Patterning the heart, a template for human cardiomyocyte development.
Although in mice, the dynamics of gene expression during heart development is well characterized, information on humans is scarce due to the limited availability of material. Here, we analyzed the transcriptional distribution of Mlc-2a, Mlc-1v, Mlc-2v, and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) in human embryonic hearts between 7 and 18 weeks of gestation and in healthy and hypertrophic adult hearts by in situ hybridization and compared expression with that in mice. Strikingly, Mlc-2a, Mlc-1v, and ANF, which are essentially chamber-restricted in mice by mid-gestation, showed a broader distribution in humans. On the other hand, Mlc-2v may prove to be an adequate ventricular marker in humans in contrast to mouse. This study emphasizes the importance of careful comparative human-animal analyses during embryonic development and adulthood, as avoiding erroneous extrapolations may be critical to develop new and successful myocardial replacement therapies.
Chuva de Sousa Lopes
Susana M
SM
Hubrecht Laboratory, Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Hassink
Rutger J
RJ
Feijen
Alie
A
van Rooijen
Marga A
MA
Doevendans
Pieter A
PA
Tertoolen
Leon
L
Brutel de la Rivière
Aart
A
Mummery
Christine L
CL
D000818:Animals; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D018994:Myosin Light Chains / Q000378:metabolism*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000378:metabolism
D018994:Myosin Light Chains; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D009320:Atrial Natriuretic Factor