and adult epicardium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Sanchez-Fernandez
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Lara Rodriguez-Outeiriño
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Lidia Matias-Valiente
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Felicitas Ramírez de Acuña
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Amelia Eva Aránega
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Experimental Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain; (C.S.-F.); (L.R.-O.); (L.M.-V.); (F.R.d.A.); (D.F.)
- Medina Foundation, Technology Park of Health Sciences, 18016 Granada, Spain
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3
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Astanina E, Doronzo G, Corà D, Neri F, Oliviero S, Genova T, Mussano F, Middonti E, Vallariello E, Cencioni C, Valdembri D, Serini G, Limana F, Foglio E, Ballabio A, Bussolino F. The TFEB-TGIF1 axis regulates EMT in mouse epicardial cells. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5191. [PMID: 36057632 PMCID: PMC9440911 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32855-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex and pivotal process involved in organogenesis and is related to several pathological processes, including cancer and fibrosis. During heart development, EMT mediates the conversion of epicardial cells into vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiac interstitial fibroblasts. Here, we show that the oncogenic transcription factor EB (TFEB) is a key regulator of EMT in epicardial cells and that its genetic overexpression in mouse epicardium is lethal due to heart defects linked to impaired EMT. TFEB specifically orchestrates the EMT-promoting function of transforming growth factor (TGF) β, and this effect results from activated transcription of thymine-guanine-interacting factor (TGIF)1, a TGFβ/Smad pathway repressor. The Tgif1 promoter is activated by TFEB, and in vitro and in vivo findings demonstrate its increased expression when Tfeb is overexpressed. Furthermore, Tfeb overexpression in vitro prevents TGFβ-induced EMT, and this effect is abolished by Tgif1 silencing. Tfeb loss of function, similar to that of Tgif1, sensitizes cells to TGFβ, inducing an EMT response to low doses of TGFβ. Together, our findings reveal an unexpected function of TFEB in regulating EMT, which might provide insights into injured heart repair and control of cancer progression. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex process involved in organogenesis. Here, the authors show that the transcription factor EB (TFEB) regulates EMT in epicardium during heart development by tuning sensitivity to TGFβ signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Astanina
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. .,Candiolo Cancer Institute-IRCCS-FPO, Candiolo, Italy.
| | - Gabriella Doronzo
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute-IRCCS-FPO, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Davide Corà
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Francesco Neri
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Salvatore Oliviero
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Tullio Genova
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Federico Mussano
- CIR Dental School, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Torino, Via Nizza 230, 10126, Turin, Italy
| | - Emanuele Middonti
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute-IRCCS-FPO, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Edoardo Vallariello
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute-IRCCS-FPO, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Chiara Cencioni
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "A. Ruberti", National Research Council (IASI-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Donatella Valdembri
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute-IRCCS-FPO, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Guido Serini
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute-IRCCS-FPO, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Federica Limana
- San Raffaele Open University, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Foglio
- Technoscience, Parco Scientifico e Tecnologico Pontino, 04100, Latina, Italy
| | - Andrea Ballabio
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy.,Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Medical and Translational Science, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Federico Bussolino
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.,Candiolo Cancer Institute-IRCCS-FPO, Candiolo, Italy
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4
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Regulation of Epicardial Cell Fate during Cardiac Development and Disease: An Overview. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063220. [PMID: 35328640 PMCID: PMC8950551 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The epicardium is the outermost cell layer in the vertebrate heart that originates during development from mesothelial precursors located in the proepicardium and septum transversum. The epicardial layer plays a key role during cardiogenesis since a subset of epicardial-derived cells (EPDCs) undergo an epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT); migrate into the myocardium; and differentiate into distinct cell types, such as coronary vascular smooth muscle cells, cardiac fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and presumably a subpopulation of cardiomyocytes, thus contributing to complete heart formation. Furthermore, the epicardium is a source of paracrine factors that support cardiac growth at the last stages of cardiogenesis. Although several lineage trace studies have provided some evidence about epicardial cell fate determination, the molecular mechanisms underlying epicardial cell heterogeneity remain not fully understood. Interestingly, seminal works during the last decade have pointed out that the adult epicardium is reactivated after heart damage, re-expressing some embryonic genes and contributing to cardiac remodeling. Therefore, the epicardium has been proposed as a potential target in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. In this review, we summarize the previous knowledge regarding the regulation of epicardial cell contribution during development and the control of epicardial reactivation in cardiac repair after damage.
