Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Regulatory T cells in Cardiac Repair following Myocardial Infarction

Each year, 15 million people suffer from a heart attack, resulting in one of the leading causes of death worldwide. A heart attack occurs when the coronary artery that supplies blood to the heart is blocked, leading to excessive inflammation which is mediated by the immune system. In this project, an anti-inflammatory immune cell type, Tregs, were delivered as a therapy after a heart attack in mice. This therapy resolved inflammation, improved survival of heart tissue and overall heart contraction, function and repair. This presents an exciting new avenue for novel immune based therapies for the treatment of heart attacks.