Nkx2-5- and Isl1-expressing cardiac progenitors contribute to proepicardium

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Oct 24;375(3):450-3. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.08.044. Epub 2008 Aug 21.

Abstract

Correct delineation of the hierarchy of cardiac progenitors is a key step to understanding heart development, and will pave the way for future use of cardiac progenitors in the treatment of heart disease. Multipotent Nkx2-5 and Isl1 cardiac progenitors contribute to cardiomyocyte, smooth muscle, and endothelial lineages, which constitute the major lineages of the heart. Recently, progenitors located within the proepicardium and epicardium were reported to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, as well as smooth muscle and endothelial cells. However, the relationship of these proepicardial progenitors to the previously described Nkx2-5 and Isl1 cardiac progenitors is incompletely understood. To address this question, we performed in vivo Cre-loxP-based lineage tracing. Both Nkx2-5- and Isl1-expressing progenitors contributed to the proepicardium and expressed Wt1 and Tbx18, markers of proepicardial progenitor cells. Interestingly, Nkx2-5 knockout resulted in abnormal proepicardial development and decreased expression of Wt1, suggesting a functional role for Nkx2-5 in proepicardium formation. Taken together, these results suggest that Nkx2-5 and/or Isl1 cardiac progenitors contribute to proepicardium during heart development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Lineage*
  • Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5
  • Homeodomain Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Multipotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Myoblasts, Cardiac / cytology*
  • Myoblasts, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Pericardium / cytology
  • Pericardium / embryology*
  • Pericardium / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Nkx2-5 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors
  • insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1