The vitamin A metabolite, retinoic acid, carries out essential and conserved roles in vertebrate heart development. Retinoic acid signals via retinoic acid receptors (RAR)/retinoid X receptors (RXRs) heterodimers to induce the expression of genes that control cell fate specification, proliferation, and differentiation. Alterations in retinoic acid levels are often associated with congenital heart defects. Therefore, embryonic levels of retinoic acid need to be carefully regulated through the activity of enzymes, binding proteins and transporters involved in vitamin A metabolism. Here, we review evidence of the complex mechanisms that control the fetal uptake and synthesis of retinoic acid from vitamin A precursors. Next, we highlight recent evidence of the role of retinoic acid in orchestrating myocardial compact zone growth and coronary vascular development.

中文翻译：

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关于视黄酸信号在心外膜发育过程中的作用和调节的最新见解。

维生素 A 代谢物视黄酸在脊椎动物心脏发育中发挥重要且保守的作用。视黄酸通过视黄酸受体 (RAR)/类视黄酸 X 受体 (RXR) 异二聚体发出信号，诱导控制细胞命运规范、增殖和分化的基因表达。视黄酸水平的改变通常与先天性心脏缺陷有关。因此，胚胎中视黄酸的水平需要通过参与维生素 A 代谢的酶、结合蛋白和转运蛋白的活性进行仔细调节。在这里，我们回顾了控制胎儿从维生素 A 前体中摄取和合成视黄酸的复杂机制的证据。接下来，我们重点介绍视黄酸在协调心肌致密区生长和冠状血管发育中作用的最新证据。