Connecting heart and head muscle development: myogenic progenitor cells in pharyngeal mesoderm

Il 24/06/2013 ore 12.00 - 13.00

Aula Conferenze CNR
Istituto di Genetica e Biofisica "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso"
Via Pietro Castellino 111
80131 Napoli

Seminario del Prof. Robert Kelly del Developmental Biology Institute of Marseilles, CNRS, France

The pharyngeal region of the embryo plays an essential role in cardiovascular and craniofacial development. Pharyngeal mesoderm contains both myocardial progenitor cells of the second heart field that contribute to the rapidly growing poles of the early heart tube at the time of cardiac looping. Right ventricular and outflow tract myocardium are derived from cells of the anterior heart field, which contribute to the arterial pole or outlet of the heart. Malformation of this region of the heart is observed in over 30% of cases of congenital heart disease. Progenitor cells of the anterior heart field express the genes encoding the fibroblast growth factors Fgf10 and Fgf8 and the transcription factors Tbx1, Islet-1 and Hes1. Experimental or genetic perturbation of second heart field development leads to severe defects in cardiac morphogenesis.

We are investigating the regulation of the deployment of pharyngeal mesodermal progenitor cells during formation and septation of the arterial pole of the mouse heart. Our experimental approach involves the use of mouse congenital heart disease models and transgenic lines, which permit visualization of cells of the anterior heart field. Pharyngeal mesoderm also contributes to a subset of craniofacial skeletal muscles (including jaw opening and closing muscles, muscles of facial expression, and muscles of the pharynx and larynx) that share a developmental origin and overlapping genetic program with cells of the second heart field. We are also investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the function of key regulators of pharyngeal mesoderm development, such as the DiGeorge syndrome candidate gene Tbx1, in craniofacial myogenesis. Finally, we are studying the genetic control and establishment of the ventricular conduction system.

By focusing on the processes regulating development of pharyngeal mesoderm in the mouse and their contribution to the developing heart and craniofacial musculature, our experiments aim to contribute to understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying congenital heart disease and skeletal myopathies, and to provide insight into the properties of myogenic progenitor cells.

Situated in the science campus of Aix-Marseille University our group is part of the Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille Luminy (IBDML) and is also supported by the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale and EU FP7 CardioGeNet network.

Organizzato da:
IGB-CNR

Referente organizzativo:
Antonio Baldini
CNR - Istituto di genetica e biofisica "Adriano Buzzati Traverso"
Via Pietro Castellino 111
80131 Napoli
antonio.baldini@igb.cnr.it

Modalità di accesso: ingresso libero