Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling during Cardiac Development and Repair

Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease

Jan W. Buikema¹  Peter-Paul M. Zwetsloot¹  Pieter A. Doevendans²  Ibrahim J. Domian¹ 

[1] Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charles River Plaza, CPZN 3200, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; E-Mail:;Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584 CX, Utrecht, The Netherlands; E-Mail:

关键词: Wnt/β-catenin;    heart;    development;    cardiomyocyte proliferation;    regenerative medicine;   

DOI  :  10.3390/jcdd1010098

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Active Wnt/β-catenin signaling is essential for proper cardiac specification, progenitor expansion and myocardial growth. During development, the mass of the embryonic heart increases multiple times to achieve the dimensions of adult ventricular chambers. Cell division in the embryonic heart is fairly present, whereas cell turnover in the adult myocardium is extremely low. Understanding of embryonic cardiomyocyte cell-replication, therefore, could improve strategies for cardiac regenerative therapeutics. Here, we review which role Wnt signaling plays in cardiac development and highlight a selection of attempts that have been made to modulate Wnt signaling after cardiac ischemic injury to improve cardiac function and reduce infarct size.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.