Abstract:
Myocardial infarction leads to myocardial apoptosis and causes severe inflammation response. Tons of macrophages are recruited to the heart removing dying tissue, and many cytokines and chemokine are secreted to help scavenge cell debris and promote healing. This process is regulated by many factors and is mainly related to the local microenvironment. But under some circumstances, the imbalance of macrophage regulation can cause irreversible damage and accelerate the process of heart failure. This view reviews the types of macrophages in the heart and discusses the role of macrophages after myocardial infarction.