Ventricular remodeling in heart failure: the role of myocardial collagen

Collagen which is present in the myocardium in relatively small amounts is the most abundant structural protein of the connective tissue network. Its structural organization consists of a complex weave of collagen fibers that surrounds and interconnects myocytes, groups of myocytes, muscle fibers and muscle bundles. The conformation of interstitial fibrillar collagen makes it highly resistant to degradation by all proteinases other than specific collagenases. In hearts with myocardial damage secondary to myocardial infarction, chronic ischemia, inflammation, or cardiomyopathy, a complex sequence of compensatory events occur that eventually result in an adverse left ventricular remodeling. This continual state of remodeling is characterized by persistent collagenase activity, fibrillar collagen degradation, and progressive myocyte loss. The net effect is a shift in the balance between collagen synthesis and degradation which leads to an inadequate fibrillar collagen matrix, progressive ventricular dilatation and sphericalization with wall thinning and eventual congestive heart failure.