The heterocellular heart: identities, interactions, and implications for cardiology

The heterocellular nature of the heart has been receiving increasing attention in recent years. In addition to cardiomyocytes as the prototypical cell type of the heart, non-myocytes such as endothelial cells, fibroblasts, or immune cells are coming more into focus. The rise of single-cell sequencing technologies enables identification of ever more subtle differences and has reignited the question of what defines a cell's identity. Here we provide an overview of the major cardiac cell types, describe their roles in homeostasis, and outline recent findings on non-canonical functions that may be of relevance for cardiology. We highlight modes of biochemical and biophysical interactions between different cardiac cell types and discuss the potential implications of the heterocellular nature of the heart for basic research and therapeutic interventions.

Automated summary

The heterocellular nature of the heart, including non-myocytes cells, has gained increasing attention in recent years. Single-cell sequencing technologies have enabled the identification of subtle differences and prompted a reexamination of cell identity. This article provides an overview of major cardiac cell types, their roles in homeostasis, and recent findings on non-canonical functions that may be relevant for cardiology.