Immune cells that shape heart attack recovery
Macrophages in Myocardial Infarction
Seeing whether a molecule called CSF‑1 helps immune cells called macrophages improve healing after heart attacks in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248376 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
After a heart attack, immune cells called macrophages can either worsen damage or help repair the heart; this project focuses on the CSF‑1 signaling pathway that appears to drive the repair-promoting macrophages. Researchers will use animal models with cell-specific loss of CSF‑1 signaling, single-cell RNA sequencing to map macrophage states, lab (in vitro) tests to probe molecular actions, and bioinformatics to connect the data. Early data suggest heart fibroblasts make CSF‑1 and macrophages carry the matching receptor, so the team will dissect how that interaction affects scar formation and heart remodeling. The goal is to identify whether targeting CSF‑1 or its receptor could be a route to therapies that improve recovery after myocardial infarction.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) who have experienced a myocardial infarction or are undergoing recovery after a heart attack would be the most relevant candidates for future trials based on this work.
Not a fit: People without ischemic heart injury (for example, those with non‑ischemic cardiomyopathy or no history of heart attack) are unlikely to benefit from CSF‑1–targeted approaches developed here.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to new treatments that boost heart repair and reduce harmful scarring after a heart attack.
How similar studies have performed: Prior descriptive studies have linked high CSF‑1 levels to healing after heart attacks, but cell-specific targeting of the CSF‑1/CSF‑1R pathway as a therapy remains largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frangogiannis, Nikolaos G — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Frangogiannis, Nikolaos G
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.