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Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Repair

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to introduce this  Special Issue of IJMS which explores the intricate processes governing cardiovascular repair and regeneration. This collection aims at highlighting the key roles of defence and repair cell types, such as immune cells and fibroblasts, in injury mending, emphasizing their contribution to cardiac scar formation and remodeling, as well as other accessory mechanisms such as new vessel formation. Furthermore, we will try to provide novel insights into the dynamics of the extracellular matrix (ECM) within physiopathological conditions and elucidate its critical function in supporting tissue structure and inter-cellular communication during fibrosis and healing. Additionally, this Special Issue aims at exploring the mechanisms of fibrosis and its intertwined relationship with inflammation, offering a comprehensive understanding of its impact on cardiovascular function post-injury. We seek contributions also examining angiogenesis, as a vital process in restoring oxygen supply and promoting tissue recovery. By integrating all these key aspects, our collection will provide a holistic view of cardiovascular repair, aiming to advance physiopathology comprehension, as well as suggesting novel therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases. We aim to attract the attention of both researchers and clinicians dedicated to translational cardiovascular reseach and advancing cardiovascular medicine.

Suitable topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Role of different cell types in cardiovascular repair mechanisms;
  • Interplay between inflammation and fibrosis;
  • Mechanisms of cardio-protection;
  • Angiogenesis in cardiovascular repair;
  • Novel therapeutic targets or strategies.

Dr. Isotta Chimenti
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • fibroblasts
  • injury repair
  • cardiac scar
  • extracellular matrix
  • fibrosis
  • angiogenesis
  • inflammation
  • cardioprotection

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

14 pages, 816 KiB  
Review
The Role of Cardiac Fibroblast Heterogeneity in Myocardial Fibrosis and Its Novel Therapeutic Potential
by Isotta Chimenti, Francesca Pagano, Claudia Cozzolino, Francesca Icolaro, Erica Floris and Vittorio Picchio
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(12), 5882; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26125882 - 19 Jun 2025
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis is a key physiopathological process underlying the progression of virtually all heart diseases and related conditions, including myocardial infarction, pressure overload, and heart failure. Once regarded as a homogeneous and passive population, cardiac fibroblasts are now recognized as highly heterogeneous and [...] Read more.
Cardiac fibrosis is a key physiopathological process underlying the progression of virtually all heart diseases and related conditions, including myocardial infarction, pressure overload, and heart failure. Once regarded as a homogeneous and passive population, cardiac fibroblasts are now recognized as highly heterogeneous and dynamic, comprising distinct subpopulations with specialized molecular and functional identities. These subpopulations include resident fibroblasts, activated myofibroblasts, matrifibrocytes, inflammatory fibroblasts, and senescent fibroblasts, each contributing uniquely to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, cytokine secretion, and intercellular crosstalk. Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics, lineage tracing, and epigenetic profiling have revealed the plasticity and phenotypic transitions of cardiac fibroblasts in both physiological and pathological contexts. This review synthesizes current knowledge on fibroblast diversity in the adult heart, including their embryological origins and anatomical distribution, and explores how these insights could guide the development of precision anti-fibrotic therapies. We discuss a selection of emerging therapeutic strategies, including subtype-specific targeting (e.g., anti-POSTN, anti-IL1β), modulation of key signaling pathways (e.g., TGF-β, Wnt, Notch), with a brief mention also of novel approaches based on non-coding RNAs and epigenetic regulators. A better understanding of cardiac fibroblast heterogeneity holds significant potential for the design of more specific cell-type and context-tailored interventions, moving toward more effective and personalized treatments for cardiac fibrosis and its sequelae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiovascular Repair)
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