Congenital cardiovascular malformations are among the most common congenital birth defects, occurring in almost 1% of the population. However, we do not understand the underlying molecular nature of the majority of these defects. In order to develop effective in vitro stem cell and regenerative therapies aimed at preventing birth defects and healing cardiovascular diseases in adults, it is critical to have a precise understanding of the mechanisms directing cardiovascular development in vivo. Therefore, the long-term goal of our lab is to understand the mechanisms of cardiovascular specification during vertebrate development.
The specific aims of this grant are to elucidate the mechanisms by which chicken ovalbumin upstream promoting-transcription factors (Coup-tfs) are required to restrict ventricular specification and promote hemangioblast specification using zebrafish. In humans, Coup-tfs are required for normal heart development. Studies in mice have demonstrated that Coup-tf2 is required for proper early cardiovascular development, but the mechanisms underlying Coup-tf2 function in these early defects are not understood. Our preliminary results suggest that zebrafish Coup-tf1a has cardiovascular defects reminiscent of mammalian Coup-tf2. Moreover, our preliminary results support the hypothesis that zebrafish Coup-tf1a has distinct requirements restricting ventricular cell specification and promoting hemangioblast specification.
In Specific Aim 1, we will use cell transplantation and lineage tracing experiments to determine which cells required Coup-tf1a to restrict ventricular cell specification. We will also determine the genetic relationship of FGF8 and Coup-tf1a in restricting ventricular cell specification. A role for Coup-tfs in vertebrate hemangioblast specification has not been previously recognized.
In Specific Aim 2, we will use epistasis and cell transplantation analysis to determine the relationship of Coup-tf1a to known regulators of hemangioblast specification and what cells require Coup-tf1a for hemangioblast specification. Factors downstream of Coup-tf1a in ventricular cell and hemangioblast specification are not known.
In Specific Aim 3, we will use loss-of-function methods to determine if candidate genes are required for regulating these distinct processes downstream of Coup-tf1a. Altogether, these studies will improve our understanding of normal cardiovascular specification events during development, providing the basis for future therapies aimed at healing congenital cardiovascular defects in children and injured or diseased cardiovascular tissues in adults.

Public Health Relevance

Congenital cardiovascular malformations are among the most common birth defects affecting people. However, we do not understand the underlying cause of the majority of these defects. The information gleaned from this project will allow for the creation of novel therapies aimed at preventing congenital cardiovascular defects as well as healing cardiovascular diseases in adults.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL112893-05
Application #
9234040
Study Section
Cardiovascular Differentiation and Development Study Section (CDD)
Program Officer
Schramm, Charlene A
Project Start
2013-01-15
Project End
2018-02-28
Budget Start
2017-03-01
Budget End
2018-02-28
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$344,250
Indirect Cost
$119,250
Name
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Department
Type
Independent Hospitals
DUNS #
071284913
City
Cincinnati
State
OH
Country
United States
Zip Code
45229
Pogoda, Hans-Martin; Riedl-Quinkertz, Iris; Löhr, Heiko et al. (2018) Direct activation of chordoblasts by retinoic acid is required for segmented centra mineralization during zebrafish spine development. Development 145:
Duong, Tiffany B; Ravisankar, Padmapriyadarshini; Song, Yuntao Charlie et al. (2018) Nr2f1a balances atrial chamber and atrioventricular canal size via BMP signaling-independent and -dependent mechanisms. Dev Biol 434:7-14
Mandal, Amrita; Holowiecki, Andrew; Song, Yuntao Charlie et al. (2017) Wnt signaling balances specification of the cardiac and pharyngeal muscle fields. Mech Dev 143:32-41
Adolfi, Mateus C; Herpin, Amaury; Regensburger, Martina et al. (2016) Retinoic acid and meiosis induction in adult versus embryonic gonads of medaka. Sci Rep 6:34281
Rydeen, Ariel B; Waxman, Joshua S (2016) Cyp26 Enzymes Facilitate Second Heart Field Progenitor Addition and Maintenance of Ventricular Integrity. PLoS Biol 14:e2000504
D'Aniello, Enrico; Ravisankar, Padmapriyadarshini; Waxman, Joshua S (2015) Rdh10a Provides a Conserved Critical Step in the Synthesis of Retinoic Acid during Zebrafish Embryogenesis. PLoS One 10:e0138588
Rydeen, Ariel; Voisin, Norine; D'Aniello, Enrico et al. (2015) Excessive feedback of Cyp26a1 promotes cell non-autonomous loss of retinoic acid signaling. Dev Biol 405:47-55
D'Aniello, Enrico; Waxman, Joshua S (2015) Input overload: Contributions of retinoic acid signaling feedback mechanisms to heart development and teratogenesis. Dev Dyn 244:513-23
Mandal, Amrita; Waxman, Joshua (2014) Retinoic acid negatively regulates dact3b expression in the hindbrain of zebrafish embryos. Gene Expr Patterns 16:122-9
Rydeen, Ariel B; Waxman, Joshua S (2014) Cyp26 enzymes are required to balance the cardiac and vascular lineages within the anterior lateral plate mesoderm. Development 141:1638-48

Showing the most recent 10 out of 11 publications