Combinatorial functions of transcription factors and epigenetic factors in heart development and disease

Abstract

Heart malformations are the most common type of birth defect, affecting more than 2 % of newborns and causing significant morbidity and mortality. In the past two decades, studies have revealed the function and importance of cardiac transcription factors during heart development and in congenital heart disease. Transcription factors generally form complexes with other transcription factors and/or with chromatin factors to perform specific functions. This review focuses on how chromatin factors modify cardiac transcription factors during cardiovascular development and disease.