Induction and patterning of the Purkinje fibre network.
Impulse-conducting Purkinje cells differentiate from myocytes during embryogenesis. In the embryonic chicken heart, this conversion of contractile myocytes into conduction cells occurs subendocardially and periarterially. The unique sites of Purkinje fibre differentiation suggest that a shear stress-induced paracrine signal from the endocardium and arterial beds may induce adjacent myocytes to differentiate into conduction cells. Consistent with this model, Purkinje fibre marker genes can be induced in cultured embryonic myocytes by endothelin (ET), an endothelial cell-derived signalling peptide. This inductive response is, however, gradually lost from myocytes as embryos develop, and mature myocytes express only genes characteristic of hypertrophy in response to ET. In vivo, active ET is produced, through proteolytic processing, from its precursor by ET-converting enzyme 1 (ECE1) and triggers signalling by binding to its receptors, ETA and ETB. In the embryonic heart, the expression of these ET signalling components changes dynamically, defining the site and timing of Purkinje fibre differentiation within the ventricular myocardium during chick embryogenesis.
Mikawa
Takashi
T
Department of Cell Biology, Cornell University Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Gourdie
Robert G
RG
Takebayashi-Suzuki
Kimiko
K
Kanzawa
Nobuyuki
N
Hyer
Jeanette
J
Pennisi
David J
DJ
Poma
Clifton P
CP
Shulimovich
Maxim
M
Diaz
Kevin G
KG
Layliev
John
J
Prasad
Aparna
A
D000818:Animals; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D009024:Morphogenesis; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011690:Purkinje Fibers / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000378:metabolism
D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D000072396:Endothelin-Converting Enzymes