Calcium channel inhibition promotes cardiac regeneration, offering hope for heart failure treatment

Medical Xpress / Baylor College of Medicine / , npj Regenerative Medicine ^ | March 7, 2025 | Kimberly R. Holloway / Lynn A. C. Devilée et al

[ConservativeMind]

Researchers report a discovery in cardiac regeneration that offers new hope for the treatment of ischemic heart failure. The study reveals a novel approach to promoting cardiomyocyte proliferation.

"When the heart cannot replace injured cardiomyocytes with healthy ones, it becomes progressively weaker, a condition leading to heart failure. In this study, we investigated a new way to stimulate cardiomyocyte proliferation to help the heart heal," said Dr. Riham Abouleisa.

Previous studies showed that calcium plays an important role in cardiomyocyte proliferation. In the current study, Abouleisa and her colleagues explored how modulating calcium influx in cardiomyocytes would affect their proliferation.

"We found that preventing calcium influx in cardiomyocytes enhances the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation," Abouleisa said. "We prevented calcium influx by inhibiting L-Type Calcium Channel (LTCC), a protein that regulates calcium in these cells. Our findings suggest that LTCC could be a target for developing new therapies to induce cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration."

The study demonstrates that both pharmacological and genetic inhibition of LTCC can induce cardiomyocyte replication and that this occurs by modulating the activity of calcineurin, a known regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation. This innovative approach showed promising results both in human cardiac slices grown in the lab and in live animals.

"Abouleisa's multi-continent collaborations led to a discovery that can revolutionize the use of current medicines that regulate calcium entry to the cells, such as Nifedipine, in heart failure patients," said Dr. Tamer Mohamed.

Abouleisa and her colleagues' research highlights the importance of targeting calcium signaling pathways to unlock the regenerative potential of the heart and opens new avenues for developing cardiac regenerative therapies, potentially transforming the treatment landscape for patients suffering from heart failure.

[ConservativeMind]

Procardia is the brand name of the generic Nifedipine.

Apparently, this can help regenerate some damaged heart cells.

[ConservativeMind]

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