Cardiac fibrosis(CF) and related signaling pathway

1.Definition of CF

 CF is characterized by net accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins in the cardiac interstitium and results in both systolic and diastolic dysfunction.The pathogenesis is mainly activated fibroblasts termed myofibroblasts. They express the highly contractile protein alpha-smooth muscle actin(alpha-SMA).  

2.Patterns of cardiac fibrosis

Interstitial fibrosis(B) occurs around myocyte, while prevescular fibrosis(D) occurs in the vicinity of large coronary vessels. Patchy fibrosis(C) were replacement of dead CMs.

3. Heart fibrosis progress

  Initiation CM necrosis: mitochondriocentric signal–transducer–effector pathway activating

  Secretome: Inflammatory cells and myofibroblasts

References:

1. Nenad Bursac and Jong J. Kim(2015), Cardiac Fibroblasts and Arrhythmogenesis, https://clinicalgate.com/

2. Myofibroblast-mediated mechanisms of pathological remodelling of the heart.