Sculpting heart valves with NFATc and VEGF.
Heart valves are of vital importance for our moment-to-moment existence, but how they form remains a mystery. In this issue of Cell, Chang et al. reveal a novel role for calcineurin, NFATs, and VEGF in valve formation. Dynamic changes in NFAT/VEGF expression in regional myocardial and endocardial fields and developmental windows orchestrate this complex process.
Lambrechts
Diether
D
Center for Transgene Technology and Gene Therapy, Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Carmeliet
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004699:Endocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics; D006351:Heart Valves / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D019703:Calcineurin