Related Experiment Videos
Active interstitial remodeling: an important process in the hibernating human myocardium
Nikolaos G Frangogiannis1, Sarah Shimoni, Su Min Chang
1Section of Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. ngf@bcm.tmc.edu
Journal of the American College of Cardiology
|May 3, 2002
Summary
Active cardiac remodeling in hibernating myocardium, indicated by fibroblast activation and specific protein expression (SMemb, tenascin), predicts functional recovery after revascularization surgery.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Cardiac Pathophysiology
- Myocardial Remodeling
Background:
- Myocardial hibernation involves structural changes in both cardiomyocytes and the cardiac interstitium.
- Understanding interstitial remodeling is crucial for predicting functional recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate cardiac interstitium morphology in hibernating human myocardium.
- Determine if active remodeling influences functional recovery post-revascularization.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 15 patients with coronary disease using echocardiography and thallium-201 tomography.
- Obtained transmural myocardial biopsies during surgery for immunohistochemical analysis.
- Assessed fibroblast phenotype and active remodeling markers.
Main Results:
- Dysfunctional segments (86.4%) were viable; 12/29 segments recovered function post-surgery.
- Increased expression of SMemb and tenascin in dysfunctional segments indicated active remodeling.
- Higher SMemb expression and alpha-smooth muscle actin to collagen ratio correlated with functional recovery.
Conclusions:
- Fibroblast activation and expression of SMemb and tenascin demonstrate continuous remodeling in hibernating myocardium.
- These markers are significant predictors of functional recovery following revascularization.