Longevity & AgingMitochondria-Boosted Macrophages Accelerate Heart Repair After Heart Attack
Researchers from Fudan University created 'mitochondria-transplanted macrophages' (MTMs) by loading healthy exogenous mitochondria into bone marrow-derived macrophages. The transplanted mitochondria shifted macrophages toward a reparative M2 phenotype, boosting their migration, invasion, and phagocytosis. In mouse myocardial infarction models, MTM therapy improved cardiac function, reduced fibrosis and apoptosis, and promoted blood vessel formation. Notably, some transplanted mitochondria were released by MTMs and taken up by cardiomyocytes, suggesting a secondary repair mechanism. The study positions MTM therapy as a promising next-generation strategy for post-MI cardiac recovery.