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5
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Yu HL, Hwang SPL. Zebrafish integrin a3b is required for cardiac contractility and cardiomyocyte proliferation. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 595:89-95. [PMID: 35121232 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.01.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
In cardiac muscle cells, heterodimeric integrin transmembrane receptors are known to serve as mechanotransducers, translating mechanical force to biochemical signaling. However, the roles of many individual integrins have still not been delineated. In this report, we demonstrate that Itga3b is localized to the sarcolemma of cardiomyocytes from 24 to 96 hpf. We further show that heterozygous and homozygous itga3b/bdf mutant embryos display a cardiomyopathy phenotype, with decreased cardiac contractility and reduced cardiomyocyte number. Correspondingly, proliferation of ventricular and atrial cardiomyoctyes and ventricular epicardial cells is decreased in itga3b mutant hearts. The contractile dysfunction of itga3b mutants can be attributed to cardiomyocyte sarcomeric disorganization, including thin myofilaments with blurred and shortened Z-discs. Together, our results reveal that Itga3b localizes to the myocardium sarcolemma, and it is required for cardiac contractility and cardiomyocyte proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsiang-Ling Yu
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 202301, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Ping L Hwang
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, 202301, Taiwan; Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
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6
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Streef TJ, Smits AM. Epicardial Contribution to the Developing and Injured Heart: Exploring the Cellular Composition of the Epicardium. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:750243. [PMID: 34631842 PMCID: PMC8494983 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.750243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The epicardium is an essential cell population during cardiac development. It contributes different cell types to the developing heart through epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and it secretes paracrine factors that support cardiac tissue formation. In the adult heart the epicardium is a quiescent layer of cells which can be reactivated upon ischemic injury, initiating an embryonic-like response in the epicardium that contributes to post-injury repair processes. Therefore, the epicardial layer is considered an interesting target population to stimulate endogenous repair mechanisms. To date it is still not clear whether there are distinct cell populations in the epicardium that contribute to specific lineages or aid in cardiac repair, or that the epicardium functions as a whole. To address this putative heterogeneity, novel techniques such as single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA seq) are being applied. In this review, we summarize the role of the epicardium during development and after injury and provide an overview of the most recent insights into the cellular composition and diversity of the epicardium.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anke M. Smits
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
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7
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Yue MS, Martin SE, Martin NR, Taylor MR, Plavicki JS. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin exposure disrupts development of the visceral and ocular vasculature. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 234:105786. [PMID: 33735685 PMCID: PMC8457527 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) has endogenous functions in mammalian vascular development and is necessary for mediating the toxic effects of a number of environmental contaminants. Studies in mice have demonstrated that AHR is necessary for the formation of the renal, retinal, and hepatic vasculature. In fish, exposure to the prototypic AHR agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces expression of the AHR biomarker cyp1a throughout the developing vasculature and produces vascular malformations in the head and heart. However, it is not known whether the vascular structures that are sensitive to loss of AHR function are also disrupted by aberrant AHR activation. Here, we report that TCDD-exposure in zebrafish disrupts development of 1) the subintestinal venous plexus (SIVP), which vascularizes the developing liver, kidney, gut, and pancreas, and 2) the superficial annular vessel (SAV), an essential component of the retinal vasculature. Furthermore, we determined that TCDD exposure increased the expression of bmp4, a key molecular mediator of SIVP morphogenesis. We hypothesize that the observed SIVP phenotypes contribute to one of the hallmarks of TCDD exposure in fish - the failure of the yolk sac to absorb. Together, our data describe novel TCDD-induced vascular phenotypes and provide molecular insight into critical factors producing the observed vascular malformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica S Yue
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Shannon E Martin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Nathan R Martin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Michael R Taylor
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin at Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jessica S Plavicki
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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8
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Zheng F, Chen Z, Tang QL, Chong DY, Zhang TY, Gu YY, Hu ZB, Li CJ. Cholesterol metabolic enzyme Ggpps regulates epicardium development and ventricular wall architecture integrity in mice. J Mol Cell Biol 2021; 13:445-454. [PMID: 33760044 PMCID: PMC8436696 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjab019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During embryonic heart development, the progenitor cells in the epicardium would migrate and differentiate into noncardiomyocytes in myocardium and affect the integrity of ventricular wall, but the underlying mechanism has not been well studied. We have found that myocardium geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (Ggpps), a metabolic enzyme for cholesterol biosynthesis, is critical for cardiac cytoarchitecture remodelling during heart development. Here, we further reveal that epicardial Ggpps could also regulate ventricular wall architecture integrity. Epicardium-specific deletion of Ggpps before embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) is embryonic lethal, whereas after E13.5 is survival but with defects in the epicardium and ventricular wall structure. Ggpps deficiency in the epicardium enhances the proliferation of epicardial cells and disrupts cell‒cell contact, which makes epicardial cells easier to invade into ventricular wall. Thus, the fibroblast proliferation and coronary formation in myocardium were found enhanced that might disturb the coronary vasculature remodelling and ventricular wall integrity. These processes might be associated with the activation of YAP signalling, whose nuclear distribution is blocked by Ggpps deletion. In conclusion, our findings reveal a potential link between the cholesterol metabolism and heart epicardium and myocardium development in mammals, which might provide a new view of the cause for congenital heart diseases and potential therapeutic target in pathological cardiac conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zheng
- Model Animal Research Centre, Medical School of Nanjing University, National Resource Centre for Mutant Mice, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- Model Animal Research Centre, Medical School of Nanjing University, National Resource Centre for Mutant Mice, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Qiao-Li Tang
- Model Animal Research Centre, Medical School of Nanjing University, National Resource Centre for Mutant Mice, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Dan-Yang Chong
- Model Animal Research Centre, Medical School of Nanjing University, National Resource Centre for Mutant Mice, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Tong-Yu Zhang
- Model Animal Research Centre, Medical School of Nanjing University, National Resource Centre for Mutant Mice, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Ya-Yun Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Centre for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211100, China
| | - Zhi-Bin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Centre for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211100, China
| | - Chao-Jun Li
- Model Animal Research Centre, Medical School of Nanjing University, National Resource Centre for Mutant Mice, Nanjing 210093, China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Centre for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211100, China
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9
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Abstract
The developing heart is formed of two tissue layers separated by an extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides chemical and physical signals to cardiac cells. While deposition of specific ECM components creates matrix diversity, the cardiac ECM is also dynamic, with modification and degradation playing important roles in ECM maturation and function. In this Review, we discuss the spatiotemporal changes in ECM composition during cardiac development that support distinct aspects of heart morphogenesis. We highlight conserved requirements for specific ECM components in human cardiac development, and discuss emerging evidence of a central role for the ECM in promoting heart regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily S Noël
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
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10
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Abstract
Cardiac development is a complex developmental process that is initiated soon after gastrulation, as two sets of precardiac mesodermal precursors are symmetrically located and subsequently fused at the embryonic midline forming the cardiac straight tube. Thereafter, the cardiac straight tube invariably bends to the right, configuring the first sign of morphological left–right asymmetry and soon thereafter the atrial and ventricular chambers are formed, expanded and progressively septated. As a consequence of all these morphogenetic processes, the fetal heart acquired a four-chambered structure having distinct inlet and outlet connections and a specialized conduction system capable of directing the electrical impulse within the fully formed heart. Over the last decades, our understanding of the morphogenetic, cellular, and molecular pathways involved in cardiac development has exponentially grown. Multiples aspects of the initial discoveries during heart formation has served as guiding tools to understand the etiology of cardiac congenital anomalies and adult cardiac pathology, as well as to enlighten novels approaches to heal the damaged heart. In this review we provide an overview of the complex cellular and molecular pathways driving heart morphogenesis and how those discoveries have provided new roads into the genetic, clinical and therapeutic management of the diseased hearts.
