Resident cardiac macrophages (rcMacs) are integral components of the myocardium where they have key roles for tissue homeostasis and in response to inflammation, tissue injury and remodelling. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge and limitations associated with the rcMacs studies. We describe their specific role and contribution in various processes such as electrical conduction, efferocytosis, inflammation, tissue development, remodelling and regeneration in both the healthy and the disease state. We also outline research challenges and technical complications associated with rcMac research. Recent technological developments and contemporary immunological techniques are now offering new opportunities to investigate the separate contribution of rcMac in respect to recruited monocytes and other cardiac cells. Finally, we discuss new therapeutic strategies, such as drugs or non-coding RNAs, which can influence rcMac phenotype and their response to inflammation. These novel approaches will allow for a deeper understanding of this cardiac endogenous cell type and might lead to the development of more specific and effective therapeutic strategies to boost the heart’s intrinsic reparative capacity.

常驻心脏巨噬细胞 (rcMac) 是心肌的组成部分，在组织稳态以及对炎症、组织损伤和重塑的反应中发挥着关键作用。在这篇综述中，我们总结了与 rcMacs 研究相关的当前知识和局限性。我们描述了它们在健康和疾病状态下的各种过程中的具体作用和贡献，例如导电、胞吞作用、炎症、组织发育、重塑和再生。我们还概述了与 rcMac 研究相关的研究挑战和技术复杂性。最近的技术发展和当代免疫学技术为研究 rcMac 对募集的单核细胞和其他心肌细胞的单独贡献提供了新的机会。最后，我们讨论了新的治疗策略，例如药物或非编码 RNA，它们可以影响 rcMac 表型及其对炎症的反应。这些新方法将有助于更深入地了解这种心脏内源性细胞类型，并可能导致开发出更具体、更有效的治疗策略，以增强心脏的内在修复能力。