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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix
10:21

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Published on: June 14, 2016

The cardiac fibroblast: therapeutic target in myocardial remodeling and failure

R Dale Brown1, S Kelly Ambler, M Darren Mitchell

  • 1Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA. Dale.Brown@uchsc.edu

Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology
|April 12, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac fibroblasts are key to heart health and disease. Targeting these cells offers new therapeutic strategies for heart failure and myocardial remodeling.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Fibrosis Research
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cardiac fibroblasts are crucial for extracellular matrix maintenance in healthy hearts.
  • They mediate inflammatory and fibrotic remodeling in injured or failing hearts.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate cardiac fibroblasts as a therapeutic target in heart disease.
  • To discuss fibroblast cell biology in normal and pathological cardiac function.
  • To review drug therapies targeting cardiac fibroblasts.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of cardiac fibroblast biology.
  • Analysis of cardiac fibrosis as a risk factor in heart failure.
  • Summary of candidate drug therapies acting on cardiac fibroblasts.

Main Results:

  • Cardiac fibroblasts' unique biology influences cardiac function.
  • Cardiac fibrosis is an independent risk factor for heart failure outcomes.
  • Several drug classes show potential therapeutic benefit by targeting fibroblasts.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiac fibroblasts represent a promising therapeutic target for heart disease.
  • Future research should focus on cardiac fibroblast biology and pharmacotherapy.
  • Targeting fibroblasts may improve outcomes in heart failure and myocardial remodeling.

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