Border-zone cardiomyocytes and macrophages regulate extracellular matrix remodeling to promote cardiomyocyte protrusion during cardiac regeneration.

ABSTRACT: Despite numerous advances in our understanding of zebrafish cardiac regeneration, an aspect that remains less studied is how regenerating cardiomyocytes invade and replace the collagen-containing injured tissue. Here, we provide an in-depth analysis of the process of cardiomyocyte invasion. We observe close interactions between protruding border-zone cardiomyocytes and macrophages, and show that macrophages are essential for extracellular matrix remodeling at the wound border zone and cardiomyocyte protrusion into the injured area. Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals the expression of mmp14b, encoding a membrane-anchored matrix metalloproteinase, in several cell types at the border zone. Genetic mmp14b mutation leads to decreased macrophage recruitment, collagen degradation, and subsequent

SUBMITTER: Constanty F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12019606 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature