Cardiac Fibroblast

Abstract

The permanent cellular constituents of the heart include cardiac fibroblasts, myocytes, endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that there are undulating changes in cardiac cell populations during embryonic development, through neonatal development and into the adult. Transient cell populations include lymphocytes, mast cells and macrophages, which can interact with these permanent cell types to affect cardiac function. It has also been observed that there are marked differences in the makeup of the cardiac cell populations depending on the species, which may be important when examining myocardial remodeling. Current dogma states that the fibroblast makes up the largest cell population of the heart; however, this appears to vary for different species, especially mice. Cardiac fibroblasts play a critical role in maintaining normal cardiac function, as well as in cardiac remodeling during pathological conditions such as myocardial infarct and hypertension. These cells have numerous functions, including synthesis and deposition of extracellular matrix, cell-cell communication with myocytes, cell-cell signaling with other fibroblasts, as well as with endothelial cells. These contacts affect the electrophysiological properties, secretion of growth factors and cytokines, as well as potentiating blood vessel formation. While a plethora of information is known about several of these processes, relatively little is understood about fibroblasts and their role in angiogenesis during development or cardiac remodeling. In this review we provide insight into the various properties of cardiac fibroblasts that helps illustrate their importance in maintaining proper cardiac function, as well as their critical role in the remodeling heart.

Severe Pneumococcal Pneumonia Causes Acute Cardiac Toxicity and Subsequent Cardiac Remodeling

“…This finding improves our understanding of MACE and long-term mortality of CAP patients. As described by Souders CA et al, once cardiomyocytes die, heart tissue is replaced with myofibroblasts that produce an extracellular matrix that is rich in collagen and leads to scar formation (47). Because S.…”

Combined effects of interleukin-1α and transforming growth factor-β1 on modulation of human cardiac fibroblast function

“…Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) are abundant in the heart and are important in maintaining the cardiac extracellular matrix (Brown et al, 2005;Porter and Turner, 2009;Souders et al, 2009). During cardiac structural remodeling, CF function is influenced by changes in electromechanical and biochemical signals.…”

“…During cardiac structural remodeling, CF function is influenced by changes in electromechanical and biochemical signals. The remodeling heart is characterized by increased levels of various proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) (Nicoletti and Michel, 1999;Porter and Turner, 2009;Souders et al, 2009). CF actively contribute to this inflammatory milieu by secreting various cytokines and chemokines, which attract and activate immune cells (Sinfield et al, 2013;Turner et al, 2011;Turner et al, 2009;Turner et al, 2010).…”

Inflammatory and fibrotic responses of cardiac fibroblasts to myocardial damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)

“…chemokines and cytokines that facilitate recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells in the damaged area of the heart [1][2][3][4][5][6]9].…”