Macrophage-derived Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 24 (CCL24) promotes cardiac fibrosis

Cardiac resident macrophages (CRMs) have key roles in progression and prevention of cardiac fibrosis. We have previously shown CRMs are a genetically diverse and heterogenous cell population. Using single-cell RNA sequencing we identified a CRM subset with high expression of Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 24 (CCL24). In this study, we uncover a profibrotic role for CCL24 through fibroblast activation and regulation of ECM pathways. Overall design: Wildtype (WT) and CCL24 knockout (CCL24 KO) mice were subjected to sham (n = 2,2) and transversal aorta constriction (TAC; n = 6,4) surgeries, followed by RNA extraction from cardiac ventricular tissue 1 week later.