Loss of tet methyl cytosine dioxygenase 3 (TET3) enhances cardiac fibrosis via modulating the DNA damage repair response.

Background: Cardiac fibrosis is the hallmark of all forms of chronic heart disease. Activation and proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts are the prime mediators of cardiac fibrosis. Existing studies show that ROS and inflammatory cytokines produced during fibrosis not only signal proliferative stimuli but also contribute to DNA damage.