Type VI collagen in the cardiac valves and connective tissue septa during heart development

G. T. Kitten, S. J. Kolker, S. L. Krob, S. E. Klewer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

A variety of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins have been shown to be present in the embryonic heart during the morphogenesis of the valves and membranous septa. It is not known if any specific ECM protein is required for the normal morphogenesis of these tissues, but this is of great interest since there is a high incidence of congenital malformations which affect valvular and septal tissues. Interestingly, the α1 and α2 genes of type VI collagen are located within the region of human chromosome 21 thought to be involved in the congenital heart defect phenotype associated with trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome). In this study we examined the distribution and investigated the function of type VI collagen in the cardiac valves and septa of chicken and mouse embryos during various stages of development. Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies revealed a pattern of cardiac expression of type VI collagen which is present from the earliest stages of valve and septum development through the neonatal period. Results from an in vitro bioassay suggest that type VI collagen may play a role in the formation and migration of specific cells in the forming valves and septa. These data support molecular genetic studies which have indicated that type VI collagen is involved in the heart defect phenotype seen in trisomy 21.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1189-1193
Number of pages5
JournalBrazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research
Volume29
Issue number9
StatePublished - Sep 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Development
  • Extracellular matrix
  • Heart
  • Type VI collagen
  • Valves

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biophysics
  • General Neuroscience
  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics(all)
  • Cell Biology

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