Scientists discover new way to repair heart damage

The new findings could be a breakthrough for the health industry, especially when it comes to repairing tissue damaged by heart attacks.

A team of scientists from the United States has discovered a new way to repair heart damage. These new findings could be used to treat heart attack patients, those suffering from heart failure and heart defects in children, according to BBC News. When a heart becomes fully developed, the cells that make up the tissue stop dividing, making it impossible for the body to repair damaged parts of the heart. This team of scientists, however, has discovered a way to make the heart cells begin to divide again. The work could help develop an alternative to stem cell treatment, which is controversial, untested and can bring on unknown side effects. The study was conducted on mice and rats, but could be applied to humans after further testing, according to Dr. Bernhard Kühn. At the heart of the matter is neuregulin1 (NRG1), an ingredient that forces growth and division in cells. Conventionally, heart cells grow and divide during prenatal development. The muscle tissue loses its ability to divide shortly after birth. The findings were published in the scientific journal the Cell. The group wrote they had "identified the major elements of a new approach to promote myocardial regeneration." Colleagues of the group say the discovery is nothing short of remarkable. "This fascinating study shows, remarkably, that a significant fraction of adult heart cells in mice can be made to replicate and help to repair damaged hearts," said Professor Jeremy Pearson of the British Heart Foundation, as quoted by BBC News.