CTHRC1 and myocardial infarction: To further validate whether Meox1 promoted CFs activation and exerted profibrotic effects by increasing Cthrc1 expression in vivo, we injected Meox1 expressing AAV with the control of postn promoter (AAV-postn-Meox1) and/or AAV carrying Cthrc1 shRNA (AAV-shCthrc1) particles in mouse hearts immediately following MI.