Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of cardiac regeneration that could potentially revolutionize the treatment of ischemic heart failure. The findings of this study, published in the prestigious journal “npj Regenerative Medicine,” offer new hope for patients suffering from heart failure. The research was conducted by a team of experts from the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine, the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia, and other collaborating institutions.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Riham Abouleisa, explained the significance of their findings, stating, “When the heart is unable to replace damaged cardiomyocytes with healthy ones, it becomes progressively weaker, leading to heart failure. Our study focused on finding a novel approach to stimulate cardiomyocyte proliferation and facilitate the healing of the heart.”
Previous research has shown that calcium plays a crucial role in promoting the proliferation of cardiomyocytes. In this study, Abouleisa and her team investigated the effects of modulating calcium influx in cardiomyocytes on their ability to proliferate. By inhibiting the L-Type Calcium Channel (LTCC), a protein that regulates calcium levels in these cells, the researchers observed an increase in the expression of genes involved in cell proliferation. This discovery suggests that targeting LTCC could be a promising strategy for developing new therapies to induce cardiomyocyte proliferation and regeneration.
Both pharmacological and genetic inhibition of LTCC were found to stimulate cardiomyocyte replication by modulating the activity of calcineurin, a key regulator of cardiomyocyte proliferation. The researchers conducted experiments on human cardiac slices in the lab and live animals, demonstrating promising results with this innovative approach.
Dr. Tamer Mohamed, a co-author of the study and director of Baylor College of Medicine’s Laboratory for Cardiac Regeneration, praised the collaborative effort that led to this groundbreaking discovery. He highlighted the potential implications for using existing medications that regulate calcium entry, such as Nifedipine, in the treatment of heart failure patients.
Dr. Todd K. Rosengart, chair and professor of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, expressed optimism about the future of cardiac regeneration research. He stated, “The prospect of regenerating heart tissue, once considered an impossible dream, is becoming increasingly attainable. Dr. Abouleisa’s work represents a significant advancement towards human trials, which may be on the horizon.”
The research team’s findings underscore the importance of targeting calcium signaling pathways to unlock the regenerative potential of the heart. This study opens up new avenues for developing therapies for cardiac regeneration, offering hope to patients with heart failure.
In addition to Dr. Abouleisa, other contributors to this research include Lynn A C Devilée, Abou Bakr M Salama, Jessica M Miller, Janice D Reid, Qinghui Ou, Nourhan M Baraka, Kamal Abou Farraj, Madiha Jamal, Yibing Nong, Douglas Andres, Jonathan Satin, and James E Hudson.
For more information, the full study titled “Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of LTCC promotes cardiomyocyte proliferation through inhibition of calcineurin activity” can be accessed in the journal “npj Regenerative Medicine” (DOI: 10.1038/s41536-025-00389-z).
This research was conducted in collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine and the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane, Australia.
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