Australian scientists have confirmed that heart muscle cells can regenerate after a heart attack. It was previously believed that such cells die, and the damaged areas of tissue suffer irreversible damage.
The death of heart cells is considered the main reason for the decrease in the organ's functionality, leading to impaired blood pumping. However, new research has confirmed that although the heart does indeed form scars after a heart attack, this does not prevent the formation of new muscle cells, as reported by the University of Sydney.
The authors of the study noted: "This is the first confirmation of mitosis of cells in the heart muscle in humans." The conclusions were made based on models of living heart tissues.
During the experiments, several proteins playing a role in the heart regeneration process were identified. This discovery is significant for future clinical applications. Scientists hope to learn how to create new heart cells to prevent heart failure after a heart attack and to reversibly impact already developing complications.
Previously, other scientific groups discovered a key gene that promotes heart recovery after a heart attack. There is a possibility that the combination of results from the two studies will significantly enhance the effectiveness of the new approach to regeneration.
