17 Cardiomyocytes Influence Fibroblast Proliferation and α-Smooth Muscle Actin Expression via the Secretion of Paracrine Mediators.

Cardiac fibroblasts are known to modulate cardiomyocyte structure and function through soluble mediators. While less studied, the ability of cardiomyocytes to influence fibroblast properties, such as proliferation and activation, is likely to be of equal importance, as myocytes are known to produce a number of soluble factors to which fibroblasts are sensitive. Further, whether disease alters this myocyte-fibroblast cross talk is an important question to address