{"title":"Exploring the Function of Epicardial Cells Beyond the Surface.","authors":"David Wong, Julie Martinez, Pearl Quijada","doi":"10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.321567","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The epicardium, previously viewed as a passive outer layer around the heart, is now recognized as an essential component in development, regeneration, and repair. In this review, we explore the cellular and molecular makeup of the epicardium, highlighting its roles in heart regeneration and repair in zebrafish and salamanders, as well as its activation in young and adult postnatal mammals. We also examine the latest technologies used to study the function of epicardial cells for therapeutic interventions. Analysis of highly regenerative animal models shows that the epicardium is essential in regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation, transient fibrosis, and neovascularization. However, despite the epicardium's unique cellular programs to resolve cardiac damage, it remains unclear how to replicate these processes in nonregenerative mammalian organisms. During myocardial infarction, epicardial cells secrete signaling factors that modulate fibrotic, vascular, and inflammatory remodeling, which differentially enhance or inhibit cardiac repair. Recent transcriptomic studies have validated the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of the epicardium across various species and developmental stages, shedding further light on its function under pathological conditions. These studies have also provided insights into the function of regulatory epicardial-derived signaling molecules in various diseases, which could lead to new therapies and advances in reparative cardiovascular medicine. Moreover, insights gained from investigating epicardial cell function have initiated the development of novel techniques, including using human pluripotent stem cells and cardiac organoids to model reparative processes within the cardiovascular system. This growing understanding of epicardial function holds the potential for developing innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at addressing developmental heart disorders, enhancing regenerative therapies, and mitigating cardiovascular disease progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":10147,"journal":{"name":"Circulation research","volume":"135 2","pages":"353-371"},"PeriodicalIF":16.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11225799/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Circulation research","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.124.321567","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2024/7/4 0:00:00","PubModel":"Epub","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The epicardium, previously viewed as a passive outer layer around the heart, is now recognized as an essential component in development, regeneration, and repair. In this review, we explore the cellular and molecular makeup of the epicardium, highlighting its roles in heart regeneration and repair in zebrafish and salamanders, as well as its activation in young and adult postnatal mammals. We also examine the latest technologies used to study the function of epicardial cells for therapeutic interventions. Analysis of highly regenerative animal models shows that the epicardium is essential in regulating cardiomyocyte proliferation, transient fibrosis, and neovascularization. However, despite the epicardium's unique cellular programs to resolve cardiac damage, it remains unclear how to replicate these processes in nonregenerative mammalian organisms. During myocardial infarction, epicardial cells secrete signaling factors that modulate fibrotic, vascular, and inflammatory remodeling, which differentially enhance or inhibit cardiac repair. Recent transcriptomic studies have validated the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of the epicardium across various species and developmental stages, shedding further light on its function under pathological conditions. These studies have also provided insights into the function of regulatory epicardial-derived signaling molecules in various diseases, which could lead to new therapies and advances in reparative cardiovascular medicine. Moreover, insights gained from investigating epicardial cell function have initiated the development of novel techniques, including using human pluripotent stem cells and cardiac organoids to model reparative processes within the cardiovascular system. This growing understanding of epicardial function holds the potential for developing innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at addressing developmental heart disorders, enhancing regenerative therapies, and mitigating cardiovascular disease progression.
期刊介绍：
Circulation Research is a peer-reviewed journal that serves as a forum for the highest quality research in basic cardiovascular biology. The journal publishes studies that utilize state-of-the-art approaches to investigate mechanisms of human disease, as well as translational and clinical research that provide fundamental insights into the basis of disease and the mechanism of therapies.
Circulation Research has a broad audience that includes clinical and academic cardiologists, basic cardiovascular scientists, physiologists, cellular and molecular biologists, and cardiovascular pharmacologists. The journal aims to advance the understanding of cardiovascular biology and disease by disseminating cutting-edge research to these diverse communities.
In terms of indexing, Circulation Research is included in several prominent scientific databases, including BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts, Current Contents, EMBASE, and MEDLINE. This ensures that the journal's articles are easily discoverable and accessible to researchers in the field.
Overall, Circulation Research is a reputable publication that attracts high-quality research and provides a platform for the dissemination of important findings in basic cardiovascular biology and its translational and clinical applications.
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