The embryonic epicardium is an important source of cardiovascular precursor cells and paracrine factors required for adequate heart formation. During embryonic heart formation, WT1 is mainly expressed in epicardial cells and epicardial derived cells. Its expression has been used to trace epicardial derivatives in embryos and recently it has been used to follow the reactivation of epicardial cells after myocardial infarction. Interestingly, the highest level of expression of WT1 during epicardium development correlates with the highest proliferative state, stem cell properties, and migratory capacity of epicardial cells. Here, we review the various types of tools and strategies used to study WT1 function in the embryonic epicardium and provide examples of their use.
Keywords: Cell culture; Development; Epicardium; In vivo FACS analysis; Migration assay; Quantitative PCR; Transwell assay; Wt1.