Apr 24 2008
Functioning heart cells created in lab
Apr 24: In a significant invention scientists have found three kinds of human heart cells that are extracted from the embryonic stem cells. This will help them in creating functioning heart tissue that helps transplants in the lab. Researchers tested the cells by transplanting it into mice with simulated heart disease and it was found to improve the function of the heart.
The study was conducted by a team of scientists from the US, UK and Canada and the findings were published in the science journal named Nature. These cells were found to play a vital role in repairing the damaged heart cells. The cells were created by providing embryonic stem cell cultured in a mixture of growth factors and other molecules involved in development.
By giving the right growth factors at the right time, they allowed the cells to grow as three different types of immature cardiac cells. Cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cell are the three cells that form important part of heart muscle.
According to Dr Gordon Keller, researcher from the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine in Toronto, “The findings of the research give a clear indication about the effectiveness and accuracy in which the different kinds of heart cells can be effectively used in scientific and basic research. If developed further, the findings of the research will help in repairing the damaged heart cells of patients who are suffering from heart attack.”
While responding to this the associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, Jeremy Pearson said: “The study also raises the level of hope that in the future stem cells will be used effectively to mend damaged heart cells in patients.”
This research comes as a great relief to numerous heart patients.
[…] new born babies. The Italian research titled the Archives of Disease in Childhood found that the heart rate of the baby get reduced when the incubators are turned […]