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Andrés-Delgado L, Galardi-Castilla M, Münch J, Peralta M, Ernst A, González-Rosa JM, Tessadori F, Santamaría L, Bakkers J, Vermot J, de la Pompa JL, Mercader N. Notch and Bmp signaling pathways act coordinately during the formation of the proepicardium. Dev Dyn 2020; 249:1455-1469. [PMID: 33103836 PMCID: PMC7754311 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The epicardium is the outer mesothelial layer of the heart. It encloses the myocardium and plays key roles in heart development and regeneration. It derives from the proepicardium (PE), cell clusters that appear in the dorsal pericardium (DP) close to the atrioventricular canal and the venous pole of the heart, and are released into the pericardial cavity. PE cells are advected around the beating heart until they attach to the myocardium. Bmp and Notch signaling influence PE formation, but it is unclear how both signaling pathways interact during this process in the zebrafish. RESULTS Here, we show that the developing PE is influenced by Notch signaling derived from the endothelium. Overexpression of the intracellular receptor of notch in the endothelium enhances bmp expression, increases the number of pSmad1/5 positive cells in the DP and PE, and enhances PE formation. On the contrary, pharmacological inhibition of Notch1 impairs PE formation. bmp2b overexpression can rescue loss of PE formation in the presence of a Notch1 inhibitor, but Notch gain-of-function could not recover PE formation in the absence of Bmp signaling. CONCLUSIONS Endothelial Notch signaling activates bmp expression in the heart tube, which in turn induces PE cluster formation from the DP layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Andrés-Delgado
- Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, National Center of Cardiovascular Research Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Autonoma University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Galardi-Castilla
- Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, National Center of Cardiovascular Research Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juliane Münch
- Intercellular Signaling in Cardiovascular Development and Disease Laboratory, National Center of Cardiovascular Research Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Ciber CV, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Potsdam University, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Marina Peralta
- Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, National Center of Cardiovascular Research Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), Illkirch, France.,Australian Regenerative Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Juan Manuel González-Rosa
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Luis Santamaría
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Autonoma University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jeroen Bakkers
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Division of Heart and Lungs, Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Julien Vermot
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), Illkirch, France.,Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - José Luis de la Pompa
- Intercellular Signaling in Cardiovascular Development and Disease Laboratory, National Center of Cardiovascular Research Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Ciber CV, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nadia Mercader
- Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, National Center of Cardiovascular Research Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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12
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Andrés-Delgado L, Galardi-Castilla M, Mercader N, Santamaría L. Analysis of wt1a reporter line expression levels during proepicardium formation in the zebrafish. Histol Histopathol 2020; 35:1035-1046. [PMID: 32633330 DOI: 10.14670/hh-18-238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The epicardium is the outer mesothelial layer of the heart. It covers the myocardium and plays important roles in both heart development and regeneration. It is derived from the proepicardium (PE), groups of cells that emerges at early developmental stages from the dorsal pericardial layer (DP) close to the atrio-ventricular canal and the venous pole of the heart-tube. In zebrafish, PE cells extrude apically into the pericardial cavity as a consequence of DP tissue constriction, a process that is dependent on Bmp pathway signaling. Expression of the transcription factor Wilms tumor-1, Wt1, which is a leader of important morphogenetic events such as apoptosis regulation or epithelial-mesenchymal cell transition, is also necessary during PE formation. In this study, we used the zebrafish model to compare intensity level of the wt1a reporter line epi:GFP in PE and its original tissue, the DP. We found that GFP is present at higher intensity level in the PE tissue, and differentially wt1 expression at pericardial tissues could be involved in the PE formation process. Our results reveal that bmp2b overexpression leads to enhanced GFP level both in DP and in PE tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Andrés-Delgado
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Autonoma University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain. .,Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, Nacional Center of Cardiovascular Research Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Galardi-Castilla
- Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, Nacional Center of Cardiovascular Research Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Nadia Mercader
- Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, Nacional Center of Cardiovascular Research Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Luis Santamaría
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Autonoma University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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13
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Lan Y, Pan H, Li C, Banks KM, Sam J, Ding B, Elemento O, Goll MG, Evans T. TETs Regulate Proepicardial Cell Migration through Extracellular Matrix Organization during Zebrafish Cardiogenesis. Cell Rep 2020; 26:720-732.e4. [PMID: 30650362 PMCID: PMC6366638 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.12.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ten-eleven translocation (Tet) enzymes (Tet1/2/3) mediate 5-methylcytosine (5mC) hydroxylation, which can facilitate DNA demethylation and thereby impact gene expression. Studied mostly for how mutant isoforms impact cancer, the normal roles for Tet enzymes during organogenesis are largely unknown. By analyzing compound mutant zebrafish, we discovered a requirement for Tet2/3 activity in the embryonic heart for recruitment of epicardial progenitors, associated with development of the atrial-ventricular canal (AVC). Through a combination of methylation, hydroxymethylation, and transcript profiling, the genes encoding the activin A subunit Inhbaa (in endocardium) and Sox9b (in myocardium) were implicated as demethylation targets of Tet2/3 and critical for organization of AVC-localized extracellular matrix (ECM), facilitating migration of epicardial progenitors onto the developing heart tube. This study elucidates essential DNA demethylation modifications that govern gene expression changes during cardiac development with striking temporal and lineage specificities, highlighting complex interactions in multiple cell populations during development of the vertebrate heart. Lan et al. show that zebrafish larvae mutant for tet2 and tet3 fail to demethylate genes encoding Inhbaa (in endocardium) and Sox9b (in myocardium), leading to defects in ECM needed to form valves and to recruit epicardial progenitors onto the heart tube.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahui Lan
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Heng Pan
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Cheng Li
