Pacemakers from cardiomyocytes

A new way of programming cells for heart repair is presented

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

The technology can become an alternative to heart transplantation, as well as the replacement of individual heart muscle cells in a damaged organ. Scientists have already demonstrated that treatment restores the synchronicity of electrical activity, thereby improving the function of the heart.

Scientists from the University of Houston report on the creation of an effective protocol for reprogramming human heart cells into specialized cells that allow for coordinated electrical activity and repair damaged tissue. The results of the first preclinical experiments can be a big breakthrough in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

"We were the first to demonstrate successful direct reprogramming of cardiomyocyte cell lines into Purkinje fiber cells using a unique cocktail of small molecules," commented co—author Branley McConnell. With direct reprogramming, a "plastic" state of cells is created to transform a fully differentiated and mature cell into a new type.

Currently, when studying the possibilities of heart regeneration, the main attention is paid to heart muscle cells, myocytes, but their replacement is not enough to reduce symptoms. The main problem is that new myocytes cannot contract synchronously, which causes the development of arrhythmia.

The use of new technology solves this problem by restoring the synchronicity of electrical signals, thereby improving cardiac function, the authors explain.

The study is at an early stage, but in the future, scientists hope to replace the new technology with separate delivery of myocytes and complete heart transplantation. Organ transplantation is still a big problem all over the world due to the lack of donor biomaterial.

Article by Prodan et al. Direct reprogramming of cardiomyocytes into cardiac Purkinje-like cells is published in the journal iScience – VM.

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