Regulation and Role of Connective Tissue Growth Factor in AngII-Induced Myocardial Fibrosis

Exposure of rodents to angiotensin II (AngII) is a common model of fibrosis. We have previously shown that cellular infiltration of bone marrow–derived progenitor cells (fibrocytes) occurs before deposition of extracellular matrix and is associated with the production of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF). In the present study, we characterized the role of CTGF in promoting fibrocyte accumulation and regulation after AngII exposure. In animals exposed to AngII using osmotic minipumps (2.0 μg/kg per min), myocardial CTGF mRNA peaked at 6 hours (21-fold; P P P P P