The people behind the papers – Bettina Wilm and Suad Alsukari

The transcription factor Wilms' tumor protein 1 (WT1) has been previously implicated in mesothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) fate specification during mouse embryonic development. In their study, Bettina Wilm and colleagues show that WT1-expressing cells in the emerging mesoderm of the mouse embryo can give rise to SMC progenitors, independently of mesothelium formation. To learn more about their work, we spoke to the first author, Suad Alsukari, and the corresponding author, Bettina Wilm, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Life Course and Medical Science, University of Liverpool, UK.