A Review of Therapeutic Strategies against Cardiac Fibrosis: From Classical Pharmacology to Novel Molecular, Epigenetic, and Biotechnological Approaches.

Cardiovascular diseases are the first cause of death worldwide, with a heavy social and economic impact. They include a wide range of pathological conditions, among which cardiac fibrosis represents a common pathogenetic hallmark. The fibrotic process is driven by cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells, namely fibroblasts, which become activated, proliferate, and differentiate into myofibroblasts in response to several stimuli, in the end secreting extracellular matrix proteins, and mediating cardiac tissue remodelling and stiffening.

Exposure to serum from exclusive heated tobacco product smokers induces mTOR activation and fibrotic features in human cardiac stromal cells.

Chronic smokers have increased risk of fibrosis-related atrial fibrillation. The use of heated-tobacco products (HTPs) is increasing exponentially, and their health impact is still uncertain. We aim to investigate the effects of circulating molecules in exclusive HTP chronic smokers on the fibrotic behavior of human atrial cardiac stromal cells (CSCs).

Early Impairment of Paracrine and Phenotypic Features in Resident Cardiac Mesenchymal Stromal Cells after Thoracic Radiotherapy.

Radiotherapy-induced cardiac toxicity and consequent diseases still represent potential severe late complications for many cancer survivors who undergo therapeutic thoracic irradiation. We aimed to assess the phenotypic and paracrine features of resident cardiac mesenchymal stromal cells (CMSCs) at early follow-up after the end of thoracic irradiation of the heart as an early sign and/or mechanism of cardiac toxicity anticipating late organ dysfunction. Resident CMSCs were isolated from a rat model of fractionated thoracic irradiation with accurate and clinically relevant heart dosimetry that developed delayed dose-dependent cardiac dysfunction after 1 year.

Effect of traditional or heat-not-burn cigarette smoking on circulating miRNAs in healthy subjects.

Background: Traditional combustion cigarette (TCC) smoking is an established risk factor for several types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) represent key molecules mediating pathogenetic mechanisms, and potential biomarkers for personalized risk assessment. TCC smoking globally changes the profile of circulating miRNAs.

Remote Adipose Tissue-Derived Stromal Cells of Patients with Lung Adenocarcinoma Generate a Similar Malignant Microenvironment of the Lung Stromal Counterpart.

Cancer alters both local and distant tissue by influencing the microenvironment. In this regard, the interplay with the stromal fraction is considered critical as this latter can either foster or hamper the progression of the disease. Accordingly, the modality by which tumors may alter distant niches of stromal cells is still unclear, especially at early stages.

Multicellular 3D Models for the Study of Cardiac Fibrosis.

Ex vivo modelling systems for cardiovascular research are becoming increasingly important in reducing lab animal use and boosting personalized medicine approaches. Integrating multiple cell types in complex setups adds a higher level of significance to the models, simulating the intricate intercellular communication of the microenvironment in vivo. Cardiac fibrosis represents a key pathogenetic step in multiple cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic and diabetic cardiomyopathies.

Modified Risk Tobacco Products and Cardiovascular Repair: Still Very "Smoky".

Smoking habits represent a cardiovascular risk factor with a tremendous impact on health. Other than damaging differentiated and functional cells of the cardiovascular system, they also negatively affect reparative mechanisms, such as those involved in cardiac fibrosis and in endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) activation. In recent years, alternative smoking devices, dubbed modified tobacco risk products (MRPs), have been introduced, but their precise impact on human health is still under evaluation.

The dynamic facets of the cardiac stroma: from classical markers to omics and translational perspectives.

Cardiac stromal cells have been long underestimated in their functions in homeostasis and repair. Recent evidence has changed this perspective in that many more players and facets than just "cardiac fibroblasts" have entered the field. Single cell transcriptomic studies on cardiac interstitial cells have shed light on the phenotypic plasticity of the stroma, whose transcriptional profile is dynamically regulated in homeostatic conditions and in response to external stimuli.