iScience. 2026 Jul 14;29(8):116734. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.116734. eCollection 2026 Aug 21.
ABSTRACT
Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is a pathophysiological process characterized by the excessive deposition of collagen fibers in the myocardium. Numerous studies are now dedicated to clarifying the genetic, cellular, and molecular mechanisms that drive these pathological alterations. Furthermore, substantial evidence suggests that diffuse fibrosis causes irreversible damage to the heart. Myocardial fibrosis and cardiovascular disease are interrelated, influencing each other significantly. However, the existing evidence linking myocardial fibrosis to common diseases is still insufficient. In this review, we summarized the common mechanisms underlying myocardial fibrosis and their associations with prevalent cardiovascular diseases (e.g., myocardial infarction, heart failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy), and emphasized the heterogeneous presentations of myocardial fibrosis across different diseases to promote the future realization of personalized treatment for fibrosis-related cardiovascular diseases.
PMID:42519012 | PMC:PMC13382601 | DOI:10.1016/j.isci.2026.116734