Current Study of Macrophages in the Healing Process of Myocrdial Infarction

Macrophages play a double role in the healing process of myocardial injury. Recent studies show that myocardium-infiltrating macrophages undergo M1 or M2 activation, which represent 2 extremes under the effect of different stimulating factors. M1-like macrophages play a pro-inflammatory role and aggravate tissue damage, whereas M2-like macrophages suppress inflammation and promote angiogenesis at the injury site. Due to their positive role in the healing process of cardiac damage, M2-like macrophages are attracting more attention in recent years. In this review, we summarized the current progress in the study of macrophages in cardiac injury, including their cardio-protective function the regulatory mechanism for phenotype shifting, and the effect on micro-angiogenesis induction.