Cardiac fibroblast

A cardiac fibroblast is a specialized mesenchymal cell found abundantly in the heart, where it is critical for synthesizing, organizing, and remodeling the extracellular matrix (ECM), supporting tissue structure, and mediating normal and pathological responses to injury. Cardiac fibroblasts are responsible for secreting structural proteins (collagens, fibronectin), signaling molecules (cytokines, growth factors, peptides), and ECM-degrading enzymes, and play key roles in homeostasis, electrical conduction, and scar formation. Upon injury or stress, these cells differentiate into myofibroblasts, which are highly active in deposition of fibrotic tissue, contributing to stiffening, electrical disruption, and dysfunction seen in heart diseases such as heart failure, myocardial infarction, and fibrosis. Cardiac fibroblasts are not a single molecule/receptor, but a heterogeneous cell population that serves as an important therapeutic target in cardiovascular drug development. Drug targeting aims to limit or reverse pathological fibroblast activation/function while preserving essential structural maintenance of the heart [1][2][4][5][7][8].

Other names

Cardiac fibroblastsCardiac FBCardiac CFBCardiac myofibroblast (for its activated state)

Inhibition of fibroblast activation/myofibroblast transdifferentiation (e.g., TGF-β signaling modulators) Suppression of ECM protein synthesis or deposition Modulation of cytokine, growth factor, or peptide signaling (e.g., blockade of angiotensin II or endothelin-1) Inhibition of profibrotic signaling pathways (e.g., ALK5, TAK1, p38 MAPK inhibitors) Decrease of fibroblast-mediated inflammation and fibrosis