Human pericardial fluid (PF) is a rich reservoir of biologically active markers. The acellular compartment of PF can drive cardiac fibroblast activity in vitro. This process is mediated through the transforming growth factor-β pathway. Of clinical importance, the PF of patients with coronary artery disease has an increased profibrotic capacity compared with the PF of patients without coronary artery disease.
Keywords: coronary artery disease; fibrosis; growth factors; immune mediators; pericardial fluid.
© 2024 The Authors.