Transcriptional remodeling of cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts during post-myocardial infarction recovery
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Myocardial infarction (MI) results from reduced coronary blood flow, leading to oxygen deprivation and impaired systolic and diastolic function, which increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Various cardiac cell types respond to this stress to preserve heart function, but the precise, cell-type-specific mechanisms remain poorly understood. To investigate these responses, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) on left ventricular tissue from mouse hearts at baseline (Day 0) and at 1 and 4 weeks post-MI. This enabled us to characterize transcriptional changes across major cardiac cell types. We observed significant shifts in the transcriptional states of cardiomyocytes (CMs) and fibroblasts (FBs) cell populations following MI. CMs showed a major transcriptional modulation from healthy to diseased state during early chronic phase of post-MI, however, the recovery phenotype was observed during the late chronic phase, suggesting a natural compensatory response of CMs against the ischemic stress. FBs exhibited dynamic transcriptional changes consistent with roles in post-MI healing and fibrosis. In addition, inferred alterations in cell-cell communication networks highlighted changes in intercellular signaling pathways, shedding light on disrupted crosstalk in the injured heart. Together, our findings provide a comprehensive transcriptional landscape of cardiac cell populations, especially CMs and FBs, following MI and identify potential molecular targets for therapeutic intervention.
Source: Scientific Reports
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,690
Awards: Role of Zinc-based Bioresorbable Metal-Organic Framework for cardiovascular applications, In Situ Skin Regeneration and Angiogenesis for Full-Thickness Burns, G767730386, Mesoporous nanoparticles for enhancing myocardial repair, Molecular identity of exosomal BK channels, Functional and mechanistic delineation of HuR-Wisp1 signaling on myofibroblast activity
OpenAlex ID: W7133535013