Monocytes and macrophages in ischemic heart disease: does myocardial infarction begets myocardial infarction?

Monocytes and their descendant macrophages play an important role in the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis and in inflammation and reparation after myocardial infarction. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system after myocardial infarction results in mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells, causing an inflammatory monocyte boost, which alters the macrophage phenotype and supply chain and accelerates atherosclerosis. These results may be related to increased risk of recurrent ischemic coronary events following myocardial infarction. How myocardial infarction accelerates atherosclerosis through monocyte/macrophage is reviewed in this article.