Research progress on immune cells regulation of cardiac regeneration after ischemic myocardial injury

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2026.03.011

Abstract

Abstract:

Ischemic heart disease, particularly myocardial infarction, can lead to extensive and irreversible loss of cardiomyocytes. Due to the highly restricted proliferative capacity of cardiomyocytes in adult mammals, the damaged myocardial regions are typically replaced by fibrotic scar tissue, leading to ventricular remodelling and heart failure, which poses a serious threat to health. In recent years, promoting endogenous cardiac regeneration has emerged as an attractive strategy to improve outcomes following myocardial injury, and immune regulatory mechanisms play a central role in this process. Upon myocardial injury, the body initiates a complex inflammatory immune cascade. Studies have shown that the timing and magnitude of the inflammatory responses are critical determinants of tissue repair outcomes. In regenerative models, inflammatory responses initiate rapidly and resolve promptly, whereas in adults, inflammation often persists, and immune dysregulation leads to fibrotic scar formation. During this process, various immune cells (such as macrophages, neutrophils, and T cells) exert precise regulation on cardiomyocyte proliferation and tissue repair through direct intercellular contact or paracrine signalling pathways. This is achieved via their highly heterogeneous characteristics, sequential infiltration patterns, and microenvironment-specific distribution. These immune regulatory mechanisms coordinate to form a dynamic and interactive network that promotes cardiac regeneration. This review systematically summarises the response characteristics and regulatory mechanisms of various immune cells during the regenerative repair process following myocardial injury, aiming to provide novel insights and strategies for the clinical treatment of ischemic heart disease.

Key words: immune cell, inflammatory response, immunoregulation, cardiac regeneration

CLC Number:

R363.2

Zhao Minjiong, Chen Lingfang, Hu Miaoqing, Feng Jie, Nie Yu. Research progress on immune cells regulation of cardiac regeneration after ischemic myocardial injury[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science), 2026, 46(3): 368-376.

Figures/Tables 1

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References 76

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