How Tiny Messengers Help Hearts Heal After a Heart Attack

After a heart attack, the body's defense system kicks in. It's like a cleanup crew showing up to fix the damage. But how does this crew know where to go and what to do? It turns out, tiny messengers called chemokines play a big role. These messengers are like text messages sent by special cells in the heart's lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is like the heart's drainage system. It helps remove waste and unwanted visitors, like immune cells that cause inflammation. One of these messengers, called CCL2, is made by lymphatic endothelial cells. These cells line the tiny lymphatic vessels in the heart. Scientists wanted to know more about what CCL2 does after a heart attack.They found that CCL2 helps control the movement of immune cells. This is important because too many immune cells can cause more harm than good. They can lead to too much inflammation, which can make the heart's healing process worse. But CCL2 doesn't just control immune cells. It also helps with the growth of new lymphatic vessels. This is a process called lymphangiogenesis. More lymphatic vessels mean better drainage. This can help reduce inflammation and improve heart function. However, the exact ways CCL2 does these things are still not fully understood. Scientists are still working to figure out the details. But one thing is clear: these tiny messengers play a big role in heart healing.