Targeting cardiac fibrosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: mirage or miracle?
Author(s)
Sweeney, Mark
Corden, Ben
Cook, Stuart A
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is central to the pathology of heart failure, particularly heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Irrespective of the underlying profibrotic condition (e.g. ageing, diabetes, hypertension), maladaptive cardiac fibrosis is defined by the transformation of resident fibroblasts to matrix-secreting myofibroblasts. Numerous profibrotic factors have been identified at the molecular level (e.g. TGFβ, IL11, AngII), which activate gene expression programs for myofibroblast activation. A number of existing HF therapies indirectly target fibrotic pathways; however, despite multiple clinical trials in HFpEF, a specific clinically effective antifibrotic therapy remains elusive. Therapeutic inhibition of TGFβ, the master-regulator of fibrosis, has unfortunately proven toxic and ineffective in clinical trials to date, and new approaches are needed. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology and clinical implications of interstitial fibrosis in HFpEF. We provide an overview of trials targeting fibrosis in HFpEF to date and discuss the promise of potential new therapeutic approaches and targets in the context of underlying molecular mechanisms.
Date Issued
2020-09-21
Date Acceptance
2020-08-14
Citation
EMBO Molecular Medicine, 2020, 12 (10), pp.1-26
ISSN
1757-4676
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
1
End Page
26
Journal / Book Title
EMBO Molecular Medicine
Volume
12
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© 2020 The Authors. Published under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license
License URL
Sponsor
British Heart Foundation
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000571246700001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
SP/10/10/28431
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Research & Experimental Medicine
CMR
fibroblast
fibrosis
heart failure
HFpEF
GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA
LEFT-VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY
ACTIVATED PROTEIN-KINASE
NADPH OXIDASE 4
ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME
LATE GADOLINIUM-ENHANCEMENT
TO-MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION
SEVERE AORTIC-STENOSIS
MYOCARDIAL FIBROSIS
TGF-BETA
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN e10865
Date Publish Online
2020-09-21