Overview
Molecular Regulation of Heart Development
Contact Dr. Yutzey
Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology
Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, ML7020
3333 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45229
Phone 513-636-8340
Fax 513-636-5958
Email yutzey@cchmc.org The focus of our studies is the molecular regulation of embryonic heart development. Experimental embryological, genetic and molecular approaches are used for mechanistic analyses of early cardiac lineage determination and heart chamber development. We use both chick and mouse embryonic systems to identify critical regulatory interactions responsible for these events and to manipulate these interactions in vivo. In addition, in vitro culture systems have been developed in which to examine the molecular regulatory events that control cardiac lineage determination and early heart chamber morphogenesis.
The goal of our work is to establish relationships between signaling pathways and transcription factors that control the earliest events of cardiac development as well as the formation of the four-chambered heart. The mechanisms by which teratological agents or genetic mutations lead to cardiac malformations also is an active area of research. These studies have potential clinical implications in efforts to convert multipotential stem cells to the cardiac lineage and in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease.
Research areas include:
