Validation of New Therapeutic Targets to Prevent Collagen Accumulation During Cardiac Fibrosis: Procollagen C-proteinase Enhancers

Heart failure is characterized by cardiac fibrosis linked to extracellular collagen deposits. Collagens are synthesized as soluble precursors, procollagens, which must undergo proteolytic maturation to assemble into fibres. This step is under the control of two extracellular proteins, procollagen C-proteinase enhancer 1 and 2 (PCPE-1 and -2). The mechanism of action of these highly effective and specific activators was recently elucidated by one of our partners. Preliminary results, as well as data from the literature, indicate a strong correlation between the expression rates of PCPEs and cardiac fibrosis. The aim of this study is to validate in humans, by analysis of endomyocardial tissue biopsies, the hypothesis that PCPEs contribute to the anarchic accumulation of collagen during cardiac fibrosis and to evaluate the interest of developing new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for cardiac fibrosis using PCPE agonists.