Molecular networks of epicardial formation and function

摘要 先天性心脏病是西方世界死亡的主要原因， 数百万美国人心脏最初在脊椎动物中形成为双层管， 内膜和外心肌层。在开发的后期阶段， 心脏来自心外膜，心外膜由动态前体结构形成，即心外膜前器官 (PEO)它形成在横隔上，一个靠近心脏的结构。随着胚胎 成熟时，PEO中的细胞迁移到心脏表面，最终产生几种必需的细胞， 包括心脏成纤维细胞和血管平滑肌细胞。的 本提案的目的是利用我们一系列独特的技术、试剂和动物模型， 阐明形成和功能所需的分子和细胞途径， 心外膜这样做，我们将提供一个研究心脏形成和止血的平台， 从而证明了对人类先天性心脏病的机理性认识。

ABSTRACT Congenital heart disease is the leading cause of death in the western world affecting approximately 1.3 million Americans. The heart initially forms in vertebrates as a bilaminar tube comprised of an inner endocardium and outer myocardial layer. At later stages of development a third layer is added to the heart from the epicardium which forms from a dynamic precursor structure, the proepicardial organ (PEO) which forms on the septum transversum, a structure adjacent to the heart. As the embryo matures, cells from the PEO migrate onto the heart surface ultimately giving rise to several essential cell types in the adult heart including cardiac fibroblasts and the smooth muscle cells of the vasculature. The aim of this proposal will leverage our series of unique technologies, reagents, and animal models to elucidate the molecular and cellular pathways required for the formation and function of the epicardium. In doing so, we will provide a platform for studying heart formation and hemostasis, and thus proved mechanistic insight into human congenital heart disease.