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
