A Myocardial Lineage Derives from Tbx18 Epicardial Cells

Overview

Journal Nature

Specialty Science

Date 2008 May 16

PMID 18480752

Citations 410

Authors

Chen-Leng Cai

Jody C Martin

Yunfu Sun

Li Cui

Lianchun Wang

Kunfu Ouyang

Lei Yang

Lei Bu

Xingqun Liang

Xiaoxue Zhang

William B Stallcup

Christopher P Denton

Andrew McCulloch

Ju Chen

Sylvia M Evans

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Understanding the origins and roles of cardiac progenitor cells is important for elucidating the pathogenesis of congenital and acquired heart diseases. Moreover, manipulation of cardiac myocyte progenitors has potential for cell-based repair strategies for various myocardial disorders. Here we report the identification in mouse of a previously unknown cardiac myocyte lineage that derives from the proepicardial organ. These progenitor cells, which express the T-box transcription factor Tbx18, migrate onto the outer cardiac surface to form the epicardium, and then make a substantial contribution to myocytes in the ventricular septum and the atrial and ventricular walls. Tbx18-expressing cardiac progenitors also give rise to cardiac fibroblasts and coronary smooth muscle cells. The pluripotency of Tbx18 proepicardial cells provides a theoretical framework for applying these progenitors to effect cardiac repair and regeneration.

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