While largely appreciated for their antimicrobial and repair functions, macrophages have emerged as indispensable for the development, homeostasis, and regeneration of tissue, including regeneration of the neonatal heart. Upon activation, mammalian neonatal macrophages express and secrete factors that coordinate angiogenesis, resolution of inflammation, and ultimately cardiomyocyte proliferation. This is contrary to adult macrophages in the adult heart, which are incapable of inducing significant levels of cardiac regeneration. The underlying mechanisms by which pro-regenerative macrophages are activated and regulated remain vague. A timely hypothesis is that macrophage metabolism contributes to this proliferative and regenerative potential. This is because we now appreciate the significant contributions of metabolites to immune cell programming and function, beyond solely bioenergetics. After birth, the metabolic milieu of the neonate is subject to significant alterations in oxygenation and nutrient supply, which will affect how metabolic substrates are catabolized. In this context, we discuss potential roles for select macrophage metabolic pathways during cardiac regeneration.

虽然巨噬细胞因其抗菌和修复功能而广受赞赏，但它已成为组织发育、稳态和再生（包括新生儿心脏再生）不可或缺的一部分。一旦激活，哺乳动物新生儿巨噬细胞就会表达并分泌协调血管生成、炎症消退以及最终心肌细胞增殖的因子。这与成人心脏中的成人巨噬细胞相反，成人巨噬细胞无法诱导显着水平的心脏再生。激活和调节促再生巨噬细胞的潜在机制仍然模糊。一个及时的假设是巨噬细胞代谢有助于这种增殖和再生潜力。这是因为我们现在认识到代谢物对免疫细胞编程和功能的重大贡献，而不仅仅是生物能学。出生后，新生儿的代谢环境在氧合和营养供应方面发生显着变化，这将影响代谢底物的分解代谢。在这种情况下，我们讨论了心脏再生过程中选择的巨噬细胞代谢途径的潜在作用。