Journal
CELLS
Volume 10, Issue 11, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/cells10112933
Keywords
fibrosis; fibroblast; heart; exosome
Categories
Funding
- National Institutes of Health [R01 AR073172]
- Department of Defense/CDMRP
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine funds
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Changes in the extracellular matrix play a key role in tissue repair processes, especially during fibrosis where excessive matrix alters tissue function. Fibrosis was once thought to be progressive and irreversible, but recent studies have shown it can be stopped and even reversed. Therapeutic approaches targeting fibrosis and matrix-producing cells are being pursued more actively now.
Alterations in the accumulation and composition of the extracellular matrix are part of the normal tissue repair process. During fibrosis, this process becomes dysregulated and excessive extracellular matrix alters the biomechanical properties and function of tissues involved. Historically fibrosis was thought to be progressive and irreversible; however, studies suggest that fibrosis is a dynamic process whose progression can be stopped and even reversed. This realization has led to an enhanced pursuit of therapeutic agents targeting fibrosis and extracellular matrix-producing cells. In many organs, fibroblasts are the primary cells that produce the extracellular matrix. In response to diverse mechanical and biochemical stimuli, these cells are activated or transdifferentiate into specialized cells termed myofibroblasts that have an enhanced capacity to produce extracellular matrix. It is clear that interactions between diverse cells of the heart are able to modulate fibroblast activation and fibrosis. Exosomes are a form of extracellular vesicle that play an important role in intercellular communication via the cargo that they deliver to target cells. While relatively recently discovered, exosomes have been demonstrated to play important positive and negative roles in the regulation of fibroblast activation and tissue fibrosis. These roles as well as efforts to engineer exosomes as therapeutic tools will be discussed.
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