Required, tissue-specific roles for Fgf8 in outflow tract formation and remodeling

Development. 2006 Jun;133(12):2419-33. doi: 10.1242/dev.02367.

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factor 8 (Fgf8) is a secreted signaling protein expressed in numerous temporospatial domains that are potentially relevant to cardiovascular development. However, the pathogenesis of complex cardiac and outflow tract defects observed in Fgf8-deficient mice, and the specific source(s) of Fgf8 required for outflow tract formation and subsequent remodeling are unknown. A detailed examination of the timing and location of Fgf8 production revealed previously unappreciated expression in a subset of primary heart field cells; Fgf8 is also expressed throughout the anterior heart field (AHF) mesoderm and in pharyngeal endoderm at the crescent and early somite stages. We used conditional mutagenesis to examine the requirements for Fgf8 function in these different expression domains during heart and outflow tract morphogenesis. Formation of the primary heart tube and the addition of right ventricular and outflow tract myocardium depend on autocrine Fgf8 signaling in cardiac crescent mesoderm. Loss of Fgf8 in this domain resulted in decreased expression of the Fgf8 target gene Erm, and aberrant production of Isl1 and its target Mef2c in the anterior heart field, thus linking Fgf8 signaling with transcription factor networks that regulate survival and proliferation of the anterior heart field. We further found that mesodermal- and endodermal-derived Fgf8 perform specific functions during outflow tract remodeling: mesodermal Fgf8 is required for correct alignment of the outflow tract and ventricles, whereas activity of Fgf8 emanating from pharyngeal endoderm regulates outflow tract septation. These findings provide a novel insight into how the formation and remodeling of primary and anterior heart field-derived structures rely on Fgf8 signals from discrete temporospatial domains.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Abnormalities
  • Cell Death
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 / genetics
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Heart / anatomy & histology*
  • Heart / embryology*
  • Heart / physiology
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Mesoderm / cytology
  • Mesoderm / physiology
  • Mice
  • Morphogenesis*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Pharynx / anatomy & histology
  • Pharynx / embryology
  • Pharynx / metabolism
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / genetics
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Fgf8 protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Mesp1 protein, mouse
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • Tbx1 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 8
  • Fgfr1 protein, mouse
  • Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 1