Tetralogy of fallot and other congenital heart defects in Hey2 mutant mice.
Congenital malformations of the heart and circulatory system are the most common type of human birth defect. Recent studies have implicated the Notch signaling pathway in human cardiac development by demonstrating abnormalities of the JAG1 gene as the basis for Alagille syndrome and some cases of isolated tetralogy of Fallot or pulmonic stenosis. How the Notch pathway acts in cardiac development remains unknown, but the Hey family of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors are candidates for mediating Notch signaling in the developing cardiovascular system. Here, we use gene targeting to determine the developmental functions of mouse Hey2, a Hey family member that is expressed during the embryonic development of the heart, arteries, and other organs. Homozygotes for the Hey2 mutant allele display a spectrum of cardiac malformations including ventricular septal defects, tetralogy of Fallot, and tricuspid atresia, defects that resemble those associated with mutations of human JAG1. These results establish Hey2 as an important regulator of cardiac morphogenesis and suggest a role for Hey2 in mediating or modulating Notch signaling in the developing heart.
Donovan
Jena
J
Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Kordylewska
Anna
A
Jan
Yuh Nung
YN
Utset
Manuel F
MF
D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D007763:Lac Operon; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010641:Phenotype; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018785:Tricuspid Atresia / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C000606273:JAG1 protein, human; C000606274:Jag1 protein, mouse; D000072100:Jagged-1 Protein; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D000072099:Serrate-Jagged Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors