First author Mario Mazic and the team of the Weichhart group show that macrophages within the granuloma release the enzyme MMP12 and thereby drive fibrosis of the heart. Notably, the same enzyme that degrades connective tissue triggers the remodeling toward scar tissue. Elevated MMP12 activity was found not only in a mouse model but also in heart tissue from patients. Because suitable inhibitors already exist, the finding opens a concrete therapeutic target.
More in the [MedUni Wien News]. https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/ueber-uns/news/2026/news-im-juli-2026/herzsarkoidose-meduni-wien-identifiziert-enzym-als-angriffspunkt-gegen-die-vernarbung-des-herzens/
Publication:
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
MMP12 induces fibrogenic macrophage differentiation to drive granuloma-associated cardiac fibrosis
Mario Mazić, Clarice X. Lim, Piyal Saha, Thomas El-Jammal, Roko Šango, Tayeba Ghazi, Armela Jahić, Paul Ettel, Joanna Jager, Angeliki Asimaki, Mary N. Sheppard, Hannes Todt, Dagmar Kratky, Markus Hengstschläger, Wenjin Yang, Thomas Weichhart