Homeodomain Factor Nkx2-5 in Heart Development and Disease

The mammalian heart is a highly modified muscularvessel (Fig.1). During embryonic development, it is thefirst organ to form, and contraction begins as soon as aprimitive tubular structure and vasculature are in evidence. The subsequent morphogenetic progressions thatgive rise to the four-chambered organ are the product ofboth embryonic and local patterning systems (Harvey2002b) and a feed-forward circuitry that links form withfunction (Sedmera et al. 1999). The result is a structure inwhich flow into and between chambers occurs in an elegant and efficient sling-like fashion (Kilner et al. 2000)...