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Published on: June 14, 2016
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.
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.
Objective:
It is revealed that circulating fibrocytes are elevated in patients/animals with cardiac fibrosis, and this review aims to provide an introduction to circulating fibrocytes and their role in cardiac fibrosis.
Data Sources:
This review is based on the data from 1994 to present obtained from PubMed. The search terms were "circulating fibrocytes " and "cardiac fibrosis ".
Study Selection:
Articles and critical reviews, which are related to circulating fibrocytes and cardiac fibrosis, were selected.
Results:
Circulating fibrocytes, which are derived from hematopoietic stem cells, represent a subset of peripheral blood mononuclear cells exhibiting mixed morphological and molecular characteristics of hematopoietic and mesenchymal cells (CD34+/CD45+/collagen I+). They can produce extracellular matrix and many cytokines. It is shown that circulating fibrocytes participate in many fibrotic diseases, including cardiac fibrosis. Evidence accumulated in recent years shows that aging individuals and patients with hypertension, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and atrial fibrillation have more circulating fibrocytes in peripheral blood and/or heart tissue, and this elevation of circulating fibrocytes is correlated with the degree of fibrosis in the hearts.
Conclusions:
Circulating fibrocytes are effector cells in cardiac fibrosis.
Related Concept Videos
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Myocarditis I: Introduction
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology
Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cells

