Coronary vessel development is dependent on the type III transforming growth factor β receptor

Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta receptor III (TGF beta R3), or beta-glycan, binds all 3 TGF beta ligands and inhibin with high affinity but lacks the serine/threonine kinase domain found in the type I and type II receptors (TGF beta R1, TGF beta R2). TGF beta R3 facilitates signaling via TGF beta R1/TGF beta R2 but also has been suggested to play a unique and nonredundant role in TGF beta signaling. Targeted deletion of Tgfbr3 revealed a requirement for Tgfbr3 during development of the coronary vessels. Coronary vasculogenesis is significantly impaired in null mice, with few vessels evident and numerous, persistent blood islands found throughout the epicardium. Tgfbr3-null mice die at embryonic day 14.5, the time when functional coronary vasculature is required for embryo viability. However, in null mice nascent coronary vessels attach to the aorta, form 2 coronary ostia, and initiate smooth muscle recruitment by embryonic day 14. Analysis of earlier developmental stages revealed defects in the epicardium. At embryonic day 13.5, these defects include an irregular and hypercellular epicardium with abundant subepicardial mesenchyme and a thin compact zone myocardium. Tgfbr3-null mice also displayed other defects in coronary development, including dysmorphic and distended vessels along the atrioventricular groove and subepicardial hemorrhage. In null mice, vessels throughout the yolk sac and embryo form and recruit smooth muscle in a pattern indistinguishable from heterozygous or wild-type littermates. These data demonstrate a requirement for Tgfbr3 during coronary vessel development that is essential for embryonic viability.