- Developmental Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Program in Biochemistry and Structural Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology, and Molecular Biology, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kelly M Banks
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jessica Sam
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Bo Ding
- Bonacept, LLC, 7699 Palmilla Drive, Apt. 3312, San Diego, CA 92122, USA
| | - Olivier Elemento
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mary G Goll
- Developmental Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Todd Evans
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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14
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Weinberger M, Simões FC, Patient R, Sauka-Spengler T, Riley PR. Functional Heterogeneity within the Developing Zebrafish Epicardium. Dev Cell 2020; 52:574-590.e6. [PMID: 32084358 PMCID: PMC7063573 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The epicardium is essential during cardiac development, homeostasis, and repair, and yet fundamental insights into its underlying cell biology, notably epicardium formation, lineage heterogeneity, and functional cross-talk with other cell types in the heart, are currently lacking. In this study, we investigated epicardial heterogeneity and the functional diversity of discrete epicardial subpopulations in the developing zebrafish heart. Single-cell RNA sequencing uncovered three epicardial subpopulations with specific genetic programs and distinctive spatial distribution. Perturbation of unique gene signatures uncovered specific functions associated with each subpopulation and established epicardial roles in cell adhesion, migration, and chemotaxis as a mechanism for recruitment of leukocytes into the heart. Understanding which mechanisms epicardial cells employ to establish a functional epicardium and how they communicate with other cardiovascular cell types during development will bring us closer to repairing cellular relationships that are disrupted during cardiovascular disease. scRNA-seq uncovered 3 developmental epicardial subpopulations (Epi1-3) in the zebrafish Epi1-specific gene, tgm2b, regulates the cell numbers in the main epicardial sheet Epi2-specific gene, sema3fb, restricts the number of tbx18+ cells in the cardiac outflow tract Epi3-specific gene, cxcl12a, guides ptprc/CD45+ myeloid cells to the developing heart
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Weinberger
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3PT, UK; MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Filipa C Simões
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3PT, UK; MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Roger Patient
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Tatjana Sauka-Spengler
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX3 9DS, UK.
| | - Paul R Riley
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 3PT, UK.
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15
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Abstract
The epicardium, the outermost tissue layer that envelops all vertebrate hearts, plays a crucial role in cardiac development and regeneration and has been implicated in potential strategies for cardiac repair. The heterogenous cell population that composes the epicardium originates primarily from a transient embryonic cell cluster known as the proepicardial organ (PE). Characterized by its high cellular plasticity, the epicardium contributes to both heart development and regeneration in two critical ways: as a source of progenitor cells and as a critical signaling hub. Despite this knowledge, there are many unanswered questions in the field of epicardial biology, the resolution of which will advance the understanding of cardiac development and repair. We review current knowledge in cross-species epicardial involvement, specifically in relation to lineage specification and differentiation during cardiac development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxi Cao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA
| | - Sierra Duca
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA
| | - Jingli Cao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA
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16
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Sirbu IO, Chiş AR, Moise AR. Role of carotenoids and retinoids during heart development. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2020; 1865:158636. [PMID: 31978553 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2020.158636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The nutritional requirements of the developing embryo are complex. In the case of dietary vitamin A (retinol, retinyl esters and provitamin A carotenoids), maternal derived nutrients serve as precursors to signaling molecules such as retinoic acid, which is required for embryonic patterning and organogenesis. Despite variations in the composition and levels of maternal vitamin A, embryonic tissues need to generate a precise amount of retinoic acid to avoid congenital malformations. Here, we summarize recent findings regarding the role and metabolism of vitamin A during heart development and we survey the association of genes known to affect retinoid metabolism or signaling with various inherited disorders. A better understanding of the roles of vitamin A in the heart and of the factors that affect retinoid metabolism and signaling can help design strategies to meet nutritional needs and to prevent birth defects and disorders associated with altered retinoid metabolism. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Carotenoids recent advances in cell and molecular biology edited by Johannes von Lintig and Loredana Quadro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioan Ovidiu Sirbu
- Biochemistry Department, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; Timisoara Institute of Complex Systems, V. Lucaciu 18, 300044 Timisoara, Romania.
| | - Aimée Rodica Chiş
- Biochemistry Department, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Nr. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alexander Radu Moise
- Medical Sciences Division, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Biology and Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada.
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17
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Wang S, Yu J, Kane MA, Moise AR. Modulation of retinoid signaling: therapeutic opportunities in organ fibrosis and repair. Pharmacol Ther 2019; 205:107415. [PMID: 31629008 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.107415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The vitamin A metabolite, retinoic acid, is an important signaling molecule during embryonic development serving critical roles in morphogenesis, organ patterning and skeletal and neural development. Retinoic acid is also important in postnatal life in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, while retinoid-based therapies have long been used in the treatment of a variety of cancers and skin disorders. As the number of people living with chronic disorders continues to increase, there is great interest in extending the use of retinoid therapies in promoting the maintenance and repair of adult tissues. However, there are still many conflicting results as we struggle to understand the role of retinoic acid in the multitude of processes that contribute to tissue injury and repair. This review will assess our current knowledge of the role retinoic acid signaling in the development of fibroblasts, and their transformation to myofibroblasts, and of the potential use of retinoid therapies in the treatment of organ fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suya Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jianshi Yu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Maureen A Kane
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Alexander R Moise
- Medical Sciences Division, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada; Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Biology and Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada.
