Breaking the Cycle: A New Approach to Treating Cardiac Fibrosis by Targeting Fibroblast Mechanosensing

Written By JHU MPS

01 May 2025

Recent Nature study co-led by Cho (now Assistant Professor and Core Member at JHU MPS Center) proposes treating cardiac fibrosis by selectively blocking fibroblast mechanosensing: they identify SRC as a fibroblast-enriched mechanosensor and repurpose the orphan drug saracatinib to inhibit it. Combining saracatinib with a TGFβ inhibitor synergistically suppressed fibrosis and improved contractile function across multiple scales—from cells and engineered heart tissues to animal models—suggesting a dual “mechanotherapy” approach. 

Publication: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08945-9

JHU MPS
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