Study reports evidence of mature heart cell potential in embryonic
stem cells
From our ANI Correspondent
Washington, Nov 28: A new study has reported the first functional
evidence that heart cells derived from human embryonic stem cells
exhibit one of the most critical properties of mature adult heart
cells, an important biological process called excitation-contract
coupling.
The study, led by Ronald Li, an associate professor of cell biology
and human anatomy at UC Davis School of Medicine, observed cells that
had begun the maturation process toward becoming heart cells.
"Previous experiments were able to derive heart cells from human
embryonic stem cells. But those cells always remained too immature to
be of any therapeutic use and actually could cause lethal arrhythmias
in animal models," said Li.
"Now, what we've been able to do is push the therapeutic potential of
human embryonic stem cells further so that eventually they might be
used safely, and with enhanced efficacy, in transplantation cases,"
he said.
The main function of the heart is to mechanically pump blood in a
highly coordinated fashion throughout the body.
To do this, heart cells must receive electrical signals and contract
in response to those signals. This link, called the excitation-
contraction coupling, is dependent on the cells' ability to move
calcium ions across an internal organelle known as sarcoplasmic
reticulum, or the so-called "calcium store."
The ability to handle calcium is disrupted in the cells of patients
who experience heart failure.
In the study, the researchers took human embryonic stem cells and
grew them in cultures, allowing them to differentiate, or develop,
into heart cells.
Once they had these tiny, pulsing masses, the investigators energized
the cells with small amounts of electrical current and chemicals,
including caffeine.
Then, they measured how the amount of intracellular calcium changed
and looked for the presence of proteins and cellular structures known
to be involved in excitation-contract
The analysis found evidence of the functional calcium stores for
excitation-contract
For future stem cell based therapies to work, scientists will need to
have heart cells that exhibit mature excitation-contract
The current study found protein functions, which were involved in the
early stages of this coupling process.
Our latest study gives us great hope of eventually achieving a
breakthrough where stem cell therapy could be used in the types of
cases that today require a heart transplant," Li said.
The study is published in the journal Stem Cells.
http://www.dailyind
mature-heart-
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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