Nadia Mercader

Paternal cardiac injury elicits an inflammatory signal relay to the gonads with intergenerational cardiac effects in vertebrates

This study shows that paternal cardiac injury in vertebrates triggers inflammatory signals to the gonads, leading to intergenerational cardiac effects in offspring.

Functional architecture of cardiac TF regulatory landscapes in control of mammalian heart development

The paper identifies essential cardiac enhancer modules and regulatory mechanisms governing heart development, revealing resilience in cis-regulatory architectures and the role of Hand2 upstream regulatory intervals.

A paternal cardiac lesion induces cardiac adaptation in offspring

Paternal cardiac injury in mice improves offspring cardiac recovery and function through heritable changes.

Spns1-dependent endocardial lysosomal function drives valve morphogenesis through Notch1-signaling.

This study identifies a role for Spns1-dependent lysosomal function in endocardial cells during cardiac valve development, showing its impact on Notch1 signaling and valve morphology.

Identification of side effects of COVID-19 drug candidates on embryogenesis using an integrated zebrafish screening platform

The paper evaluates the effects of 162 FDA-approved drugs on zebrafish embryogenesis and immune response to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, identifying potential developmental side effects.

Downregulation of WT1 transcription factor gene expression is required to promote myocardial fate

The paper shows that sustained WT1 expression impairs cardiomyocyte maturation and leads to their transformation into epicardial cells in zebrafish.

Hand2 delineates mesothelium progenitors and is reactivated in mesothelioma

This study identifies Hand2 as a key regulator of mesothelium progenitors in zebrafish and shows its reactivation in mesothelioma, linking developmental processes to disease.

Intraflagellar transport complex B proteins regulate the Hippo effector Yap1 during cardiogenesis

This study shows that IFT complex B proteins modulate YAP1 activity during cardiogenesis in zebrafish and mouse, linking cilia-related proteins to Hippo pathway regulation.

Cardiac valve regeneration in adult zebrafish: importance of TGF-β signaling in new tissue formation

This study shows adult zebrafish can regenerate cardiac valves after decellularization, with TGF-β signaling promoting this process by enhancing progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation.

Pre-existent adult sox10+ cardiomyocytes contribute to myocardial regeneration in the zebrafish

The paper identifies a subset of pre-existent sox10+ cardiomyocytes in adult zebrafish that expand after injury and are crucial for cardiac regeneration.

Neuropilin 1 mediates epicardial activation and revascularization in the regenerating zebrafish heart

This study shows that Nrp1 is essential for zebrafish heart regeneration by enabling epicardial activation, migration, and revascularization after injury.

Actomyosin dynamics, Bmp and Notch signaling pathways drive apical extrusion of proepicardial cells

The paper identifies actomyosin dynamics and Notch/Bmp signaling as drivers of apical extrusion of proepicardial cells in zebrafish during heart development.

Transient fibrosis resolves via fibroblast inactivation in the regenerating zebrafish heart

The paper investigates fibrosis resolution in regenerating zebrafish hearts, finding that fibroblasts become inactivated rather than being eliminated, and that fibrosis supports cardiomyocyte proliferation.

A structural variant in the 5′-flanking region of the TWIST2 gene affects melanocyte development in belted cattle

The paper identifies a non-coding copy number variant upstream of TWIST2 that causes a pigmentation trait in belted cattle by affecting melanocyte development.