September 1, 2022Science68 citations
View Full PaperA coalition to heal—the impact of the cardiac microenvironment
Key Result
Cellular communication within the cardiac microenvironment and targeted therapies focusing on matrix, vasculature, and inflammation hold great promise for treating pathological cardiac conditions.
PICO
P
Population
Cardiac injury and pathological conditions
I
Intervention / Comparator
Microenvironment-targeted therapies (matrix, vascular, immunotherapy)
Abstract
Heart regenerative medicine has been gradually evolving from a view of the heart as a nonregenerative organ with terminally differentiated cardiac muscle cells. Understanding the biology of the heart during homeostasis and in response to injuries has led to the realization that cellular communication between all cardiac cell types holds great promise for treatments. Indeed, recent studies highlight new disease-reversion concepts in addition to cardiomyocyte renewal, such as matrix- and vascular-targeted therapies, and immunotherapy with a focus on inflammation and fibrosis. In this review, we will discuss the cross-talk within the cardiac microenvironment and how specific therapies aim to target the hostile cardiac milieu under pathological conditions.