Biomechanical Properties and Mechanobiology of Cardiac ECM

The heart is comprised of cardiac cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) which function together to pump blood throughout the body, provide organs with nutrients and oxygen, and remove metabolic wastes. Cardiac ECM provides a scaffold to cardiac cells and contributes to the mechanical properties and function of the cardiac tissue. Recently, more evidence suggests that cardiac ECM plays an active role in cardiac remodeling in response to mechanical loads. To that end, we provide an overview of the structure and function of the heart and the currently available in vivo and ex vivo mechanical measurements of cardiac tissues. We also review the biomechanical properties of cardiac tissues including the myocardium and heart valves, with a discussion on the differences between the right ventricle and left ventricle. Lastly, we go into the mechanical factors involved in cardiac remodeling and review the mechanobiology of cardiac tissues, i.e., the biomechanical responses at the cellular and tissue level, with an emphasis on the impact on the cardiac ECM. The regulation of cardiac ECM on cell function, which is a new and open area of research, is also briefly discussed. Future investigation into the ECM deposition and the interaction of cardiac cells and ECM components for mechanotransduction can assist to understand cardiac remodeling and inspire new therapies for cardiac diseases.