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Isolation and Characterization of Adult Cardiac Fibroblasts and Myofibroblasts
10:45

Isolation and Characterization of Adult Cardiac Fibroblasts and Myofibroblasts

Published on: March 12, 2020

The origin and arrhythmogenic potential of fibroblasts in cardiac disease

Carolina Vasquez1, Gregory E Morley

  • 1Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, 522 First Avenue, Smilow Building 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA.

Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research
|September 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac fibroblasts significantly impact heart function and disease. This review explores how fibroblast-myocyte interactions contribute to arrhythmias and discusses fibroblast origins in diseased hearts.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Cardiac Electrophysiology
  • Fibroblast Biology

Background:

  • Fibroblasts are crucial in cardiac physiology, injury response, and disease.
  • Cardiac electrophysiology research traditionally emphasizes myocyte remodeling.
  • Emerging evidence highlights the significant role of fibroblasts in cardiac electrophysiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review arrhythmia mechanisms involving myocyte-fibroblast interactions.
  • To discuss the origins of fibroblast and myofibroblast populations in diseased hearts.
  • To synthesize current understanding of fibroblast contributions to cardiac electrophysiology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of cardiac electrophysiology and fibroblast research.
  • Analysis of studies on myocyte-fibroblast electrical coupling.
  • Examination of evidence for intracardiac and extracardiac fibroblast sources.

Main Results:

  • Fibroblast-myocyte interactions are implicated in cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms.
  • Both intracardiac and extracardiac sources contribute to fibroblast populations in diseased hearts.
  • Fibroblasts and myofibroblasts can alter cardiac electrical properties.

Conclusions:

  • Fibroblasts are key players in cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmogenesis.
  • Understanding fibroblast origins and functions is vital for treating cardiac diseases.
  • Further research into fibroblast-myocyte interactions can reveal new therapeutic targets for arrhythmias.

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