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18
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Andrés-Delgado L, Ernst A, Galardi-Castilla M, Bazaga D, Peralta M, Münch J, González-Rosa JM, Marques I, Tessadori F, de la Pompa JL, Vermot J, Mercader N. Actin dynamics and the Bmp pathway drive apical extrusion of proepicardial cells. Development 2019; 146:dev.174961. [PMID: 31175121 PMCID: PMC6633599 DOI: 10.1242/dev.174961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The epicardium, the outer mesothelial layer enclosing the myocardium, plays key roles in heart development and regeneration. During embryogenesis, the epicardium arises from the proepicardium (PE), a cell cluster that appears in the dorsal pericardium (DP) close to the venous pole of the heart. Little is known about how the PE emerges from the pericardial mesothelium. Using a zebrafish model and a combination of genetic tools, pharmacological agents and quantitative in vivo imaging, we reveal that a coordinated collective movement of DP cells drives PE formation. We found that Bmp signaling and the actomyosin cytoskeleton promote constriction of the DP, which enables PE cells to extrude apically. We provide evidence that cell extrusion, which has been described in the elimination of unfit cells from epithelia and the emergence of hematopoietic stem cells, is also a mechanism for PE cells to exit an organized mesothelium and fulfil their developmental fate to form a new tissue layer, the epicardium. Summary: Proepicardial cells emerge from the pericardial mesothelium through apical extrusion, a process that depends on BMP signaling and actomyosin rearrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Andrés-Delgado
- Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain.,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alexander Ernst
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3000 Bern 9, Switzerland
| | - María Galardi-Castilla
- Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - David Bazaga
- Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marina Peralta
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67411 Illkirch, France
| | - Juliane Münch
- Intercellular Signaling in Cardiovascular Development and Disease Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain.,Ciber CV, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan M González-Rosa
- Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Inês Marques
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3000 Bern 9, Switzerland
| | - Federico Tessadori
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and UMC Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - José Luis de la Pompa
- Intercellular Signaling in Cardiovascular Development and Disease Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain.,Ciber CV, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Julien Vermot
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR7104, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, 67404 Illkirch, France.,Université de Strasbourg, 67411 Illkirch, France
| | - Nadia Mercader
- Development of the Epicardium and its Role During Regeneration Laboratory, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III (CNIC), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain .,Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, 3000 Bern 9, Switzerland
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19
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Wang S, Moise AR. Recent insights on the role and regulation of retinoic acid signaling during epicardial development. Genesis 2019; 57:e23303. [PMID: 31066193 PMCID: PMC6682438 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The vitamin A metabolite, retinoic acid, carries out essential and conserved roles in vertebrate heart development. Retinoic acid signals via retinoic acid receptors (RAR)/retinoid X receptors (RXRs) heterodimers to induce the expression of genes that control cell fate specification, proliferation, and differentiation. Alterations in retinoic acid levels are often associated with congenital heart defects. Therefore, embryonic levels of retinoic acid need to be carefully regulated through the activity of enzymes, binding proteins and transporters involved in vitamin A metabolism. Here, we review evidence of the complex mechanisms that control the fetal uptake and synthesis of retinoic acid from vitamin A precursors. Next, we highlight recent evidence of the role of retinoic acid in orchestrating myocardial compact zone growth and coronary vascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suya Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alexander R. Moise
- Medical Sciences Division, Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, ON P3E 2C6, Canada
- Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Biology and Biomolecular Sciences Program, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6 Canada
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA
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20
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Perdios C, Parnall M, Pang KL, Loughna S. Altered haemodynamics causes aberrations in the epicardium. J Anat 2019; 234:800-814. [PMID: 30882904 PMCID: PMC6539700 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
During embryo development, the heart is the first functioning organ. Although quiescent in the adult, the epicardium is essential during development to form a normal four‐chambered heart. Epicardial‐derived cells contribute to the heart as it develops with fibroblasts and vascular smooth muscle cells. Previous studies have shown that a heartbeat is required for epicardium formation, but no study to our knowledge has shown the effects of haemodynamic changes on the epicardium. Since the aetiologies of many congenital heart defects are unknown, we suggest that an alteration in the heart's haemodynamics might provide an explanatory basis for some of them. To change the heart's haemodynamics, outflow tract (OFT) banding using a double overhang knot was performed on HH21 chick embryos, with harvesting at different developmental stages. The epicardium of the heart was phenotypically and functionally characterised using a range of techniques. Upon alteration of haemodynamics, the epicardium exhibited abnormal morphology at HH29, even though migration of epicardial cells along the surface of the heart was found to be normal between HH24 and HH28. The abnormal epicardial phenotype was exacerbated at HH35 with severe changes in the structure of the extracellular matrix (ECM). A number of genes tied to ECM production were also differentially expressed in HH29 OFT‐banded hearts, including DDR2 and collagen XII. At HH35, the differential expression of these genes was even greater with additional downregulation of collagen I and TCF21. In this study, the epicardium was found to be severely impacted by altered haemodynamics upon OFT banding. The increased volume of the epicardium at HH29, upon OFT‐banding, and the expression changes of ECM markers were the first indicative signs of aberrations in epicardial architecture; by HH35, the phenotype had progressed. The decrease in epicardial thickness at HH35 suggests an increase in tension, with a force acting perpendicular to the surface of the epicardium. Although the developing epicardium and the blood flowing through the heart are separated by the endocardium and myocardium, the data presented here demonstrate that altering the blood flow affects the structure and molecular expression of the epicardial layer. Due to the intrinsic role the epicardium in cardiogenesis, defects in epicardial formation could have a role in the formation of a wide range of congenital heart defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrysostomos Perdios
