Snai1 is important for avian epicardial cell transformation and motility. Dev Dyn 2013 Jun;242(6):699-708
Date
04/05/2013Pubmed ID
23553854Pubmed Central ID
PMC3668562DOI
10.1002/dvdy.23967Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84878156641 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 11 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Formation of the epicardium requires several cellular processes including migration, transformation, invasion, and differentiation in order to give rise to fibroblast, smooth muscle, coronary endothelial and myocyte cell lineages within the developing myocardium. Snai1 is a zinc finger transcription factor that plays an important role in regulating cell survival and fate during embryonic development and under pathological conditions. However, its role in avian epicardial development has not been examined.
RESULTS: Here we show that Snai1 is highly expressed in epicardial cells from as early as the proepicardial cell stage and its expression is maintained as proepicardial cells migrate and spread over the surface of the myocardium and undergo epicardial-to-mesenchymal transformation in the generation of epicardial-derived cells. Using multiple in vitro assays, we show that Snai1 overexpression in chick explants enhances proepicardial cell migration at Hamburger Hamilton Stage (HH St.) 16, and epicardial-to-mesenchymal transformation, cell migration, and invasion at HH St. 24. Further, we demonstrate that Snai1-mediated cell migration requires matrix metalloproteinase activity, and MMP15 is sufficient for this process.
CONCLUSIONS: Together our data provide new insights into the multiple roles that Snai1 has in regulating avian epicardial development.
Author List
Tao G, Miller LJ, Lincoln JAuthor
Joy Lincoln PhD Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AnimalsCell Differentiation
Cell Lineage
Cell Movement
Cell Proliferation
Chick Embryo
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Heart
Matrix Metalloproteinase 15
Matrix Metalloproteinases
Mice
Myocardium
Pericardium
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Snail Family Transcription Factors
Transcription Factors