Immunological aspect of cardiac remodeling: T lymphocyte subsets in inflammation-mediated cardiac fibrosis.
Cardiac fibrosis is defined as a progressive accumulation of fibrillar extracellular matrix (ECM) in the myocardium. The regulation of extracellular matrix remodeling is primarily mediated by cardiac fibroblasts (CF). Evidences suggest that various T lymphocyte phenotypes differentially affect organ fibrosis through modulating CF collagen and MMP/TIMP gene expression, MMP activity and cardiac collagen cross-linking, leading to altered ECM composition. In regard to the importance of cytokines in cardiac fibrosis and heart failure, in this review, we will address the role of different T cell subsets in inflammation-mediated cardiac fibrosis, from a distinct perspective of T cell and fibroblast interaction. We conclude that in addition to preventive strategies, therapies based on deviation of Th1/Th2 paradigm, and manipulation of Tregs and Th17 would show promising results in future studies.
Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 150001, China. wliu4@uvm.edu
Liu
L
Wei
D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D020257:Ventricular Remodeling / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D003094:Collagen