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Research article
First published February 2005

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of coronary vessel development

Hong Mu, Ryuji Ohashi, Peter Lin, Qizhi Yao, and Changyi ChenView all authors and affiliations
Volume 10, Issue 1
https://doi.org/10.1191/1358863x05vm584ra

Abstract

Development of coronary vessels is a complex process in developmental biology and it may have clinical implications. Although coronary vessels develop as a form of vasculogenesis followed by angiogenesis, the cells of the entire coronary system do not arise from the developing heart. The key events of the coronary system formation include the generation of primordium and proepicardial organ; formation of epicardium; generation of subepicardial mesenchymal cells, and the formation, remodeling and maturation of the final vascular plexus. These events represent a complex regulation of the cell fate determination, cellular migration, epicardial/mesenchymal transformation, and patterning of vasculatures. Recent studies suggest that several transcription factors, adhesion molecules, growth factors and signaling molecules play essential roles in these events. This article reviews the literature on the development of coronary vessels, and discusses current advances and controversies of molecular and cellular mechanisms, thereby directing future investigations.

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Published In

Volume 10, Issue 1
Pages: 37 - 44
Article first published: February 2005
Issue published: February 2005

Keywords

  1. coronary vessels
  2. development
  3. epicardium
  4. growth factor
  5. proepicardial organ
  6. subepicardial mesenchymal cells

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PubMed: 15920999

Authors

Affiliations

Hong Mu
Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Michael E DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Ryuji Ohashi
Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Michael E DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Peter Lin
Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Michael E DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Qizhi Yao
Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Michael E DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Changyi Chen
Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Michael E DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA, [email protected]
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