- School of Life Sciences, Medical School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Matthew Parnall
- School of Life Sciences, Medical School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Kar Lai Pang
- School of Life Sciences, Medical School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Siobhan Loughna
- School of Life Sciences, Medical School, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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21
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Cao Y, Cao J. Covering and Re-Covering the Heart: Development and Regeneration of the Epicardium. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2018; 6:jcdd6010003. [PMID: 30586891 PMCID: PMC6463056 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd6010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The epicardium, a mesothelial layer that envelops vertebrate hearts, has become a therapeutic target in cardiac repair strategies because of its vital role in heart development and cardiac injury response. Epicardial cells serve as a progenitor cell source and signaling center during both heart development and regeneration. The importance of the epicardium in cardiac repair strategies has been reemphasized by recent progress regarding its requirement for heart regeneration in zebrafish, and by the ability of patches with epicardial factors to restore cardiac function following myocardial infarction in mammals. The live surveillance of epicardial development and regeneration using zebrafish has provided new insights into this topic. In this review, we provide updated knowledge about epicardial development and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingxi Cao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| | - Jingli Cao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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22
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Niderla-BieliŃska J, Jankowska-Steifer E, Flaht-Zabost A, Gula G, Czarnowska E, Ratajska A. Proepicardium: Current Understanding of its Structure, Induction, and Fate. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2018; 302:893-903. [PMID: 30421563 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The proepicardium (PE) is a transitory extracardiac embryonic structure which plays a crucial role in cardiac morphogenesis and delivers various cell lineages to the developing heart. The PE arises from the lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) and is present in all vertebrate species. During development, mesothelial cells of the PE reach the naked myocardium either as free-floating aggregates in the form of vesicles or via a tissue bridge; subsequently, they attach to the myocardium and, finally, form the third layer of a mature heart-the epicardium. After undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) some of the epicardial cells migrate into the myocardial wall and differentiate into fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and possibly other cell types. Despite many recent findings, the molecular pathways that control not only proepicardial induction and differentiation but also epicardial formation and epicardial cell fate are poorly understood. Knowledge about these events is essential because molecular mechanisms that occur during embryonic development have been shown to be reactivated in pathological conditions, for example, after myocardial infarction, during hypertensive heart disease or other cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, in this review we intended to summarize the current knowledge about PE formation and structure, as well as proepicardial cell fate in animals commonly used as models for studies on heart development. Anat Rec, 302:893-903, 2019. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ewa Jankowska-Steifer
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Grzegorz Gula
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,The Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine (SMM), Warsaw, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Czarnowska
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Ratajska
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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23
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Abstract
After decades of directed research, no effective regenerative therapy is currently available to repair the injured human heart. The epicardium, a layer of mesothelial tissue that envelops the heart in all vertebrates, has emerged as a new player in cardiac repair and regeneration. The epicardium is essential for muscle regeneration in the zebrafish model of innate heart regeneration, and the epicardium also participates in fibrotic responses in mammalian hearts. This structure serves as a source of crucial cells, such as vascular smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and fibroblasts, during heart development and repair. The epicardium also secretes factors that are essential for proliferation and survival of cardiomyocytes. In this Review, we describe recent advances in our understanding of the biology of the epicardium and the effect of these findings on the candidacy of this structure as a therapeutic target for heart repair and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingli Cao
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
- Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Kenneth D Poss
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
- Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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24
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sox9b is required in cardiomyocytes for cardiac morphogenesis and function. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13906. [PMID: 30224706 PMCID: PMC6141582 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-32125-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The high mobility group transcription factor SOX9 is expressed in stem cells, progenitor cells, and differentiated cell-types in developing and mature organs. Exposure to a variety of toxicants including dioxin, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate, and chlorpyrifos results in the downregulation of tetrapod Sox9 and/or zebrafish sox9b. Disruption of Sox9/sox9b function through environmental exposures or genetic mutations produce a wide range of phenotypes and adversely affect organ development and health. We generated a dominant-negative sox9b (dnsox9b) to inhibit sox9b target gene expression and used the Gal4/UAS system to drive dnsox9b specifically in cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocyte-specific inhibition of sox9b function resulted in a decrease in ventricular cardiomyocytes, an increase in atrial cardiomyocytes, hypoplastic endothelial cushions, and impaired epicardial development, ultimately culminating in heart failure. Cardiomyocyte-specific dnsox9b expression significantly reduced end diastolic volume, which corresponded with a decrease in stroke volume, ejection fraction, and cardiac output. Further analysis of isolated cardiac tissue by RT-qPCR revealed cardiomyocyte-specific inhibition of sox9b function significantly decreased the expression of the critical cardiac development genes nkx2.5, nkx2.7, and myl7, as well as c-fos, an immediate early gene necessary for cardiomyocyte progenitor differentiation. Together our studies indicate sox9b transcriptional regulation is necessary for cardiomyocyte development and function.
