Heart has completely regrown.
Posted on 04/08/2021 12:19:12 PM PDT by Red Badger
Scientists at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Sydney have discovered a critical new gene that it is hoped could help human hearts repair damaged heart muscle after a heart attack.
Researchers have identified a genetic switch in zebrafish that turns on cells allowing them to divide and multiply after a heart attack, resulting in the complete regeneration and healing of damaged heart muscle in these fish.
It’s already known that zebrafish can heal their own hearts, but how they performed this incredible feat remained unknown, until now. In research recently published in the prestigious journal, Science, the team at the Institute drilled down into a critical gene known as Klf1 that previously had only been identified in red blood cells. For the first time they discovered it plays a vital role in healing damaged hearts.
Dr. Kazu Kikuchi, who led this world first research, said he was astonished by the findings.
“Our research has identified a secret switch that allows heart muscle cells to divide and multiply after the heart is injured. It kicks in when needed and turns off when the heart is fully healed. In humans where damaged and scarred heart muscle cannot replace itself, this could be a game-changer,” Dr. Kikuchi explains.
“With these tiny little fish sharing over 70% of human genes, this really has the potential to save many, many lives and lead to new drug developments.”
The gene works by making remaining uninjured heart muscle cells more immature and changing their metabolic wiring. This allows them to divide and make new cells.
When the gene was removed, the zebrafish heart lost its ability to repair itself after an injury such as a heart attack, which pinpointed it as a crucial self-healing tool.
Professor Bob Graham, Head of the Institute’s Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics Division, says they hope to utilize this world-first discovery, made in collaboration with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, to transform the treatment of heart attack patients and other heart diseases.
“The team has been able to find this vitally important protein that swings into action after an event like a heart attack and supercharges the cells to heal damaged heart muscle. It’s an incredible discovery,” says Prof Graham.
“The gene may also act as a switch in human hearts. We are now hoping further research into its function may provide us with a clue to turn on regeneration in human hearts, to improve their ability to pump blood around the body.”
Importantly, the team also found that the Klf1 gene played no role in the early development of the heart and that its regenerative properties were only switched on after a heart injury.
Professor Graham added: “This is clear evidence that the regeneration you get after a heart injury is not the same as what happens during the development of the heart but involves an entirely different pathway; an issue that has been debated for years.”
Reference: 8 April 2021, Science.
After eight fruitful years, Dr. Kikuchi left the Australian based Institute in 2019 to continue his work back in his homeland, Japan. But he continues to work closely with the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute to jointly advance the zebrafish heart project to the next phase.
Had to laugh at that. The research may have great merit but Science is the Time magazine of science.
If I was a fish, I would be as a happy as a fish in water.
I was lucky, last year when I had my heart attack. Doc said heart muscle had no damage....................
Oh Good. You had a doctor you can trust. Glad you are doing well:) I mean that.
Well, I had a quad by-pass one year ago and now I feel great........
Howdya know when a Zebrafish has a heart attack?
Ditto two Easters ago. 11 stents, but no muscle damage.
Your heart must look like a pincushion!.............
bookmark
I wonder if this could also fix cardiomyopathy? My better half was diagnosed with it almost 15 years ago, had a defib implant, and a replacement, then had a heart attack/bypass 3 years ago and is now in congestive heart failure. Her heart quack has told her a transplant is about the only option left but she refuses to even consider one due to the many drawbacks.
He puts his fin over his heart and says, "Elizabeth, I'm coming."
Will it regrow other parts other than the heart?
Asking for a friend
Heart has completely regrown.
ur friend’s fish bike parts?
I have 5 stents, but no heart attack. Just CHF, and a heart lobe pumping around 60%. Pacerone (Amiodorone), Metropolol and Entresto 97/103 brought me around and saved me from a heart attack.
in the meantime, high quality co-q10 or its derivatives
Had a similar thought. Science does some pretty click-baity stuff some times and they definitely have a Left-bias.
Well lets just say my friend’s not normal.
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