Cardiovascular immunology is a newly emerging research area investigating the crosstalk
between the cardiovascular and the immune system. This crosstalk is evident through (1) crucial
immunological capacities and functions of cardiovascular cell types including cardiomyocytes
fibroblasts endothelial cells pericytes and cardiac resident macrophages (2) the impact of
aberrant immune function on the development of cardiovascular disease such as atherosclerosis
direct and indirect immune-mediated heart disease and vasculitis and (3) the crucial role of
the immune system in cardiac repair and regeneration. The Immunology of Cardiovascular
Homeostasis and Pathology covers all these aspects of cardiovascular immunology starting with
homeostatic immunological functions of traditional cardiovascular cell types and moving then
to the role of the immune system in cardiovascular pathology and to recent research into
targeting the immune system to boost cardiac healing and regeneration.
