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Understanding Heart Field Progenitor Cells for Modeling Congenital Heart Diseases

  • Regenerative Medicine (SM Wu, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Cardiology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Heart development is a meticulously coordinated process that involves the specification of two distinct populations of cardiac progenitor cells, namely the first and the second heart field. Disruption of heart field progenitors can result in congenital heart defects. In this review, we aim to describe the signaling pathways and transcription factors that link heart field development and congenital heart disease.

Recent Findings

Single-cell transcriptomics, lineage-tracing mouse models, and stem cell-based in vitro modeling of cardiogenesis have significantly improved the spatiotemporal characterization of cardiac progenitors. Additionally, novel functional genomic studies have now linked more genetic variants with congenital heart disease.

Summary

Dysregulation of cardiac progenitor cells causes malformations that can be lethal. Ongoing research will continue to shed light on cardiac morphogenesis and help us better understand and treat patients with congenital heart disease.

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Acknowledgments

Given the space limitations, a more comprehensive review of heart fields was not possible. We also apologize to any authors of studies that we might have omitted. Dr. Emmanouil Tampakakis is supported by NHLBI HL-145135, AHA CDA34660077, and the Magic that Matters Fund.

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  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 835, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Matthew Miyamoto, Harshi Gangrade & Emmanouil Tampakakis

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  1. Matthew Miyamoto
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Correspondence to Emmanouil Tampakakis.

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Miyamoto, M., Gangrade, H. & Tampakakis, E. Understanding Heart Field Progenitor Cells for Modeling Congenital Heart Diseases. Curr Cardiol Rep 23, 38 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11886-021-01468-5

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