title: Getting to the heart of the matter: new insights into cardiac fibrosis.
abstract: Fibrotic diseases are a significant global burden for which there are limited treatment options. The effector cells of fibrosis are activated fibroblasts called myofibroblasts, a highly contractile cell type characterized by the appearance of α-smooth muscle actin stress fibers. The underlying mechanism behind myofibroblast differentiation and persistence has been under much investigation and is known to involve a complex signaling network involving transforming growth factor-β, endothelin-1, angiotensin II, CCN2 (connective tissue growth factor), and platelet-derived growth factor. This review addresses the contribution of these signaling molecules to cardiac fibrosis.
authors: From the Departments of Dentistry and Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. Andrew.Leask@schulich.uwo.ca.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Leask
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000502:physiology; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D001284:Atrophy; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000502:physiology; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology*; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000502:physiology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000502:physiology; D011728:Pyridones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D011728:Pyridones; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000804:Angiotensin II; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; C093844:pirfenidone
keywords: cicatrix; endothelins; fibrosis; platelet-derived growth factor