Research progress on macrophages in cardiovascular diseases.

Abstract

Objective and design: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading causes of death worldwide, imposing a great burden on society. In recent years, macrophages have garnered widespread attention in CVD research. Macrophages are an important component of the body's immune system, playing a critical role in clearing pathogens, repairing damaged tissues, and regulating inflammatory responses, have the potential to serve as a potential target for the treatment of CVD.

Materials and methods: To make up this review, studies covering Macrophage subtypes and signaling pathways, CVD were selected from the main medical databases.

Conclusion: In CVD, macrophages can differentiate into different phenotypes(M1, M2, M4, et al.) according to their microenvironment by their plasticity and heterogeneity, release different cytokines, are regulated by multiple signaling pathways(PI3K/Akt, TLR4, TGF-β/Smads, et al.), and play other functions in CVD. M1 initiates and maintains inflammation by secreting pro-inflammatory factors, and M2 participates in the regression of inflammation and tissue repair by secreting anti-inflammatory factors. Therefore, by regulating the signaling pathway, it reduces the aggregation of macrophages, promotes the polarization of macrophages to M2, or restores M1/M2 homeostasis to improve the inflammatory microenvironment and delay CVD progression.