Research Offers New Hope for Ischemic Heart Failure Treatment
New York: A global team of researchers has made a significant research in cardiac regeneration, paving the way for new treatment possibilities for ischemic heart failure. The study, published in NPJ Regenerative Medicine, was conducted by scientists from Baylor College of Medicine in the US, the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia, and other collaborating institutions.
The research focuses on stimulating cardiomyocyte proliferation, a crucial process for heart repair. “When the heart cannot regenerate damaged cardiomyocytes, it weakens over time, leading to heart failure. Our study investigates a novel method to encourage cardiomyocyte replication to support healing,” said Dr. Riham Abouleisa, assistant professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Baylor.
Previous studies have shown that calcium plays a vital role in cardiomyocyte proliferation. In this study, researchers examined the effects of modulating calcium influx in these cells. Their findings revealed that blocking calcium entry enhances the expression of genes linked to cell replication.
“We inhibited calcium influx by targeting the L-Type Calcium Channel (LTCC), a protein responsible for regulating calcium in cardiomyocytes. Our results indicate that LTCC could be a potential target for developing new therapies to promote heart regeneration,” Abouleisa explained.
The study demonstrated that both pharmacological and genetic inhibition of LTCC could induce cardiomyocyte replication by modifying the activity of calcineurin, a well-known regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation. This approach showed promising outcomes in both human cardiac tissue samples cultivated in the lab and live animal models.
Dr. Tamer Mohamed, co-author and director of Baylor College of Medicine’s Laboratory for Cardiac Regeneration, emphasized that this discovery could revolutionize the therapeutic use of existing calcium-regulating medications, such as Nifedipine, for heart failure patients.
By targeting calcium signaling pathways, the research opens new possibilities for cardiac regenerative therapies. This advancement has the potential to transform heart failure treatment, offering new hope to millions affected by the condition.
Nidhi Srivastava is a dietician. She holds a post-graduate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from MRIIRS. With a profound passion for utilizing nutrition and lifestyle modifications to manage diseases, she is dedicated to advancing the field through rigorous research and fact-checking. Her expertise lies in evidence-based practice, ensuring the highest standards of dietary health and wellness.