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Updated: Jul 14, 2025
Isolation and Culture of Resident Cardiac Macrophages from the Murine Sinoatrial and Atrioventricular Node
Published on: May 7, 2021
The role of cardiac resident macrophage in cardiac aging
Jiayu Li1,2, Yanguo Xin1,2, Zhaojia Wang1,2
1Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Insights
Cardiac aging leads to heart structure and function changes. This review explores cardiac macrophages
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Immunology
- Aging Research
Background:
- Cardiac aging is characterized by myocardial remodeling, left ventricular hypertrophy, and impaired systolic/diastolic functions.
- Macrophages are key immune cells involved in pathogen defense, wound healing, and immune response orchestration.
- Cardiac tissue harbors distinct macrophage subsets with varied roles in myocardial injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the current understanding of cardiac macrophage roles and phenotypes.
- To review macrophage functions in steady-state, aging, and pathological cardiac conditions.
- To identify areas for future research in cardiac macrophage biology.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing current research on cardiac macrophages.
- Analysis of macrophage differentiation based on developmental origin (embryonic vs. monocyte-derived).
- Examination of macrophage phenotypes and functions in diverse cardiac states.
Main Results:
- Cardiac macrophages exhibit distinct subsets originating from embryonic or monocyte sources.
- Embryonic-derived macrophages are tissue-resident and associated with repair.
- Monocyte-derived macrophages are recruited and play inflammatory roles.
Conclusions:
- Cardiac macrophages, categorized by origin, have unique characteristics and functions.
- Understanding these subsets is crucial for comprehending cardiac aging and pathology.
- Further investigation is needed to fully elucidate cardiac macrophage contributions.
Abstract:
Advancements in longevity research have provided insights into the impact of cardiac aging on the structural and functional aspects of the heart. Notable changes include the gradual remodeling of the myocardium, the occurrence of left ventricular hypertrophy, and the decline in both systolic and diastolic functions. Macrophages, a type of immune cell, play a pivotal role in innate immunity by serving as vigilant agents against pathogens, facilitating wound healing, and orchestrating the development of targeted acquired immune responses. Distinct subsets of macrophages are present within the cardiac tissue and demonstrate varied functions in response to myocardial injury. The differentiation of cardiac macrophages according to their developmental origin has proven to be a valuable strategy in identifying reparative macrophage populations, which originate from embryonic cells and reside within the tissue, as well as inflammatory macrophages, which are derived from monocytes and recruited to the heart. These subsets of macrophages possess unique characteristics and perform distinct functions. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of the roles and phenotypes of cardiac macrophages in various conditions, including the steady state, aging, and other pathological conditions. Additionally, it will highlight areas that require further investigation to expand our knowledge in this field.
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