A new study has shown that the body’s immune response and the lymphatic system are critical for the heart to repair itself after a heart attack. Scientists have discovered a new role played by macrophages, specialized cells capable of actively trapping and digesting bacteria and particles. It turned out that after a heart attack, macrophages produce a special type of protein called VEGFC. This is a vascular endothelial growth factor. It allows the formation of new lymphatic vessels and promotes healing.
The scientists also said that there are “good” macrophages that produce VEGFC, and “bad” macrophages that cause a pro-inflammatory response that can cause additional damage to the heart and surrounding tissues. Further research may be directed towards finding a way to increase the number of beneficial macrophages.