Regulation of the Inflammatory Response in Cardiac Repair

Myocardial necrosis triggers an inflammatory reaction that clears the wound from dead cells and matrix debris, while activating reparative pathways necessary for scar formation. A growing body of evidence suggests that accentuation, prolongation, or expansion of the postinfarction inflammatory response results in worse remodeling and dysfunction following myocardial infarction. This review manuscript discusses the cellular effectors and endogenous molecular signals implicated in suppression and containment of the inflammatory response in the infarcted heart. Clearance of apoptotic neutrophils, recruitment of inhibitory monocyte subsets and regulatory T cells, macrophage differentiation and pericyte/endothelial…