title: Fibroblast-myocyte coupling in the heart: Potential relevance for therapeutic interventions.
abstract: Cardiac myocyte-fibroblast electrotonic coupling is a well-established fact in vitro. Indirect evidence of its presence in vivo exists, but few functional studies have been published. This review describes the current knowledge of fibroblast-myocyte electrical signaling in the heart. Further research is needed to understand the frequency and extent of heterocellular interactions in vivo in order to gain a better understanding of their relevance in healthy and diseased myocardium. It is hoped that associated insight into myocyte-fibroblast coupling in the heart may lead to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and the development of agents for improving outcomes of myocardial scarring and fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Clemson University, Department of Bioengineering, Clemson, SC, USA; Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, VA, USA. Electronic address: ongstad@vt.edu.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ongstad
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Centre Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, Faculty of Medicine, University Freiburg, Germany; Cardiac Biophysics and Systems Biology, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kohl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D017630:Connexins
keywords: Cardiac electrophysiology; Gap junction; Scar