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25
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Hofsteen P, Robitaille AM, Strash N, Palpant N, Moon RT, Pabon L, Murry CE. ALPK2 Promotes Cardiogenesis in Zebrafish and Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. iScience 2018; 2:88-100. [PMID: 29888752 PMCID: PMC5993047 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2018.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac development requires coordinated biphasic regulation of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway. By intersecting gene expression and loss-of-function siRNA screens we identified Alpha Protein Kinase 2 (ALPK2) as a candidate negative regulator of WNT/β-catenin signaling in cardiogenesis. In differentiating human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), ALPK2 is highly induced as hESCs transition from mesoderm to cardiac progenitors. Using antisense knockdown and CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis in hESCs and zebrafish, we demonstrate that ALPK2 promotes cardiac function and cardiomyocyte differentiation. Quantitative phosphoproteomics, protein expression profiling, and β-catenin reporter assays demonstrate that loss of ALPK2 led to stabilization of β-catenin and increased WNT signaling. Furthermore, cardiac defects attributed to ALPK2 depletion can be rescued in a dose-dependent manner by direct inhibition of WNT signaling through the small molecule XAV939. Together, these results demonstrate that ALPK2 regulates β-catenin-dependent signaling during developmental commitment of cardiomyocytes. ALPK2 is expressed and regulated during hESC cardiomyocyte lineage determination Cardiac development in zebrafish embryos and hESCs requires ALPK2 ALPK2 negatively regulates WNT signaling to promote cardiomyocyte differentiation
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hofsteen
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican Street, Brotman Building Room 453, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Aaron Mark Robitaille
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Nicholas Strash
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican Street, Brotman Building Room 453, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Nathan Palpant
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican Street, Brotman Building Room 453, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Randall T Moon
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Lil Pabon
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican Street, Brotman Building Room 453, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Charles E Murry
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, 850 Republican Street, Brotman Building Room 453, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiology), School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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26
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Simões FC, Riley PR. The ontogeny, activation and function of the epicardium during heart development and regeneration. Development 2018; 145:145/7/dev155994. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.155994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The epicardium plays a key role during cardiac development, homeostasis and repair, and has thus emerged as a potential target in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. However, therapeutically manipulating the epicardium and epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs) requires insights into their developmental origin and the mechanisms driving their activation, recruitment and contribution to both the embryonic and adult injured heart. In recent years, studies of various model systems have provided us with a deeper understanding of the microenvironment in which EPDCs reside and emerge into, of the crosstalk between the multitude of cardiovascular cell types that influence the epicardium, and of the genetic programmes that orchestrate epicardial cell behaviour. Here, we review these discoveries and discuss how technological advances could further enhance our knowledge of epicardium-based repair mechanisms and ultimately influence potential therapeutic outcomes in cardiovascular regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa C. Simões
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Sherrington Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Paul R. Riley
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Sherrington Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
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27
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Sugimoto K, Hui SP, Sheng DZ, Kikuchi K. Dissection of zebrafish shha function using site-specific targeting with a Cre-dependent genetic switch. eLife 2017; 6. [PMID: 28513431 PMCID: PMC5435461 DOI: 10.7554/elife.24635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the extensive use of zebrafish as a model organism in developmental biology and regeneration research, genetic techniques enabling conditional analysis of gene function are limited. In this study, we generated Zwitch, a Cre-dependent invertible gene-trap cassette, enabling the establishment of conditional alleles in zebrafish by generating intronic insertions via in vivo homologous recombination. To demonstrate the utility of Zwitch, we generated a conditional sonic hedgehog a (shha) allele. Homozygous shha mutants developed normally; however, shha mutant embryos globally expressing Cre exhibited strong reductions in endogenous shha and shha target gene mRNA levels and developmental defects associated with null shha mutations. Analyzing a conditional shha mutant generated using an epicardium-specific inducible Cre driver revealed unique roles for epicardium-derived Shha in myocardial proliferation during heart development and regeneration. Zwitch will extend the utility of zebrafish in organ development and regeneration research and might be applicable to other model organisms. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24635.001
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotaro Sugimoto
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, Australia
| | - Subhra P Hui
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, Australia
| | - Delicia Z Sheng
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, Australia
| | - Kazu Kikuchi
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, Australia.,St. Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Kensington, Australia
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28
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Dueñas A, Aranega AE, Franco D. More than Just a Simple Cardiac Envelope; Cellular Contributions of the Epicardium. Front Cell Dev Biol 2017; 5:44. [PMID: 28507986 PMCID: PMC5410615 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2017.00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The adult pumping heart is formed by distinct tissue layers. From inside to outside, the heart is composed by an internal endothelial layer, dubbed the endocardium, a thick myocardial component which supports the pumping capacity of the heart and exteriorly covered by a thin mesothelial layer named the epicardium. Cardiac insults such as coronary artery obstruction lead to ischemia and thus to an irreversible damage of the myocardial layer, provoking in many cases heart failure and death. Thus, searching for new pathways to regenerate the myocardium is an urgent biomedical need. Interestingly, the capacity of heart regeneration is present in other species, ranging from fishes to neonatal mammals. In this context, several lines of evidences demonstrated a key regulatory role for the epicardial layer. In this manuscript, we provide a state-of-the-art review on the developmental process leading to the formation of the epicardium, the distinct pathways controlling epicardial precursor cell specification and determination and current evidences on the regenerative potential of the epicardium to heal the injured heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Dueñas
- Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of JaénJaén, Spain
| | - Amelia E Aranega
- Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of JaénJaén, Spain
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of JaénJaén, Spain
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29
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Xiang MSW, Kikuchi K. Endogenous Mechanisms of Cardiac Regeneration. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 326:67-131. [PMID: 27572127 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish possess a remarkable capacity for cardiac regeneration throughout their lifetime, providing a model for investigating endogenous cellular and molecular mechanisms regulating myocardial regeneration. By contrast, adult mammals have an extremely limited capacity for cardiac regeneration, contributing to mortality and morbidity from cardiac diseases such as myocardial infarction and heart failure. However, the viewpoint of the mammalian heart as a postmitotic organ was recently revised based on findings that the mammalian heart contains multiple undifferentiated cell types with cardiogenic potential as well as a robust regenerative capacity during a short period early in life. Although it occurs at an extremely low level, continuous cardiomyocyte turnover has been detected in adult mouse and human hearts, which could potentially be enhanced to restore lost myocardium in damaged human hearts. This review summarizes and discusses recent advances in the understanding of endogenous mechanisms of cardiac regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S W Xiang
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst NSW, Australia
| | - K Kikuchi
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst NSW, Australia; St. Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Kensington NSW, Australia.
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30
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Brown DR, Samsa LA, Qian L, Liu J. Advances in the Study of Heart Development and Disease Using Zebrafish. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2016; 3. [PMID: 27335817 PMCID: PMC4913704 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd3020013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models of cardiovascular disease are key players in the translational medicine pipeline used to define the conserved genetic and molecular basis of disease. Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are the most common type of human birth defect and feature structural abnormalities that arise during cardiac development and maturation. The zebrafish, Danio rerio, is a valuable vertebrate model organism, offering advantages over traditional mammalian models. These advantages include the rapid, stereotyped and external development of transparent embryos produced in large numbers from inexpensively housed adults, vast capacity for genetic manipulation, and amenability to high-throughput screening. With the help of modern genetics and a sequenced genome, zebrafish have led to insights in cardiovascular diseases ranging from CHDs to arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy. Here, we discuss the utility of zebrafish as a model system and summarize zebrafish cardiac morphogenesis with emphasis on parallels to human heart diseases. Additionally, we discuss the specific tools and experimental platforms utilized in the zebrafish model including forward screens, functional characterization of candidate genes, and high throughput applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R. Brown
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (D.R.B.); (L.Q.)
