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Human Heart Can Regrow Muscle Cells After Heart Attack, Study Reveals

Scientists in Australia have made a world-first discovery that the human heart can regrow muscle cells after a heart attack, a phenomenon previously only seen in mice. The research, published in Circulation Research, used living heart tissue from patients undergoing bypass surgery to demonstrate this regenerative ability. This challenges the long-held belief that heart cell death from an attack causes permanent, irreparable damage. The findings offer promising groundwork for future therapies aimed at amplifying this natural process to reverse heart failure.

Key Points: Human Heart Regrows Cells After Heart Attack: Groundbreaking Study

  • First human demonstration of post-heart attack cell regrowth
  • Discovery challenges belief heart damage is irreparable
  • Uses living tissue from bypass surgery patients
  • Offers foundation for novel regenerative medicine
  • Aims to reverse heart failure by making new cells
2 min read

Human heart regrows muscle cells after heart attack: Study

World-first discovery shows human heart muscle cells regenerate after a heart attack, paving the way for future regenerative heart failure treatments.

"In time, we hope to develop therapies that can amplify the heart's natural ability to produce new cells and regenerate the heart after an attack. - Robert Hume"

New Delhi, Jan 20

In a world-first discovery, scientists in Australia have found that the human heart can regrow muscle cells after a heart attack, raising hopes for future regenerative treatments for heart failure.

The study, published in Circulation Research, revealed that while parts of the heart remain scarred after a heart attack, new muscle cells are also produced, a phenomenon previously seen only in mice and now demonstrated in humans for the first time, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Until now we've thought that, because heart cells die after a heart attack, those areas of the heart were irreparably damaged, leaving the heart less able to pump blood to the body's organs," said Robert Hume, research fellow at the University of Sydney and first author of the study.

"In time, we hope to develop therapies that can amplify the heart's natural ability to produce new cells and regenerate the heart after an attack," said Hume, also lead of translational research at Australia's Baird Institute for Applied Heart and Lung Research.

Though increased mitosis (a process in which cells divide and reproduce) after a heart attack has been observed in the heart muscles of mice, this is the first time the phenomenon has been demonstrated in humans.

The team made the breakthrough using living heart tissue samples collected from patients undergoing bypass surgery at Australia's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

"Ultimately, the goal is to use this discovery to make new heart cells that can reverse heart failure," said Professor Sean Lal, the study's senior author and heart failure cardiologist at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Cardiovascular disease remains the world's leading cause of death, and heart attacks can eliminate a third of the cells in the human heart, researchers said, adding that the discovery offers promising groundwork for novel regenerative medicine.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rajesh Q
Amazing discovery by the Australian team. Cardiovascular disease is a huge killer in India too. If this research leads to affordable treatments, it could save millions of lives here. The government should invest in similar regenerative medicine research.
A
Aman W
While this is a great scientific step, I hope the eventual therapies are accessible and not just for the wealthy. In India, the cost of advanced cardiac care is already very high. The focus should be on making such breakthroughs available to all.
S
Sarah B
Fascinating! The human body's capacity for healing continues to surprise us. It makes you wonder what other regenerative abilities we might discover. This is a solid foundation for future medical advances.
V
Vikram M
Good research, but it will be years before any treatment is available. In the meantime, prevention is key—managing stress, eating right, and regular exercise. We Indians need to take our heart health more seriously given our genetic predisposition.
N
Nisha Z
Heartening news indeed! 🫀 My mother is a heart patient. Just the thought that her heart might have some natural repair mechanism is comforting. Hope the "amplifying" therapies come soon.

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