title: In vivo and in vitro analysis of the vasculogenic potential of avian proepicardial and epicardial cells.
abstract: Coronary vessel formation is a special case in the context of embryonic vascular development. A major part of the coronary cellular precursors (endothelial, smooth muscle, and fibroblastic cells) derive from the proepicardium and the epicardium in what can be regarded as a late event of angioblastic and smooth muscle cell differentiation. Thus, coronary morphogenesis is dependent on the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of the proepicardium and the epicardium. In this study, we present several novel observations about the process of coronary vasculogenesis in avian embryos, namely: (1) The proepicardium displays a high vasculogenic potential, both in vivo (as shown by heterotopic transplants) and in vitro, which is modulated by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor signals; (2) Proepicardial and epicardial cells co-express receptors for platelet-derived growth factor-BB and VEGF; (3) Coronary angioblasts (found all through the epicardial, subepicardial, and compact myocardial layers) express the Wilms' tumor associated transcription factor and the retinoic acid-synthesizing enzyme retinaldehyde-dehydrogenase-2, two markers of the coelomic epithelium involved in coronary endothelium development. All these results contribute to the development of our knowledge on the vascular potential of proepicardial/epicardial cells, the existent interrelationships between the differentiating coronary cell lineages, and the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of coronary morphogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga, Campus de Teatinos s/n, Málaga 29071, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Guadix
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muñoz-Chápuli
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pérez-Pomares
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002678:Chimera; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D003370:Coturnix; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005782:Gels; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010496:Pericardium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D005782:Gels; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2