Deciphering the Involvement of the Epicardium in Cardiac Diseases
Rita Carmona,
Carmen López-Sánchez,
Virginio García-Martinez,
Virginio García-López,
Ramón Muñoz-Chápuli,
Estefanía Lozano-Velasco,
Diego Franco
Affiliations
Rita Carmona
Department of Human Anatomy, Legal Medicine and History of Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Carmen López-Sánchez
Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Virginio García-Martinez
Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Virginio García-López
Department of Medical and Surgical Therapeutics, Pharmacology Area, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
Ramón Muñoz-Chápuli
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
Estefanía Lozano-Velasco
Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
Diego Franco
Cardiovascular Research Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
The epicardium is a very dynamic cardiac layer with pivotal contributions during cardiogenesis, acting in the postnatal period as an apparently dormant single-cell layer. In mammalian embryos, the epicardium, which originates form the proepicardium, translocates into the pericardial cavity and subsequently rests on the surface of the myocardium. Later, it gives rise to the epicardium-derived cells, which migrate into subepicardial space, invade the developing myocardium, promoting its growth, and contribute to different cell types. Anomalies in the process of epicardial development, the generation of epicardium-derived cells and their signaling mechanisms in different experimental models lead to defective cardiac development, reminiscent of human congenital heart diseases. Furthermore, recent studies have reported that epicardial derivates in adults, i.e., epicardial adipose tissue, are associated with electrophysiological cardiovascular anomalies. Herein, we provide a state-of-the-art review focusing on both congenital and adult heart diseases associated with epicardial development.
