[Pathophysiology of cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix in failing myocardium]

Cytoskeleton of myocytes and extracellular matrix play an essential role for maintaining cellular function. Alterations in humoral factors observed in heart failure, e.g., excess of plasma norepinephrine and angiotensin II, injure the microtubule structure probably through Ca overload and increase the collagen synthesis of the cardiac fibroblast. Recent studies demonstrated that network structures of microtubules and intermediate filaments are disrupted in the myocardium obtained from patients with heart failure. Changes in cytoskeletons and extracellular matrix may affect the contractile function, since they organize the intra- and inter-cellular architectures. Pathophysiological roles of cytoskeletons and extracellular matrix in failing hearts deserve further studies.