CD68 and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: However, it is well proved and was previously described that the M1 marker CD68 positive macrophages were accumulated in human ischemic heart and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and caused the release of M1 macrophage associated pro-inflammatory factors [21] and cytokines such as IFNγ, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα [22].