cells Review Cardiac Fibrosis: Key Role of Integrins in Cardiac Homeostasis and Remodeling Patrick B. Meagher 1,2, Xavier Alexander Lee 1,2 , Joseph Lee 1,2 , Aylin Visram 1,2, Mark K. Friedberg 2,3,4 and Kim A. Connelly 1,2,3,* 1 Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada;
[email protected] (P.B.M.);
[email protected] (X.A.L.);
[email protected] (J.L.);
[email protected] (A.V.) 2 Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
[email protected] 3 Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada 4 Labatt Family Heart Center and Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +141-686-45201 Abstract: Cardiac fibrosis is a common finding that is associated with the progression of heart failure (HF) and impacts all chambers of the heart. Despite intense research, the treatment of HF has primarily focused upon strategies to prevent cardiomyocyte remodeling, and there are no targeted antifibrotic strategies available to reverse cardiac fibrosis. Cardiac fibrosis is defined as an accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins which stiffen the myocardium resulting in the deterioration cardiac function. This occurs in response to a wide range of mechanical and biochemical signals. Integrins are transmembrane cell adhesion receptors, that integrate signaling Citation: Meagher, P.B.; Lee, X.A.; between cardiac fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes with the ECM by the communication of mechanical Lee, J.; Visram, A.; Friedberg, M.K.; stress signals.