Researchers from King’s have found that therapy that can induce heart cells to regenerate after a heart attack.
Myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack, caused by the sudden blocking of one of the cardiac coronary arteries, is the main cause of heart failure, a condition that now affects over 23 million population in the world, according to the World Health Organisation.
At present, when a patient survives a heart attack, they are left with permanent structural damage to their heart through the formation of a scar, which can lead to heart failure in the future. In contrast to fish and salamander, which can regenerate the heart throughout life.
In this study, published today in Nature, the team of investigators delivered a small piece of genetic material, called microRNA-199, to the heart of pigs, after a myocardial infarction which resulted in the almost complete recovery of cardiac function at one month later.
Lead author Professor Mauro Giacca from King’s said: “It is a very exciting moment for the field. After so many unsuccessful attempts at regenerating the heart using stem cells, which all have failed so far, for the first time we see real cardiac repair in a large animal.”
This is the first demonstration that cardiac regeneration can be achieved by administering an effective genetic drug that stimulates cardiac regeneration in a large animal, with heart anatomy and physiology like that of humans.
“It will take some time before we can proceed to clinical trials,” said Professor Giacca.
“We still need to learn how to administer the RNA as a synthetic molecule in large animals and then in patients, but we already know this works well in mice.”
Professor Ajay Shah, British Heart Foundation (BHF) Chair of Cardiology and Head of the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences at King’s said: “A treatment that helps the heart repair itself after a heart attack is the holy grail for cardiologists. Professor Giacca’s study convincingly demonstrates for the first time that this might actually be feasible and not just a pipe-dream.
“It’s a very exciting advance in the field. While we are not yet at a stage where a treatment could be offered to patients, I’m confident that our excellent team in the King’s BHF Centre of Excellence is very well placed to drive forward the research to make such a treatment a reality.”
Learn more: Genetic therapy heals damage caused by heart attack
The Latest on: Heart cell regeneration
[google_news title=”” keyword=”heart cell regeneration” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Heart cell regeneration
- ASGCT 2024: Charles Murry Doesn’t Skip a Beat in Cardiac Arrhythmia Talk during the Presidential Symposiumon May 9, 2024 at 10:26 am
Charles Murry, PhD, presented years of work during the Presidential Symposium at ASGCT on Tuesday. He shared his research story to better inform cardiac regeneration research and therapy options.
- Scientists discover new type of cell in the liveron May 9, 2024 at 6:49 am
Scientists have discovered a new type of cell in the liver that plays a critical role in repairing damage. These "leader cells" are responsible for dragging healthy tissue into wounds as they heal ...
- RENEW Review – What Does the Science Say About Salt Water Trick Ingredients for Weight Loss?on May 7, 2024 at 1:30 am
Renew is not just a supplement; it’s a groundbreaking innovation designed to significantly enhance the quality of your deep sleep, metabolism, and overall health.
- This cute animal can regrow all it's limbs and might be immortalon May 5, 2024 at 4:29 am
The axolotl, a real-life amphibian with almost mythical regenerative abilities, challenges our understanding of biology. Renowned for its capacity to regrow limbs and even organs, this creature's ...
- Simulating heart disease in a 3D modelon May 2, 2024 at 2:15 am
‘Research into Cardiac Regeneration through Human Ventricular Progenitor Cells’. With a focus on 3D culture and tissue engineering, she uses human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) to understand the ...
- Yorkshire leaders need to put hospitality at the heart of regeneration plans - Kate Nichollson May 1, 2024 at 11:00 pm
This is why, as we head to vote in local government and mayoral elections today, we are urging all the candidates to put hospitality at the core of local regeneration, development and economic ...
- Root canal? Next-gen treatment could involve stem cells, not surgeryon April 30, 2024 at 5:00 pm
“Over the past two decades, scientists have come to rely on stem cells for tissue regeneration. We haven’t tapped into ... Committee affiliated with agencies such as the American Heart Association, ...
- Japanese researchers test cardiac spheroids for heart regeneration in monkeyson April 26, 2024 at 9:33 pm
Regenerative heart therapies involve transplanting cardiac muscle cells into damaged areas of the heart to recover lost function.
- Using stem cell-derived heart muscle cells to advance heart regenerative therapyon April 26, 2024 at 6:01 am
Study shows that cardiac spheroids, derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells, can be easily transported and injected into damaged areas of the heart to promote its regeneration and ...
- Using stem cell-derived heart muscle cells to advance heart regenerative therapyon April 25, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The cells also responded as expected to various ... potentially serve as an optimal form of cardiomyocyte products for heart regeneration, given their straightforward generation process and ...
via Bing News
