Key result
Emerging molecular and epigenetic therapies show potential to specifically target cardiac fibrosis and fibroblast activation.
Why the study?
Cardiac fibrosis is a common pathogenetic hallmark of cardiovascular diseases, but a specific therapy for its exclusive treatment is still lacking.
This review highlights the current lack of specific therapies for cardiac fibrosis and summarizes emerging molecular, epigenetic, and biotechnological strategies targeting fibroblast activation.
No approved antifibrotic therapies exist for cardiac fibrosis; leaves open clinical translation of emerging targets.
Cardiovascular diseases are the first cause of death worldwide, with a heavy social and economic impact. They include a wide range of pathological conditions, among which cardiac fibrosis represents a common pathogenetic hallmark. The fibrotic process is driven by cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells, namely fibroblasts, which become activated, proliferate, and differentiate into myofibroblasts in response to several stimuli, in the end secreting extracellular matrix proteins, and mediating cardiac tissue remodelling and stiffening. A specific therapy for the exclusive treatment of cardiac fibrosis is still lacking. Given the growing quest for reducing the burden of cardiovascular diseases, there is increasing interest in the search for new effective anti-fibrotic therapies. In this review, we will briefly summarize the limited pharmacological therapies known to act, at least in part, against cardiac fibrosis. Then we will present novel potential active molecules, molecular targets, and biotechnological approaches emerged in the last decade, as possible future therapeutic strategies for cardiac fibrosis, with a specific focus on targeting fibroblast activation and function.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Floris et al. (2023) conducted a review in Cardiac fibrosis. Anti-fibrotic therapies was evaluated. Emerging therapeutic strategies against cardiac fibrosis, including novel molecular targets, epigenetic pathways, and biotechnological approaches, offer potential to specifically target fibroblast activation and function.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: