Therapeutic strategies for reversing cardiac fibrosis in hearts supported by ventricular assist devices
Recommended Citation
Natarajan K, Krishnamoorthi MK, Palaniyandi SS, Watanabe K, Pownall HJ, Guha A, Bhimaraj A, and Thandavarayan RA. Therapeutic strategies for reversing cardiac fibrosis in hearts supported by ventricular assist devices. Drug Discov Today 2025;30(12):104547.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-1-2025
Publication Title
Drug discovery today
Keywords
Humans, Heart-Assist Devices, Fibrosis, Animals, Heart Failure, Myocardium
Abstract
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) support patients with end-stage heart failure, yet myocardial recovery and device explant remains rare because of persistent cardiac fibrosis. This review examines the integration of molecular mechanisms and highlights therapeutic targets emerging from clinical and preclinical studies, with a focus on mechanisms that differentiate responders from non-responders. Key pathways include extracellular matrix remodeling, fibroblast activation, cellular plasticity, endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, immune modulation, and post-transcriptional regulation via alternative polyadenylation. Advancing these mechanistic insights could enable biomarker-driven strategies to overcome the current barriers to improving recovery rates in patients supported by LVADs.
Medical Subject Headings
Humans; Heart-Assist Devices; Fibrosis; Animals; Heart Failure; Myocardium
PubMed ID
41265516
Volume
30
Issue
12
First Page
104547
Last Page
104547
