Intramyocardial fibroblast myocyte communication

R Kakkar, RT Lee - Circulation research, 2010 - Am Heart Assoc
Circulation research, 2010Am Heart Assoc
Cardiac fibroblasts are emerging as key components of normal cardiac function, as well as
the response to stressors and injury. These most numerous cells of the heart interact with
myocytes via paracrine mechanisms, alterations in extracellular matrix homeostasis, and
direct cell-cell interactions. It is possible that they are a contributor to the inability of adult
myocytes to proliferate and may influence cardiac progenitor biology. Furthering our
understanding of how cardiac fibroblasts and myocytes interact may provide an avenue to …
Abstract
: Cardiac fibroblasts are emerging as key components of normal cardiac function, as well as the response to stressors and injury. These most numerous cells of the heart interact with myocytes via paracrine mechanisms, alterations in extracellular matrix homeostasis, and direct cell-cell interactions. It is possible that they are a contributor to the inability of adult myocytes to proliferate and may influence cardiac progenitor biology. Furthering our understanding of how cardiac fibroblasts and myocytes interact may provide an avenue to novel treatments for heart failure prevention. This review discusses the most recent concepts in cardiac fibroblast-myocyte communication and areas of potential future research.
Am Heart Assoc