Epigenetic determinants and non-myocardial signaling pathways contributing to heart growth and regeneration

Abstract

Congenital heart disease is the most common birth defect worldwide. Defective cardiac myogenesis is either a major presentation or associated with many types of congenital heart disease. Non-myocardial tissues, including endocardium and epicardium, function as a supporting hub for myocardial growth and maturation during heart development. Recent research findings suggest an emerging role of epigenetics in nonmyocytes supporting myocardial development. Understanding how growth signaling pathways in non-myocardial tissues are regulated by epigenetic factors will likely identify new disease mechanisms for congenital heart diseases and shed lights for novel therapeutic strategies for heart regeneration.