Heart Tissue Regeneration Techniques

Stem Cell Therapy 2.0: Harnessing the Power of Mitochondrial Autophagy The article discusses a recent study explaining how mitochondrial transfer therapy restores damaged heart muscle function. Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital found that transferring small amounts of mitochondria from a patient's healthy skeletal muscle cells to their damaged heart muscle cells can significantly improve heart function and help wean children off ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) after congenital heart disease or ischemia-reperfusion injury. The study's findings are truly groundbreaking. Contrary to previous assumptions, the transferred mitochondria don't directly power the heart cells. Instead, they initiate a process called autophagy, where the heart cells break down and recycle their underperforming mitochondria. This leads to a more robust pool of mitochondria within the cells, enhancing their energy production and overall fitness. The researchers are now delving into ways to optimize this therapy, such as engineering off-the-shelf mitochondria or directly triggering the autophagy pathways without transplanting mitochondria. The practical implications of this therapy in cardiac transplantation, particularly for donor hearts after circulatory death (DCD), are immense. These hearts often suffer from ischemic damage. The potential of mitochondrial transfer to preserve and enhance the function of these hearts post-transplantation is a beacon of hope in the field of regenerative medicine. This research represents a significant advancement in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine, as it provides a new understanding of how mitochondrial transfer works and opens up possibilities for optimizing and expanding its use in various heart conditions. The future of stem cell therapy is poised to be shaped by groundbreaking approaches that harness the body's innate regenerative mechanisms. Mitochondrial transfer therapy stands as a shining testament to the potential of stem cell-based therapies. It demonstrates how we can harness the power of cellular rejuvenation and repair without necessarily relying on direct cell replacement or integration. This innovative approach could herald a new era of more effective and widely applicable regenerative therapies, transcending the boundaries of heart disorders. We will hear and see much more about this. JP https://lnkd.in/eK_AgTwd

Imagine repurposing a spinach leaf to help mend human cardiac tissue. It might sound far-fetched, but scientists have discovered that the intricate vein system of a leaf could serve as a biological scaffold for growing new heart cells. How Does It Work? - Decellularization: The plant cells are stripped away, leaving behind the leaf’s delicate vascular network. - Vascular Network: These thin veins mirror the complexity of tiny blood vessels - key for transporting oxygen and nutrients in human tissues. - Seeding with Human Cells: Researchers introduce heart cells onto the leaf’s framework, allowing the cells to grow around the leaf’s vein-like structure. - Simulating Blood Flow: Remarkably, the leaf’s channels can even help pump fluids, providing an environment for developing tissue. This technique targets a core challenge in regenerative medicine: recreating the fragile vascular networks that keep tissues alive. Though still in the early stages, it shows promise in illustrating how nature’s existing designs can address human medical needs - prompting new questions about whether we can adapt other natural structures for tissue repair or even organ fabrication. Could leveraging the inherent complexity of plant veins open the door to more efficient or affordable ways to regenerate human organs? #innovation #technology #future #management #startups

Regenerative therapy to treat heart failure is more effective when the mitochondria of the regenerative cells are activated prior to treatment. Hokkaido University, Japan. February 21, 2024. Excerpt: Heart failure remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, demanding advanced treatment options. Despite the urgency for more effective treatments, options for severe heart failure remain limited. Cell transplantation therapy has emerged as a promising ray of hope, as it can be used in regenerative therapy to heal the heart. A research team led by Professor Yuma Yamada of Hokkaido University’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science has developed a technique to promote cardiac regeneration by delivering mitochondrial activators to cardiac progenitor cells. Their findings were published in the Journal of Controlled Release. “Cardiomyocytes efficiently use mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle to produce large amounts of adenosine triphosphate from several substrates via oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS),” explains Yamada. “Based on the energy metabolism of cardiomyocytes, we hypothesized activating mitochondrial function of transplanted cells may improve the outcome of cell transplantation therapy.” Note: Yamada and his group have previously developed a drug delivery system called MITO-Porter, which targets mitochondria within cells. In the current study, they used MITO-Porter to deliver Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) to human cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), activating their mitochondria (human MITO cells). When these human MITO cells were transplanted into a rat model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, cardiac function significantly improved. A remarkable ability to suppress myocardial fibrosis was also demonstrated, which could prevent incorrect healing of heart tissue. Human MITO cells exhibited the ability to improve cardiac function not only through myocardial administration but also with intravenous administration, hinting at versatile therapy applications. The study also suggests human MITO cells may possess a higher survival rate even in environments characterized by increased Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which occurs due to mitochondrial damage. “The strides made in mitochondrial activation bring us closer to a future where cardiac therapy is not just a treatment but a transformative intervention. As we unlock the secrets within our cells, a healthier and more resilient heart stands on the horizon, promising a new dawn in the fight against heart failure,” Yamada concludes. Publication: Journal of Controlled Release Volume 367, March 2024, Pages 486-499 Human cardiosphere-derived cells with activated mitochondria for better myocardial regenerative therapy https://lnkd.in/ewH2vDFR

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀? 🫀🌿 Researchers have developed an innovative way to address a key challenge in tissue regeneration: Creating a vascular system to deliver blood deep into engineered tissues. By using decellularized spinach leaves as scaffolds, scientists successfully grew human heart cells on the plant’s veins, demonstrating the potential for plant-based scaffolds in tissue engineering. This approach could one day help grow heart muscle layers for patients recovering from heart attacks. Read more: https://bit.ly/4j8rwbw #HealthcareInnovation #TissueEngineering #Cardiology #RegenerativeMedicine #VascularBiology #HeartHealth #BiomedicalResearch #Bioengineering #SpinachHeart #TissueRegeneration #FutureOfMedicine #HeartCare #AIInHealthcare #Biomaterials #MedicalResearch #PatientCare #PlantBiology #CardiacRecovery #HeartAttackTreatment #HealthcareTech

Oxytocin has been found to stimulate heart stem cells — regenerating heart tissue after injury. Oxytocin, popularly known as the “love hormone,” may soon play a vital role in heart repair, according to a new study by researchers at Michigan State University. In experiments with zebrafish and human cell cultures, oxytocin was shown to activate heart stem cells known as Epicardium-derived Progenitor Cells (EpiPCs). T hese cells can transform into cardiomyocytes—the muscle cells responsible for heartbeats—and help regenerate heart tissue following injury. This finding could pave the way for groundbreaking treatments to regenerate damaged human hearts after heart attacks. The study revealed that zebrafish dramatically increase oxytocin production after heart injury, which stimulates EpiPCs to rebuild lost heart tissue. Remarkably, oxytocin had a similar effect on human heart cells in laboratory conditions, performing better than other tested molecules. Since oxytocin is already widely used for medical purposes, researchers are hopeful about its potential to be repurposed for cardiac therapy. The next steps involve testing oxytocin’s effects in humans post-heart injury and possibly developing longer-lasting versions of the hormone for clinical use. learn more https://lnkd.in/dSQ2JjQ2