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Recent insights on the role and regulation of retinoic acid signaling during epicardial development
Author(s) -
Wang Suya,
Moise Alexander R.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/dvg.23303
Subject(s) - retinoic acid , retinoic acid inducible orphan g protein coupled receptor , retinoic acid receptor beta , retinoic acid receptor , retinoid , heart development , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , tretinoin , retinoid x receptor , retinoic acid receptor gamma , retinoid x receptor gamma , receptor , cellular differentiation , signal transduction , biochemistry , nuclear receptor , embryonic stem cell , transcription factor , gene
Abstract The vitamin A metabolite, retinoic acid, carries out essential and conserved roles in vertebrate heart development. Retinoic acid signals via retinoic acid receptors (RAR)/retinoid X receptors (RXRs) heterodimers to induce the expression of genes that control cell fate specification, proliferation, and differentiation. Alterations in retinoic acid levels are often associated with congenital heart defects. Therefore, embryonic levels of retinoic acid need to be carefully regulated through the activity of enzymes, binding proteins and transporters involved in vitamin A metabolism. Here, we review evidence of the complex mechanisms that control the fetal uptake and synthesis of retinoic acid from vitamin A precursors. Next, we highlight recent evidence of the role of retinoic acid in orchestrating myocardial compact zone growth and coronary vascular development.