查看文章

An exaggerated or persistent inflammatory activation after myocardial infarction (MI) leads to maladaptive healing and subsequent remodeling of the left ventricle. Foxp3⁺ CD4⁺ regulatory T cells (T_reg cells) contribute to inflammation resolution. Therefore, T_reg cells might influence cardiac healing post-MI.

Our aim was to study the functional role of T_reg cells in wound healing post-MI in a mouse model of permanent left coronary artery ligation.

Using a model of genetic T_reg-cell ablation (Foxp3^DTR mice), we depleted the T_reg-cell compartment before MI induction, resulting in aggravated cardiac inflammation and deteriorated clinical outcome. Mechanistically, T_reg-cell depletion was associated with M1-like macrophage polarization, characterized by decreased expression of inflammation-resolving and healing-promoting factors. The phenotype of exacerbated cardiac …