The Yutzey Lab
Our lab focuses on the examination and manipulation of the molecular regulatory mechanisms of heart development and disease. We use experimental embryological, genetic and molecular approaches to conduct mechanistic analyses of the development of myocardial and connective tissue cell lineages in the heart.
Using both chick and mouse embryonic systems, we work to identify critical regulatory interactions in the developing heart and to manipulate these interactions in vivo. In addition, we have developed in vitro culture systems in which we examine the molecular regulatory events that control cardiac lineage determination, valve cell maturation and myocardial homeostasis.
The goal of our work is to establish relationships between signaling pathways and transcription factors that control the earliest events of cardiac development and the formation of the four-chambered heart.
We also work to determine the mechanisms by which teratological agents or genetic mutations lead to cardiac malformations. These studies have potential clinical implications, especially in efforts to convert multipotential stem cells to the cardiac lineage and in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease.
A major focus of our lab is the analysis of heart valve development and disease mechanisms. Our work over the past few years has established striking parallels in the regulatory hierarchies that control heart valve development and those that control the development of other connective tissue cell types including cartilage, tendon and bone.
In addition, we have demonstrated that pediatric and even adult valve diseases are characterized by reactivation of developmental gene regulatory programs. The goal of our research is to elucidate mechanisms of valve disease by combining studies investigating the regulatory pathways controlling normal valve development in animal models with analysis of the molecular progression of disease in pediatric and adult human tissue specimens. Ultimately, this work promises to identify new therapeutic targets to treat heart valve disease and improve child health.
