Cardiac Fibroblasts and Heart Cell Synchronization
Author Information
Author(s): Kaneko Tomoyuki, Nomura Fumimasa, Yasuda Kenji
Primary Institution: Tokyo Medical and Dental University
Hypothesis
What is the role of cardiac fibroblasts in the synchronization of cardiomyocyte beating?
Conclusion
Fibroblasts can connect cardiomyocytes electrically but do not significantly enhance the stability and synchronization of their beating intervals.
Supporting Evidence
- The propagation velocity of electrophysiological signals decreased with an increasing number of fibroblasts.
- The fluctuation of interbeat intervals in synchronized cardiomyocyte networks connected by fibroblasts did not always decrease.
- Synchronized cardiomyocytes connected by fibroblasts sometimes lost their synchronized condition.
Takeaway
Fibroblasts help heart cells communicate, but having more fibroblasts can actually make it harder for heart cells to beat together nicely.
Methodology
The study used an on-chip single-cell-based cultivation system to observe the interactions between cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts.
Limitations
The exact nature of the cell in the middle is not 100% clear but it is likely a fibroblast.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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