TGFβ establishes the cardiac maturation niche

From the report

Nature Cardiovascular Research, Published online: 29 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s44161-026-00909-0The role of TGFβ signaling in cardiac fibrosis is well-established, but its function during cardiac maturation remains unclear. A study now demonstrates that cardiomyocyte-derived TGFβ ligands shift the cardiac fibroblast state and extracellular matrix, creating a microenvironment that promotes cardiomyocyte maturation and adult heart identity.