Genetic drug that can heal damage caused by heart attack

Written by Hina Zahid Published On 2019-05-10T19:25:38+05:30 | Updated On 10 May 2019 7:25 PM IST

A new therapy has been found that can induce heart cells to regenerate after a heart attack. Researchers from King's College London have delivered a small piece of genetic material, called microRNA-199, to the heart of pigs, after a myocardial infarction which resulted in the almost complete recovery of cardiac function at one month later.

The study has been published in Nature

It is said that Time Is Muscle in a Heart attack because irreversible damage is caused to the heart muscle as a result of blockage of blood sully and oxygen to the heart musculature. This damage to the muscle of the heart cannot be reversed and the patient has to live with a residual disability in the form of heart failure leading to breathlessness. When a patient survives a heart attack, they are left with permanent structural damage to their heart through the formation of a scar, which can lead to heart failure in the future.

According to the World Health Organisation, Myocardial infarction, more commonly known as a heart attack, caused by the sudden blocking of one of the cardiac coronary arteries, is the main cause of heart failure, a condition that now affects over 23 million population in the world,

Lead author Professor Mauro Giacca, from King's College London, said: "It is a very exciting moment for the field. After so many unsuccessful attempts at regenerating the heart using stem cells, which all have failed so far, for the first time we see the real cardiac repair in a large animal."

This is the first demonstration that cardiac regeneration can be achieved by administering an effective genetic drug that stimulates cardiac regeneration in a large animal, with heart anatomy and physiology like that of humans.

"It will take some time before we can proceed to clinical trials" explained Professor Giacca.

"We still need to learn how to administer the RNA as a synthetic molecule in large animals and then in patients, but we already know this works well in mice."

For more details click on the link: DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1191-6

cardiac coronary arteriesDruggeneticGenetic therapyheart cellsheart failureheart-attackKing's College LondonmaterialmicroRNA-199myocardial infarctionNatureProfessor Mauro Giaccascarsynthetic moleculeWorld Health Organisation

Disclaimer: This site is primarily intended for healthcare professionals. Any content/information on this website does not replace the advice of medical and/or health professionals and should not be construed as medical/diagnostic advice/endorsement or prescription. Use of this site is subject to our terms of use, privacy policy, advertisement policy. © 2020 Minerva Medical Treatment Pvt Ltd

Hina Zahid