Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Language

English

Publication Date

3-14-2025

Journal

Science

DOI

10.1126/science.add3417

PMID

40080583

PMCID

PMC12662173

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

11-29-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

In the developing mammalian heart, the endocardium and the myocardium are separated by so-called cardiac jelly. Communication between the endocardium and the myocardium is essential for cardiac morphogenesis. How membrane-localized receptors and ligands achieve interaction across the cardiac jelly is not understood. Working in developing mouse cardiac morphogenesis models, we used a variety of cellular, imaging, and genetic approaches to elucidate this question. We found that myocardium and endocardium interacted directly through microstructures termed tunneling nanotube-like structures (TNTLs). TNTLs extended from cardiomyocytes (CMs) to contact endocardial cells (ECs) directly. TNTLs transported cytoplasmic proteins, transduced signals between CMs and ECs, and initiated myocardial growth toward the heart lumen to form ventricular trabeculae-like structures. Loss of TNTLs disturbed signaling interactions and, subsequently, ventricular patterning.

Keywords

Animals, Mice, Cell Communication, Endocardium, Endothelial Cells, Heart, Myocardium, Myocytes, Cardiac, Nanotubes, Organogenesis, Signal Transduction, Male, Female

Published Open-Access

yes

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