Our group has previously demonstrated that the non-structural matrix proteins thrombospondin-2 and osteoglycin can affect inflammation, fibrosis and myocyte survival of the heart during cardiac aging, pressure overload, myocardial infarction, as well as after viral myocarditis [13–17] Recently we demonstrated that SPARC protects against adverse cardiac inflammation by preserving the endothelial glycocalyx during viral myocarditis [15]. The gene discussed is SPARC; the disease is myocardial infarction.