Mark W. Majesky, PhD

Overview

Research Description

Professional History

Graduate School:
University of Washington, Department of Pharmacology

Postdoctoral:
University of Washington, Vascular Biology

Faculty:
Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Associate Professor, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Professor, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC


Molecular Basis of Coronary Vessel Development:

We study the development and differentiation of coronary blood vessels. Coronary progenitors are found in the proepicardium, a transient cell population that arises independently of the heart itself. In evolution, the appearance of the proepicardium correlates with the transition of the heart from a primitive tubular structure with a thin-walled, epithelial-type myocardium, as is found in pre- and early chordates, to a thick multilayered pumping organ found in most vertebrates.

Fate mapping studies show that proepicardial cells are the forerunners for the endothelium, smooth muscle and adventitial cells of the coronary vasculature. Formation of coronary vessels occurs by an epithelial to mesenchymal transformation (EMT) of proepicardial cells at the surface of the heart, followed by vasculogenesis in the subepicardial layer, assembly and remodeling of a primitive coronary plexus, and investment by coronary smooth muscle cells (CoSMCs).

We apply molecular biological and developmental genetic approaches to identify pathways for CoSMC commitment and differentiation during heart development. We use both chick and mouse models to explore mechanisms that couple proepicardial cell EMT and transcriptional activation of CoSMC target genes. Current projects in the lab employ transgenic and knockout mice to examine the role of sonic hedgehog signaling, rhoGTPase activation, and cytoskeletal remodeling in the stimulation of SRF and Tbxdependent transcription that mediates proepicardial cell differentiation to CoSMCs.


Role of Tbx18 in Murine Development:

T-box-containing proteins play critical roles as transcription factors that regulate cell fate and differentiation in development. Tbx18 is highly expressed in septum transversum and proepicardium. We used gene targeting in ES cells to produce Tbx18 knockout mice, which die shortly after birth with skeletal, renal and cardiac defects. Current projects aim to characterize these defects in detail, identify binding partners and gene targets for Tbx18, and prepare a conditional null allele for analysis of Tbx18 function in adult mice. Tbx18 is highly expressed in mesothelial membranes that line the pleural, pericardial and peritoneal cavities. These membranes are prone to fibrotic reactions to injury. Fibrosis limits regeneration and repair, restricts end organ function, and is an important cause failure in renal dialysis, and reproductive function after pelvic surgery. Adult models of mesothelial wound repair will allow us to genetically dissect key steps leading to pathological fibrosis.

Another goal of this project is to identify enhancer elements that direct Tbx18 expression to the proepicardium. Using rVISTA phylogenetic sequence comparisons, several conserved intronic elements have been identified as candidate proepicardial enhancers. These elements have been multimerized, ligated into minimal promoter vectors, and are being tested in transgenic frogs and mice.


Sonic Hedgehog Signaling and Adventitial Stem Cells

Blood vessels are continuously undergoing formation, regression, remodeling and repair throughout life. We found a domain of sonic hedgehog signaling restricted to the adventitial layer of artery walls which supports a population of resident vascular stem and progenitor cells. When removed from the adventitial niche environment, these resident progenitors differentiate to mural-like cells (pericytes and smooth muscle cells) in vitro, and closely associate with nascent microvessels in angiogenesis assays in vivo. Maintenance of an adventitial stem/progenitor cell phenotype is dependent upon expression of KLF4. The role of sonic hedgehog signaling in development of the adventitia is an active area of current investigation in the laboratory.

Lab URL

http://www.seattlechildrens.org/research/developmental-biology-regenerative-medicine/majesky-lab/

Research Focus Area

Genetics, Stem Cell Biology, Developmental Biology

Publications