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Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Isolation and Culture of Resident Cardiac Macrophages from the Murine Sinoatrial and Atrioventricular Node
Published on: May 7, 2021
Cardiac resident macrophages: Spatiotemporal distribution, development, physiological functions, and their
Jing Jin1,2, Yurou Wang1,2, Yueqin Liu3
1International Genome Center, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
Insights
Cardiac resident macrophages (CRMs) are key immune cells in the heart. This review explores their dynamic roles in cardiac health, aging, and disease, highlighting research tools and future directions.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cardiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Cardiac resident macrophages (CRMs) are the predominant immune cells within the heart.
- Their roles in cardiac injury repair and regeneration are well-studied.
- Emerging research highlights their dynamic functions in physiological states and aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advancements in understanding CRMs.
- To explore CRM spatiotemporal distribution, developmental regulation, and roles in cardiac development and aging.
- To discuss the translational potential of CRMs in cardiac diseases and relevant research tools.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current research on CRMs.
- Analysis of studies detailing CRM phenotypes, functions, and distribution.
- Discussion of methodologies used for CRM research.
Main Results:
- CRMs exhibit distinct phenotypes and functions across different cardiac regions and developmental stages.
- CRMs play crucial roles throughout the cardiac lifecycle, from development to aging.
- Specific research tools offer unique advantages and disadvantages for CRM investigation.
Conclusions:
- CRMs are integral to cardiac homeostasis and disease.
- Understanding CRM dynamics is critical for developing novel therapeutic strategies for cardiac conditions.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate CRM functions and optimize therapeutic targeting.
Abstract:
Cardiac resident macrophages (CRMs) are the main population of cardiac immune cells. The role of these cells in regeneration, functional remodeling, and repair after cardiac injury is always the focus of research. However, in recent years, their dynamic changes and contributions in physiological states have a significant attention. CRMs have specific phenotypes and functions in different cardiac chambers or locations of the heart and at different stages. They further show specific differentiation and development processes. The present review will summarize the new progress about the spatiotemporal distribution, potential developmental regulation, and their roles in cardiac development and aging as well as the translational potential of CRMs on cardiac diseases. Of course, the research tools for CRMs, their respective advantages and disadvantages, and key issues on CRMs will further be discussed.
