title: Cellular and molecular mechanisms of coronary vessel development.
abstract: Development of coronary vessels is a complex process in developmental biology and it may have clinical implications. Although coronary vessels develop as a form of vasculogenesis followed by angiogenesis, the cells of the entire coronary system do not arise from the developing heart. The key events of the coronary system formation include the generation of primordium and proepicardial organ; formation of epicardium; generation of subepicardial mesenchymal cells, and the formation, remodeling and maturation of the final vascular plexus. These events represent a complex regulation of the cell fate determination, cellular migration, epicardial/ mesenchymal transformation, and patterning of vasculatures. Recent studies suggest that several transcription factors, adhesion molecules, growth factors and signaling molecules play essential roles in these events. This article reviews the literature on the development of coronary vessels, and discusses current advances and controversies of molecular and cellular mechanisms, thereby directing future investigations.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Michael E DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Qizhi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Changyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000196:embryology; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D006801:Humans; D039441:Integrin alpha4 / Q000502:physiology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000502:physiology; D010496:Pericardium / Q000196:embryology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000502:physiology; D050880:p300-CBP Transcription Factors; D000099224:p300-CBP-Associated Factor
chemical_list: D000123:Acetyltransferases; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D051548:Histone Acetyltransferases; D039441:Integrin alpha4; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D050783:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; D014157:Transcription Factors; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D050880:p300-CBP Transcription Factors; D000099224:p300-CBP-Associated Factor