The Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Inducing Cardiac Cell Regeneration and Differentiation

The adult human heart has a limited ability to regenerate after injury, leading to the formation of fibrotic scars and a subsequent loss of function. In fish, mice, and humans, cardiac remodeling after myocardial injury involves the activation of epicardial and endocardial cells, pericytes, stem cel...

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Main Author: Nicla Romano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Cells
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/12/875
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author Nicla Romano
author_facet Nicla Romano
author_sort Nicla Romano
collection DOAJ
description The adult human heart has a limited ability to regenerate after injury, leading to the formation of fibrotic scars and a subsequent loss of function. In fish, mice, and humans, cardiac remodeling after myocardial injury involves the activation of epicardial and endocardial cells, pericytes, stem cells, and fibroblasts. The heart’s extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a significant role in the regeneration and recovery process. The epicardium, endocardium, and pericytes reactivate the embryonic program in response to ECM stimulation, which leads to epithelial–mesenchymal transition, cell migration, and differentiation. This review analyzes the role of ECM in guiding the differentiation or dedifferentiation and proliferation of heart components by comparing significant findings in a zebrafish model with those of mammals.
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spelling doaj-art-96bc843079604c128be48fd3bb574c4f2025-08-20T03:27:09ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-06-01141287510.3390/cells14120875The Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Inducing Cardiac Cell Regeneration and DifferentiationNicla Romano0Department of Life Sciences, Health and Health Professions, Link Campus University, 00165 Rome, ItalyThe adult human heart has a limited ability to regenerate after injury, leading to the formation of fibrotic scars and a subsequent loss of function. In fish, mice, and humans, cardiac remodeling after myocardial injury involves the activation of epicardial and endocardial cells, pericytes, stem cells, and fibroblasts. The heart’s extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a significant role in the regeneration and recovery process. The epicardium, endocardium, and pericytes reactivate the embryonic program in response to ECM stimulation, which leads to epithelial–mesenchymal transition, cell migration, and differentiation. This review analyzes the role of ECM in guiding the differentiation or dedifferentiation and proliferation of heart components by comparing significant findings in a zebrafish model with those of mammals.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/12/875zebrafishheartextracellular matrix
spellingShingle Nicla Romano
The Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Inducing Cardiac Cell Regeneration and Differentiation
Cells
zebrafish
heart
extracellular matrix
title The Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Inducing Cardiac Cell Regeneration and Differentiation
title_full The Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Inducing Cardiac Cell Regeneration and Differentiation
title_fullStr The Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Inducing Cardiac Cell Regeneration and Differentiation
title_full_unstemmed The Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Inducing Cardiac Cell Regeneration and Differentiation
title_short The Role of the Extracellular Matrix in Inducing Cardiac Cell Regeneration and Differentiation
title_sort role of the extracellular matrix in inducing cardiac cell regeneration and differentiation
topic zebrafish
heart
extracellular matrix
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/12/875
work_keys_str_mv AT niclaromano theroleoftheextracellularmatrixininducingcardiaccellregenerationanddifferentiation
AT niclaromano roleoftheextracellularmatrixininducingcardiaccellregenerationanddifferentiation