Targeting efferocytosis for tissue regeneration: From microenvironment reprogramming to clinical translation

Efferocytosis, phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells (ACs), is an essential biological process that resolves inflammation and regulates tissue regeneration in various organ systems. Through removal of apoptotic cell debris, efferocytosis attenuates secondary necrosis and dampens the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). More importantly, it can reprogram phagocytes towards a pro-reparative phenotype via the secretion of anti-inflammatory mediators, metabolic rewiring, and the production of growth factors. There are four closely regulated stages in the entire process: "find-me" signal-mediated phagocyte recruitment, recognition of ACs via "eat-me" signals, AC internalization via Rho GTPase-dependent actin remodeling, and phagolysosomal degradation of ACs by either canonical or light chain 3 (LC3)-associated phagocytosis (LAP). In a repair context, efferocytosis may refer to the clearance of dying cells during various tissue repair processes, such as wound healing, liver injury, myocardial infarction, intestinal damage, kidney injury and muscle injury. Efferocytosis regulates inflammation resolution, stem/progenitor cell activation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and angiogenesis to coordinate tissue repair. Chronic pathology (e.g., diabetic ulcers, fibrosis) induced by dysfunctional efferocytosis results from accumulation of non-phagocytosed ACs that maintain inflammation and impair regeneration. Therapeutic strategies targeting dysfunctional efferocytosis have been developed, encompassing active pharmaceutical ingredients, biologics, and biomaterials-assisted therapeutic modalities. Despite promising outcomes from preclinical studies, challenges still exist in the spatiotemporal control and clinical translation of these therapeutic strategies. Future research could focus on the multi-omics integration and smart biomaterial development to dynamically modulate efferocytosis during different disease phases.