title: Novel therapeutic strategies targeting fibroblasts and fibrosis in heart disease.
abstract: Our understanding of the functions of cardiac fibroblasts has moved beyond their roles in heart structure and extracellular matrix generation and now includes their contributions to paracrine, mechanical and electrical signalling during ontogenesis and normal cardiac activity. Fibroblasts also have central roles in pathogenic remodelling during myocardial ischaemia, hypertension and heart failure. As key contributors to scar formation, they are crucial for tissue repair after interventions including surgery and ablation. Novel experimental approaches targeting cardiac fibroblasts are promising potential therapies for heart disease. Indeed, several existing drugs act, at least partially, through effects on cardiac connective tissue. This Review outlines the origins and roles of fibroblasts in cardiac development, homeostasis and disease; illustrates the involvement of fibroblasts in current and emerging clinical interventions; and identifies future targets for research and development.
authors.affiliation: Center for Heart and Regenerative Medicine Research, Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, 2 Riverside Circle, Virginia 24016, USA.|Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences, Kelly Hall, 325 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA.|Department of Emergency Medicine, Carilion Clinic, 1906 Belleview Avenue, Virginia 24016, USA.
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gourdie
authors.affiliation: Institute for Cardiovascular Regeneration, Centre for Molecular Medicine, University Frankfurt, Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany.|German Center of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), RheinMain, Theodor Stern Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimmeler
authors.affiliation: Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Centre Freiburg · Bad Krozingen, Elsässer Strasse 2q, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.|Faculty of Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs University, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.|Cardiac Biophysics and Systems Biology, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW3 6NP, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kohl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006333:Heart Failure; D006801:Humans