Biological Systems and Methods for Studying WT1 in the Epicardium

• Published in: Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) Vol. 1467; pp. 61 - 71
• Main Authors: Velecela, Víctor, Fazal-Salom, Janat, Martínez-Estrada, Ofelia M.
• Format: Book Chapter Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer New York 2016
• Series: Methods in Molecular Biology
• Subjects: Animals; Cell culture; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Cell Separation; Cells, Cultured; Development; Epicardium; Flow Cytometry; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; In vivo FACS analysis; Mice; Migration assay; Pericardium - cytology; Pericardium - embryology; Pericardium - metabolism; Quantitative PCR; Repressor Proteins - genetics; Repressor Proteins - metabolism; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - metabolism; Systems Biology - methods; Transwell assay; Wt1; Cell culture; Migration assay; Wt1; In vivo FACS analysis; Development; Epicardium; Transwell assay; Quantitative PCR
• ISBN: 149394021X; 9781493940219
• ISSN: 1064-3745; 1940-6029
• DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-4023-3_5

The embryonic epicardium is an important source of cardiovascular precursor cells and paracrine factors required for adequate heart formation. During embryonic heart formation, WT1 is mainly expressed in epicardial cells and epicardial derived cells. Its expression has been used to trace epicardial derivatives in embryos and recently it has been used to follow the reactivation of epicardial cells after myocardial infarction. Interestingly, the highest level of expression of WT1 during epicardium development correlates with the highest proliferative state, stem cell properties, and migratory capacity of epicardial cells. Here, we review the various types of tools and strategies used to study WT1 function in the embryonic epicardium and provide examples of their use.