These single-cell level findings, demonstrating the co-enrichment of DDR and ECM/fibrosis-related pathways within the cardiac cellular landscape, provide a context for understanding the potential role of genes like IFI16 (previously observed to be upregulated in bulk DCM samples and associated with ECM organization) within specific cell populations contributing to DCM pathology. The gene discussed is IFI16; the disease is familial dilated cardiomyopathy.