Thursday 25 September 2025 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Room 100-102 ,VPD Heart and Lung Research Institute, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Papworth Road, CB2 0BB.
About
Reactivation of Pro-regenerative Macrophage IL-13 Signaling to Promote Cardiac Functional Recovery in Adults
Caitlin O'Meara - Associate Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, USA
Abstract
There is a great interest in identifying signalling pathways that promote cardiac repair after myocardial infarction. We`ve identified interleukin 13 as a pro-reparative signaling factor in neonatal heart regeneration via signaling to both cardiomyocyte and macrophages. Interestingly, IL 13 signaling is enriched in neonatal hearts and declines precipitously into adulthood. We show that re-activation of IL 13 signaling drives heart repair in adults and by using a combination of recombinant IL 13 (rIL13) administration and cell-specific IL 13 receptor genetic deletion models we identified that IL 13 signaling specifically to macrophages significantly promotes cardiac functional recovery after MI in adult mice. Single cell RNA sequencing revealed a sub- population of macrophages appearing in the heart early after injury only in response to rIL 13 administration. Collectively, we elucidate a strong pro- reparative role for IL 13 signaling directly to macrophages following cardiac injury. While this pathway is active in pro-regenerative neonatal stages, re-activation of macrophages IL13 signalling is required to promote cardiac functional recovery in adults
A light lunch will be provided from 12.30 pm
Please contact Ana Vujic (av335@cam.ac.uk) if you would like to arrange a meeting with Caitlin O`Meara
It would be great to see you in person, but if you need to attend remotely please contact Sarah Gibbings to receive a Teams link.