| First Author | Cohen ED | Year | 2007 |
| Journal | J Clin Invest | Volume | 117 |
| Issue | 7 | Pages | 1794-804 |
| PubMed ID | 17607356 | Mgi Jnum | J:124189 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3721014 | Doi | 10.1172/JCI31731 |
| Citation | Cohen ED, et al. (2007) Wnt/beta-catenin signaling promotes expansion of Isl-1-positive cardiac progenitor cells through regulation of FGF signaling. J Clin Invest 117(7):1794-804 |
| abstractText | The anterior heart field (AHF), which contributes to the outflow tract and right ventricle of the heart, is defined in part by expression of the LIM homeobox transcription factor Isl-1. The importance of Isl-1-positive cells in cardiac development and homeostasis is underscored by the finding that these cells are required for cardiac development and act as cardiac stem/progenitor cells within the postnatal heart. However, the molecular pathways regulating these cells' expansion and differentiation are poorly understood. We show that Isl-1-positive AHF progenitor cells in mice were responsive to Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, and these responsive cells contributed to the outflow tract and right ventricle of the heart. Loss of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in the AHF caused defective outflow tract and right ventricular development with a decrease in Isl-1-positive progenitors and loss of FGF signaling. Conversely, Wnt gain of function in these cells led to expansion of Isl-1-positive progenitors with a concomitant increase in FGF signaling through activation of a specific set of FGF ligands including FGF3, FGF10, FGF16, and FGF20. These data reveal what we believe to be a novel Wnt-FGF signaling axis required for expansion of Isl-1-positive AHF progenitors and suggest future therapies to increase the number and function of these cells for cardiac regeneration. |
