Detecting genes important in healing heart damage

Researchers from the University of Bologna (Italy), part of an international team, have discovered a gene that is important in the healing of heart damage after a heart attack.

Research published in the journal Nature Cardio Heart Research shows that a steroid hormone called glucocorticoids (GCs) helps promote cell maturation while inhibiting cell proliferation. This is what causes the heart muscle to not be able to recover from a heart attack.

One of the biggest causes of death in the world is heart disease

"Our results demonstrate that GCs act as an important brake on the heart's regenerative capacity: their inhibition shows promising results in the repair of damaged heart tissue. ", said Professor Gabriele D'Uva, department of experimental medicine at the University of Bologna, who coordinated the study.

"This is an exceptional discovery that leads to effective treatments to improve the heart condition of heart attack patients," said D'Uva.

One of the biggest causes of death in the world is heart disease. This is partly because heart tissue cannot regenerate like other body tissues. Cardiac muscle cells die during a heart attack and become scar tissue that is unable to contract.

If the damage is severe, it can lead to heart failure. In which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. The result of this condition can potentially have a number of adverse effects, including sudden death, according to Scitech Daily.

Professor D'Uva said: "Most tissues in our body will renew themselves throughout life. In contrast, the renewal of heart tissues in adulthood is extremely low, almost non-existent. in".

To find a way to reverse this loss of heart's ability to regenerate, the scientists focused on glucocorticoids - a hormone that plays an important role in development, metabolism, and maintenance of homeostasis as well. as in managing stressful situations.

Removal of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in glucocorticoids (GCs) has been shown to increase myocardial cell regeneration after myocardial infarction, promoting myocardial regeneration within weeks. .

"Similar results have also been obtained through the use of a GR-receptor blocker that has been approved for clinical use in humans," said Professor D'Uva.