Cardiac fibroblasts (CF) are the principal cell type of the heart. They provide structural support for cardiac myocytes, are a source of paracrine growth factors, and are an important cellular component of the myocardial response to injury. CF are responsible for extracellular matrix synthesis in the heart during development and pathological conditions. Their proliferation and matrix synthesis is essential for scar formation at sites of myocardial infarction [1], cardiac fibrosis, and is often complicated by cardiac hypertrophy [2]. CF also respond to changes in microenvironments in pathological conditions by modulating integrin expression [3]. CF culture has been widely used as a model to study the cardiac matrix remodeling by physiological (exercise) and pathological (hypertension) stressors.
Recommended Medium
It is recommended to use Fibroblast Medium-2 (FM-2, Cat. No. SC2331) for culturing RCF in vitro.
Product Use
This product is for research use only. It is not approved for use in humans, animals, or in vitro diagnostic procedures.
Storage
Upon receiving, directly and immediately transfer the cells from dry ice to liquid nitrogen and keep the cells in liquid nitrogen until they are needed for experiments.
Shipping
Dry ice
Warranty
Cells are only warranted if ScienCell media and reagents are used and the recommended protocols are followed.
References
[1] Sabri, A., Short, J., Guo, J., Steinberg, S. F. (2002) Protease-activated receptor-1-mediated DNA synthesis in cardiac fibroblast is via epidermal growth factor receptor transactivation: distinct PAR-1 signaling pathways in cardiac fibroblasts and cardiomyocytes. Circ. Res. 91:532-9.
[2] Akiyama-Uchida, Y. et al., (2002) Norepinephrine enhances fibrosis mediated by TGF-beta in cardiac fibroblasts. Hypertension 40:148-54. ScienCell Research Laboratories TM
[3] Burgess, M. L., Terracio, L, Hirozane, T., Borg, T. K. (2002) Differential integrin expression by cardiac fibroblasts from hypertensive and exercise-trained rat hearts. Cardiovasc Pathol 11(2):78-87.