Bone Marrow SPARC Protein Production Causes Fibrosis in Mouse Hearts

Article title: SPARC production by bone marrow-derived cells contributes to myocardial fibrosis in pressure overload

Authors: Hannah J. Riley, Ryan R. Kelly, An O. Van Laer, Lily S. Neff, Shaoni Dasgupta, Catalin F. Baicu, Lindsay T. McDonald, Amanda C. LaRue, Michael R. Zile, Amy D. Bradshaw

From the authors: “Myocardial fibrosis and the resultant increases in [left ventricular] and myocardial stiffness represent pivotal consequences of chronic pressure-overload (PO). In this study, a murine model of cardiac fibrosis induced by PO was used to demonstrate a critical function of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) in bone marrow-derived cells that drives cardiac fibrosis and increases in cardiac macrophages.” 

This study is highlighted as one of February’s “best of the best” as part of the American Physiological Society’s APSselect program.