Washington: Scientists have found an injectable gel that may
help regrow cardiac muscles after heart attack.
The gel slowly releases
short gene sequences known as microRNAs into the heart muscle, according to researchers
at the University of Pennsylvania. After a heart attack, there is a dramatic
loss of these heart muscle cells and those that survive cannot effectively
replicate. With fewer of these contractile cells, known as cardiomyocytes, the
heart pumps less blood with each beat, leading to the increased mortality
associated with heart disease. For the study, the researchers used mouse models
to demonstrate a new approach. Though the reasons cardiomyocytes do not
regenerate are not fully understood, the researchers used microRNAs that target
signalling pathways related to cell proliferation. They were able to inhibit
some of the inherent “stop” signals that keep cardiomyocytes from replicating.
This resulted in cardiomyocytes reactivating their proliferative potential.
With more heart cells dividing and reproducing, mice treated with this gel
after heart attack showed improved recovery in key clinically relevant
categories.
Source: DNA-1st December,2017
