title: Can heart function lost to disease be regenerated by therapeutic targeting of cardiac scar tissue?
abstract: Myocardial infarction results in scar tissue that cannot actively contribute to heart mechanical function and frequently causes lethal arrhythmias. The healing response after infarction involves inflammation, biochemical signaling, changes in cellular phenotype, activity, and organization, and alterations in electrical conduction due to variations in cell and tissue geometry and alterations in protein expression, organization, and function - particularly in membrane channels. The intensive research focus on regeneration of myocardial tissues has, as of yet, only met with modest success, with no near-term prospect of improving standard-of-care for patients with heart disease. An alternative concept for novel therapeutic approach is the rejuvenation of cardiac electrical and mechanical properties through the modification of scar tissue. Several peptide therapeutics, locally applied genetic therapies, or delivery of genetically modified cells have shown promise in improving the characteristics of the fibrous scar and post-myocardial infarction prognosis in experimental models. This review highlights several factors that contribute to arrhythmogenesis in scar formation and how these might be targeted to regenerate some of the electrical and mechanical function of the post-MI scar.
authors.affiliation: Center for Heart and Regenerative Medicine Research, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA. Electronic address: ongstad@vt.edu.
authors.forename: Emily L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ongstad
authors.affiliation: Center for Heart and Regenerative Medicine Research, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, 2 Riverside Circle, Roanoke, VA 24016, USA; Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, 317 Kelly Hall, Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Carilion Clinic, 1906 Belleview Avenue, Roanoke VA 24014, USA. Electronic address: gourdier@vtc.vt.edu.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gourdie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Fibrosis; Myocardial infarction; Regeneration; Structure; Tissue properties