Fig. 4

The role of macrophages in inflammation and repair after MI. In summary, macrophages play several key roles in myocardial infarction (MI): from the initial formation of atherosclerosis to stress-induced damage during the acute inflammatory phase, secretion of pro-inflammatory factors, and finally their involvement in the phagocytosis of necrotic myocardial cells, synthesis of the extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, and myocardial regeneration during the repair phase. The pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects mediated by macrophages are intertwined throughout the development of MI, and they engage in cross-talk with myocardial cells, cardiac fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Targeting macrophage-mediated inflammation regulation is a promising clinical strategy for the effective treatment of MI in the future. Adapted from “Mechanisms of Cancer-associated Fibroblast Activation”, by BioRender.com (2020). Retrieved from https://app.biorender.com/biorender-templates