Role of Circulating Fibrocytes in Cardiac Fibrosis

Rong-Jie Lin, Zi-Zhuo Su, Shu-Min Liang

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510120, China.

Chinese Medical Journal
|February 3, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Circulating fibrocytes, a type of immune cell, are elevated in cardiac fibrosis. These cells contribute to the development and progression of heart fibrosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Immunology
  • Fibrosis Research

Background:

  • Circulating fibrocytes are implicated in various fibrotic diseases.
  • Elevated levels of circulating fibrocytes are observed in patients with cardiac fibrosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce circulating fibrocytes.
  • To elucidate the role of circulating fibrocytes in cardiac fibrosis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies from 1994 to present.
  • PubMed database search using terms "circulating fibrocytes" and "cardiac fibrosis".

Main Results:

  • Circulating fibrocytes are derived from hematopoietic stem cells and possess characteristics of both hematopoietic and mesenchymal cells.
  • These cells produce extracellular matrix and cytokines, contributing to fibrosis.
  • Increased circulating fibrocytes correlate with the severity of cardiac fibrosis in conditions like aging, hypertension, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.

Conclusions:

  • Circulating fibrocytes are key effector cells in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis.
Abstract

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