Surprising role of cardiac macrophages in heart electrical conduction

Access through your institution Buy or subscribe > Macrophage depletion leads to atrioventricular block Many studies have demonstrated that macrophages have multiple functions in

different organs and tissues beyond their classical phagocytic activity. However, the specific functions of heart-resident macrophages in the steady state remained unclear. A new study

published in _Cell_ now shows that cardiac macrophages are involved in cardiac electrical conduction. “Macrophage depletion leads to atrioventricular [AV] block, and macrophages that are

connected to cardiomyocytes via gap junctions rhythmically depolarize,” explains Matthias Nahrendorf, corresponding author of the study. “Both results were completely shocking,” he adds.

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ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support REFERENCES * Hulsmans, M. _ et al_. Macrophages facilitate electrical conduction

in the heart. _Cell_ 169, 510–522 (2017) Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar  Download references Authors * Irene Fernández-Ruiz View author publications You can also

search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Fernández-Ruiz, I. Surprising role of cardiac macrophages

in heart electrical conduction. _Nat Rev Cardiol_ 14, 315 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrcardio.2017.72 Download citation * Published: 04 May 2017 * Issue Date: June 2017 * DOI:

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