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C/EBP Transcription Factors Mediate Epicardial Activation During Heart Development and Injury

2012; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 338; Issue: 6114 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.1229765

1095-9203

Guo N. Huang, Jeffrey E. Thatcher, John McAnally, Yongli Kong, Xiaoxia Qi, Wei Tan, J. Michael DiMaio, James F. Amatruda, Robert D. Gerard, Joseph A. Hill, Rhonda Bassel‐Duby, Eric N. Olson,

Coronary Artery Anomalies

Enhancing Heart Function The epicardium, a protective layer of tissue surrounding the mammalian heart, plays a critical role during embryogenesis because it supplies growth factors and multipotent progenitor cells essential for heart development. In adults, the epicardium is dormant but it becomes reactivated when the heart is injured, a response that leads to re-expression of developmental genes. Studying mouse models, Huang et al. (p. 1599 , published online 15 November; see the Perspective by Rosenzweig ) found that the C/EBP transcription factors activated the epicardium during development and injury. Blockade of C/EBP signaling in the epicardium of injured (ischemic) hearts reduced inflammation and improved heart function, a finding that could ultimately lead to new strategies for the repair of heart damage.