title: The cardiac fibroblast: therapeutic target in myocardial remodeling and failure.
abstract: Cardiac fibroblasts play a central role in the maintenance of extracellular matrix in the normal heart and as mediators of inflammatory and fibrotic myocardial remodeling in the injured and failing heart. In this review, we evaluate the cardiac fibroblast as a therapeutic target in heart disease. Unique features of cardiac fibroblast cell biology are discussed in relation to normal and pathophysiological cardiac function. The contribution of cardiac fibrosis as an independent risk factor in the outcome of heart failure is considered. Candidate drug therapies that derive benefit from actions on cardiac fibroblasts are summarized, including inhibitors of angiotensin-aldosterone systems, endothelin receptor antagonists, statins, anticytokine therapies, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors, and novel antifibrotic/anti-inflammatory agents. These findings point the way to future challenges in cardiac fibroblast biology and pharmacotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA. Dale.Brown@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: R Dale
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: S Kelly
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ambler
authors.forename: M Darren
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Carlin S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Long
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002317:Cardiovascular Agents