This is the first report of ECM1 dependent CFb cell signalling, and demonstrates that ECM1 stimulates cardiac fibroblast proliferative and pro-fibrotic pathways (AKT and ERK1/2, respectively), which may contribute to fibrotic tissue formation with aging, and post-MI in vivo [60–64]. The gene discussed is AKT1; the disease is myocardial infarction.