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Leigh Ann Samsa
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA;
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (D.R.B.); (L.Q.)
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; (D.R.B.); (L.Q.)
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-919-962-0326; Fax: +1-919- 843-2063
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31
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Andrés-Delgado L, Mercader N. Interplay between cardiac function and heart development. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2016; 1863:1707-16. [PMID: 26952935 PMCID: PMC4906158 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Mechanotransduction refers to the conversion of mechanical forces into biochemical or electrical signals that initiate structural and functional remodeling in cells and tissues. The heart is a kinetic organ whose form changes considerably during development and disease. This requires cardiomyocytes to be mechanically durable and able to mount coordinated responses to a variety of environmental signals on different time scales, including cardiac pressure loading and electrical and hemodynamic forces. During physiological growth, myocytes, endocardial and epicardial cells have to adaptively remodel to these mechanical forces. Here we review some of the recent advances in the understanding of how mechanical forces influence cardiac development, with a focus on fluid flow forces. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cardiomyocyte Biology: Integration of Developmental and Environmental Cues in the Heart edited by Marcus Schaub and Hughes Abriel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Andrés-Delgado
- Development of the Epicardium and Its Role during Regeneration Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC-ISCIII), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Nadia Mercader
- Development of the Epicardium and Its Role during Regeneration Group, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC-ISCIII), Melchor Fernández Almagro 3, 28029 Madrid, Spain; Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
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32
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Collins MM, Stainier DYR. Organ Function as a Modulator of Organ Formation: Lessons from Zebrafish. Curr Top Dev Biol 2016; 117:417-33. [PMID: 26969993 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2015.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Organogenesis requires an intricate balance between cell differentiation and tissue growth to generate a complex and fully functional organ. However, organogenesis is not solely driven by genetic inputs, as the development of several organ systems requires their own functionality. This theme is particularly evident in the developing heart as progression of cardiac development is accompanied by increased and altered hemodynamic forces. In the absence or disruption of these forces, heart development is abnormal, suggesting that the heart must sense these changes and respond appropriately. Here, we discuss concepts of how embryonic heart function contributes to heart development using lessons learned mostly from studies in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Collins
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Didier Y R Stainier
- Department of Developmental Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany.
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33
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Yue MS, Plavicki JS, Li XY, Peterson RE, Heideman W. A co-culture assay of embryonic zebrafish hearts to assess migration of epicardial cells in vitro. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2015; 15:50. [PMID: 26715205 PMCID: PMC4696273 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-015-0100-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background The vertebrate heart consists of three cell layers: the innermost endothelium, the contractile myocardium and the outermost epicardium. The epicardium is vital for heart development and function, and forms from epicardial progenitor cells (EPCs), which migrate to the myocardium during early development. Disruptions in EPC migration and epicardium formation result in a number of cardiac malformations, many of which resemble congenital heart diseases in humans. Hence, it is important to understand the mechanisms that influence EPC migration and spreading in the developing heart. In vitro approaches heretofore have been limited to monolayer epicardial cell cultures, which may not fully capture the complex interactions that can occur between epicardial and myocardial cells in vivo. Results Here we describe a novel in vitro co-culture assay for assessing epicardial cell migration using embryonic zebrafish hearts. We isolated donor hearts from embryonic zebrafish carrying an epicardial-specific fluorescent reporter after epicardial cells were present on the heart. These were co-cultured with recipient hearts expressing a myocardial-specific fluorescent reporter, isolated prior to EPC migration. Using this method, we can clearly visualize the movement of epicardial cells from the donor heart onto the myocardium of the recipient heart. We demonstrate the utility of this method by showing that epicardial cell migration is significantly delayed or absent when myocardial cells lack contractility and when myocardial cells are deficient in tbx5 expression. Conclusions We present a method to assess the migration of epicardial cells in an in vitro assay, wherein the migration of epicardial cells from a donor heart onto the myocardium of a recipient heart in co-culture is monitored and scored. The donor and recipient hearts can be independently manipulated, using either genetic tools or pharmacological agents. This allows flexibility in experimental design for determining the role that target genes/signaling pathways in specific cell types may have on epicardial cell migration. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12861-015-0100-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica S Yue
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Jessica S Plavicki
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
| | - Xin-yi Li
- College of Life Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710062, China.
| | - Richard E Peterson
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA. .,Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
| | - Warren Heideman
- Molecular and Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI, 53706, USA. .,Pharmaceutical Sciences Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, USA.
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34
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Chen CM, Miranda AMA, Bub G, Srinivas S. Detecting cardiac contractile activity in the early mouse embryo using multiple modalities. Front Physiol 2015; 5:508. [PMID: 25610399 PMCID: PMC4285868 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The heart is one of the first organs to develop during mammalian embryogenesis. In the mouse, it starts to form shortly after gastrulation, and is derived primarily from embryonic mesoderm. The embryonic heart is unique in having to perform a mechanical contractile function while undergoing complex morphogenetic remodeling. Approaches to imaging the morphogenesis and contractile activity of the developing heart are important in understanding not only how this remodeling is controlled but also the origin of congenital heart defects (CHDs). Here, we describe approaches for visualizing contractile activity in the developing mouse embryo, using brightfield time lapse microscopy and confocal microscopy of calcium transients. We describe an algorithm for enhancing this image data and quantifying contractile activity from it. Finally we describe how atomic force microscopy can be used to record contractile activity prior to it being microscopically visible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiann-Mun Chen
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford Oxford, UK ; Wellcome Trust London, UK
| | - António M A Miranda
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford Oxford, UK
| | - Gil Bub
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford Oxford, UK
| | - Shankar Srinivas
- Department of Physiology Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford Oxford, UK
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