Display options
Cite
Li X, Garcia-Elias A, Benito B, et al. The effects of cardiac stretch on atrial fibroblasts: Analysis of the evidence and potential role in atrial fibrillation. Cardiovasc Res. 2021;doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvab035.
Li, X., Garcia-Elias, A., Benito, B., & Nattel, S. (2021). The effects of cardiac stretch on atrial fibroblasts: Analysis of the evidence and potential role in atrial fibrillation. Cardiovascular research, . https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvab035
Li, Xixiao, et al. "The effects of cardiac stretch on atrial fibroblasts: Analysis of the evidence and potential role in atrial fibrillation." Cardiovascular research vol. (2021). doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvab035
Li X, Garcia-Elias A, Benito B, Nattel S. The effects of cardiac stretch on atrial fibroblasts: Analysis of the evidence and potential role in atrial fibrillation. Cardiovasc Res. 2021 Feb 10; doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvab035. Epub 2021 Feb 10. PMID: 33576384.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Cardiovasc Res. 2021 Feb 10; doi: 10.1093/cvr/cvab035. Epub 2021 Feb 10.

The effects of cardiac stretch on atrial fibroblasts: Analysis of the evidence and potential role in atrial fibrillation.

Cardiovascular research

Xixiao Li, Anna Garcia-Elias, Begoña Benito, Stanley Nattel

Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute, Montreal, Canada.
  2. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
  3. Vascular Biology and Metabolism Program, Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.
  4. Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebrón, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
  5. Department of Pharmacology and Physiology of the Université de Montréal Faculty of Medicine, Montreal, Canada.
  6. Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, Faculty of Medicine, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
  7. IHU LIRYC and Fondation Bordeaux Université, Bordeaux, France.

PMID: 33576384 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab035

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important clinical problem. Chronic pressure/volume overload of the atria promotes AF, particularly via enhanced extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation manifested as tissue fibrosis. Loading of cardiac cells causes cell-stretch that is generally considered to promote fibrosis by directly activating fibroblasts, the key cell-type responsible for ECM-production. The primary purpose of this article is to review the evidence regarding direct effects of stretch on cardiac fibroblasts, specifically: (i) the similarities and differences among studies in observed effects of stretch on cardiac-fibroblast function; (ii) the signaling-pathways implicated; and (iii) the factors that affect stretch-related phenotypes. Our review summarizes the most important findings and limitations in this area and gives an overview of clinical data and animal models related to cardiac stretch, with particular emphasis on the atria. We suggest that the evidence regarding direct fibroblast activation by stretch is weak and inconsistent, in part because of variability among studies in key experimental conditions that govern the results. Further work is needed to clarify whether, in fact, stretch induces direct activation of cardiac fibroblasts and if so, to elucidate the determining factors to ensure reproducible results. If mechanical load on fibroblasts proves not to be clearly profibrotic by direct actions, other mechanisms like paracrine influences, the effects of systemic mediators and/or the direct consequences of myocardial injury or death, might account for the link between cardiac stretch and fibrosis. Clarity in this area is needed to improve our understanding of AF pathophysiology and assist in therapeutic development.

Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2021. For permissions please email: [email protected].

Keywords: atrial fibrillation; cardiac fibroblast; fibrosis; mechanical strain; pressure overload; stretch

Publication Types