Canonical wnt signaling regulates atrioventricular junction programming and electrophysiological properties.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Proper patterning of the atrioventricular canal (AVC) is essential for delay of electrical impulses between atria and ventricles, and defects in AVC maturation can result in congenital heart disease.

Objective

To determine the role of canonical Wnt signaling in the myocardium during AVC development.

Methods and results

We used a novel allele of β-catenin that preserves β-catenin's cell adhesive functions but disrupts canonical Wnt signaling, allowing us to probe the effects of Wnt loss of function independently. We show that the loss of canonical Wnt signaling in the myocardium results in tricuspid atresia with hypoplastic right ventricle associated with the loss of AVC myocardium. In contrast, ectopic activation of Wnt signaling was sufficient to induce for

SUBMITTER: Gillers BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4312529 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature