Mechanisms of cardioprotection via modulation of the immune response

•Current research focus on cardioprotective immune-targeted therapeutic approaches.•Ischemic preconditioning is a powerful cardioprotective treatment.•The immune system may ameliorate, initiate, or aggravate cardiovascular diseases.

Both morbidity and mortality as a result of cardiovascular disease remain significant worldwide and account for approximately 31% of annual deaths in the US. Current research is focused on novel therapeutic strategies to protect the heart during and after ischemic events and from subsequent adverse myocardial remodeling. After cardiac insult, the immune system is activated and plays an essential role in the beginning, development, and resolution of the healing cascade. Uncontrolled inflammatory responses can cause chronic disease and exacerbate progression to heart failure and therefore, constitute a major area of focus of cardiac therapies. In the present overview, we share novel insights and promising therapeutic cardioprotective strategies that target the immune response.