Nfatc1 coordinates valve endocardial cell lineage development required for heart valve formation.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Formation of heart valves requires early endocardial to mesenchymal transformation (EMT) to generate valve mesenchyme and subsequent endocardial cell proliferation to elongate valve leaflets. Nfatc1 (nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic 1) is highly expressed in valve endocardial cells and is required for normal valve formation, but its role in the fate of valve endocardial cells during valve development is unknown.

Objective

Our aim was to investigate the function of Nfatc1 in cell-fate decision making by valve endocardial cells during EMT and early valve elongation.

Methods and results

Nfatc1 transcription enhancer was used to generate a novel valve endocardial cell-specific Cre mouse line for fate-mapping analyses of valve endocardial cells. T

SUBMITTER: Wu B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3132827 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature