Gene expression in fibroblasts and fibrosis: involvement in cardiac hypertrophy.
Structural remodeling of the ventricular wall is a key determinant of clinical outcome in heart disease. Such remodeling involves the production and destruction of extracellular matrix proteins, cell proliferation and migration, and apoptotic and necrotic cell death. Cardiac fibroblasts are crucially involved in these processes, producing growth factors and cytokines that act as autocrine and paracrine factors, as well as extracellular matrix proteins and proteinases. Recent studies have shown that the interactions between cardiac fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes are essential for the progression of cardiac remodeling. This review addresses the functional role played by cardiac fibroblasts and the molecular mechanisms that govern their activity during cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling. A particular focus is the recent progress toward our understanding of the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms involved.
Manabe
Ichiro
I
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. manabe-tky@umin.ac.jp
Shindo
Takayuki
T
Nagai
Ryozo
R
D000818:Animals; D019898:Autocrine Communication; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000235:genetics
D016207:Cytokines; D006133:Growth Substances