Neutrophils, the major players in healing after myocardial infarction

Abstract

Neutrophils are a type of immune cells with controversial functions. While their role in the protection against the microbial invasion is well known, the role in controlling and monitoring the non-infection healing processes of the injured tissue and organs are now to be discovered. Particularly in the healing after myocardial infarction, the neutrophils were considered for a long time the “bad guys”, sustaining the inflammation and interfering with the repair processes. However, all the attempt to deplete or massively inhibit their activity in experimental conditions or clinical settings lead to catastrophic results, with defective scar formation and worsening of the heart function. As recent studies pointed out the essential role of the neutrophils in monitoring and guiding all the processes involved in the proper tissular healing, a detailed investigation of mechanistic inside is required for a selective and effective design of therapeutical strategies targeting neutrophils to preserve and improve heart function after an acute myocardial infarction.