Dynamic haematopoietic cell contribution to the developing and adult epicardium.

The epicardium is a cellular source with the potential to reconstitute lost cardiovascular tissue following myocardial infarction. Here we show that the adult epicardium contains a population of CD45+ haematopoietic cells (HCs), which are located proximal to coronary vessels and encased by extracellular matrix (ECM). This complex tertiary structure is established during the regenerative window between post-natal days 1 and 7.

Re-activated adult epicardial progenitor cells are a heterogeneous population molecularly distinct from their embryonic counterparts.

Cardiovascular disease remains the major cause of mortality, and cardiac cell therapy has recently emerged as a paradigm for heart repair. The epicardium is a layer of mesothelial cells covering the heart that during development contributes to different cardiovascular lineages, including cardiomyocytes, but which becomes quiescent after birth. We previously revealed that the peptide thymosin beta 4 (Tβ4) can reactivate adult epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs) after myocardial infarction (MI), to proliferate, and differentiate into cardiovascular derivatives.

Exocyst proteins in cytokinesis: Regulation by Rab11.

The Exocyst is an octameric protein complex comprised of Sec3, Sec5, Sec6, Sec8, Sec10, Sec15, Exo70, and Exo84 subunits.(1, 2) This complex was first identified in budding yeast where it acts to target vesicles to the bud tip and the cleavage furrow.(3) Here, we show that all Exocyst subunits are required for cytokinesis in mammalian cells.

Harnessing the potential of adult cardiac stem cells: lessons from haematopoiesis, the embryo and the niche.

Across biomedicine, there is a major drive to develop stem cell (SC) treatments for debilitating diseases. Most effective treatments restore an embryonic phenotype to adult SCs. This has led to two emerging paradigms in SC biology: the application of developmental biology studies and the manipulation of the SC niche.

Characterisation of 5-HT3C, 5-HT3D and 5-HT3E receptor subunits: evolution, distribution and function.

The 5-HT(3) receptor is a member of the 'Cys-loop' family of ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast excitatory and inhibitory transmission in the nervous system. Current evidence points towards native 5-HT(3) receptors originating from homomeric assemblies of 5-HT(3A) or heteromeric assembly of 5-HT(3A) and 5-HT(3B). Novel genes encoding 5-HT(3C), 5-HT(3D), and 5-HT(3E) have recently been described but the functional importance of these proteins is unknown.