Essential Role of Smad3 in Infarct Healing and in the Pathogenesis of Cardiac Remodeling

Abstract

Smad3 loss does not alter the time course of resolution of inflammation in healing infarcts, but it prevents interstitial fibrosis in the noninfarcted myocardium and attenuates cardiac remodeling. Thus, the Smad3 cascade may be a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of myocardial infarction.