Research Progress of Macrophages and Macrophage-derived Exosomes in Heart Disease
10.13471/j.cnki.j.sun.yat-sen.univ（med.sci）.2025.0505
- VernacularTitle:巨噬细胞及其外泌体在心脏疾病中的研究进展
- Author:
Yunke TAN
1
;
Zhengfei YANG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Emergency， Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University， Guangzhou 510120， China
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
macrophages;
exosomes;
heart disease;
M1/M2 polarization;
cellular communication
- From:
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences)
2025;46(5):756-766
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Macrophages， key cells in the heart's innate immune system， are highly heterogeneous and plastic， playing dual roles in cardiac physiology and pathology. In recent years， macrophage-derived exosomes have drawnsignificant attention for their regulatory mechanisms and potential therapeutic applications in heart disease， as they serve as crucial mediators of intercellular communication. This paper aims to comprehensively summarize the origin， distribution， and function of cardiac-resident macrophages. It also explores the roles of M1and M2 macrophages in cardiac inflammatory responses and tissue repair， and delves into the regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic application prospects of macrophage exosomes in heart disease. In the acute phase of cardiac injury， M1 macrophages secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines to induce inflammation and clear cellular debris. Nevertheless， their overactivation can result in myocardial cell damage and fibrosis. During the recovery phase，M2 macrophages take the lead， releasing anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors to inhibit inflammation and facilitate tissue repair. Macrophage exosomes， which contain proteins， lipids， and nucleic acids， can regulate inflammation， tissue repair， and angiogenesis. In various types of heart disease， including myocardial infarction， ischemia-reperfusion injury， atherosclerosis， myocarditis， and dilated cardiomyopathy， macrophage exosomes exhibit different functions. While M1-derived exosomes often exacerbate cardiac damage through pro-inflammatory actions， M2-derived exosomes protect cardiac tissue via anti-inflammatory and pro-repair effects. These findings offer new insights and targets for developing macrophage-exosome-based heart disease therapies， which is expected to promote the innovative development of diagnosis and treatment for heart diseases， improve patients' prognosis， and alleviate the burden of public health.
