Fibroblast-specific TGF-b signaling mediates dysfunction, fibrosis and hypertrophy in a mouse model of obesity-associated type 2 diabetes [RNA-seq: Smad3 in dbdb]

Our study provides the first direct evidence supporting a fibroblast-mediated mechanism of dysfunction and adverse remodeling in the diabetic heart, highlighting the importance of interstitial cells in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Diabetes-associated activation of the TGF-b/Smad3 cascade may promote dysfunction not only by accentuating ECM deposition and crosslinking, but also by modulating cardiomyocyte phenotype and function. Thus, the TGF-b system may be a promising therapeutic target in patients with diabetes-associated heart failure.