Cardiac resident macrophages: The core of cardiac immune homeostasis

• Published in: Cellular signalling 2024-07, Vol.119, p.111169-111169, Article 111169
• Main Authors: Cai, Wenhui, Lian, Lu, Li, Aolin, Zhang, Qianqian, Li, Mengmeng, Zhang, Junping, Xie, YingYu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cardiac resident macrophages; Immune homeostasis; Inflammation; Myocardial injury
• ISSN: 0898-6568; 1873-3913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111169

Cardiac resident macrophages (CRMs) are essential in maintaining the balance of the immune homeostasis in the heart. One of the main factors in the progression of cardiovascular diseases, such as myocarditis, myocardial infarction(MI), and heart failure(HF), is the imbalance in the regulatory mechanisms of CRMs. Recent studies have reported novel heterogeneity and spatiotemporal complexity of CRMs, and their role in maintaining cardiac immune homeostasis and treating cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we focus on the functions of CRMs, including immune surveillance, immune phagocytosis, and immune metabolism, and explore the impact of CRM's homeostasis imbalance on cardiac injury and cardiac repair. We also discuss the therapeutic approaches linked to CRMs. The immunomodulatory strategies targeting CRMs may be a therapeutic approach for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. •Cardiac resident macrophages (CRMs) promote tissue development and homeostasis.•CRMs have the functions of immune surveillance, immune phagocytosis, and immune metabolism.•The dynamic relationship between the different functions of CRMs is balanced to coordinate cardiac immune homeostasis.•Targeting CRMs may be a therapeutic potential approach for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.