Heart Failure and Inflammation: From Mechanistic Insights to Translational Perspectives

Heart failure (HF) represents a global health burden, with increasing prevalence, high hospitalization rates, and significant morbidity and mortality. While traditional paradigms of HF pathophysiology have focused on neurohormonal dysregulation and hemodynamic overload, there is growing recognition of the central role of inflammation in the onset, progression, and clinical manifestations of heart failure.

Both acute and chronic inflammatory responses are known to influence myocardial remodeling, fibrosis, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiomyocyte death. In HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), immune activation often correlates with adverse outcomes and systemic involvement. Conversely, in HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), low-grade chronic inflammation –particularly in the context of comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension – appears to drive a pro-fibrotic, pro-stiffness cardiac phenotype.

This Research Topic aims to provide a platform for interdisciplinary contributions that explore the complex crosstalk between inflammation and heart failure. We welcome original research, mechanistic studies, and clinical investigations, as well as translational and review articles, addressing any of the following key areas:

• Cellular and molecular mechanisms linking immune responses to cardiac dysfunction

• Novel biomarkers of inflammation in HF

• Immunomodulatory therapies under investigation or in clinical use

• The role of systemic inflammation and multi-organ crosstalk in HF pathophysiology

• Impact of comorbid inflammatory conditions (e.g., autoimmune diseases, infections) on HF outcomes

• Imaging and omics tools to assess cardiac inflammation

• Personalized medicine approaches in managing inflammation in HF

By integrating perspectives from cardiology, immunology, molecular biology, and translational science, this Topic will foster dialogue across disciplines and highlight emerging therapeutic strategies targeting inflammation in HF. Ultimately, our goal is to promote innovation and encourage cross-collaboration to improve outcomes for patients living with heart failure.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Heart Failure, Inflammation, Immunomodulation, Biomarkers, Translational Cardiology, HFpEF, HFrEF

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.