Cardiac Development and Expression of Some Transcription Factors

Abstract

Cardiac embryogenesis is the result of multiple, highly dynamic processes and with a high degree of heterogeneity in their gene expression that occurs at different stages of myocardial development and in the fully formed heart. The aim of this review is to illustrate the different patterns of expression of some gene families of transcription factors which are expressed specifically in the different stages of the heart formation and provide information on the progress and results of the function and role of the Transcription Factor associated with microphthalmia MITF, obtained in the doctoral thesis of the author in the National Institute of Health of Colombia. The knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that control the specific expression of tissue, the regulatory factors and the interactions which allow the expression directed to a particular tissue compartment, constitutes the basis for clinical applications. Within the families of genes with specific expression patterns in the heart contractile proteins, ion channels, and transcription factors whose study will allow to clarify the association between gene deregulation, and the high incidence of cardiovascular disease. Necessary to mention that this review focused exclusively in the families of transcription factors which are expressed in a more widespread way during each stages of the cardiac development and by the design targeted initially, it does not include studies of gene expression at the level of contractile proteins and calcium regulators of the heart metabolism, that are as important as the above factors of transcription before mentioned. In conclusion transcription factors such as MITF-H may be involved not only in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases but early stages of cardiac development.