Thaindian News

By Ranjan Bhaduri
Feb 2, (THAINDIAN NEWS) A top heart charity of UK started a research project worth $80 million recently to discover the potential of stem cell for regenerating cardiac tissues and mending broken hearts. The British Heart Foundation scientists said that they expect in the next decade experimental drugs may be developed that can help heart cells to regenerate. In the long run it can also help in preventing cardiac failure. In some species of animals including zebra fish cardiac tissue regeneration is evident say the scientists. The scientists launched a fund raising campaign for “mending broken hearts” and said in near future this can be possible for humans as well. Professor Peter Weissberg said “Scientifically, mending human hearts is an achievable goal and we really could make recovering from a heart attack as simple as getting over a broken leg”.

A British team led by University College London’s Professor Paul Riley has identified a protein named thymosin beta 4 that helps in developing heart tissue. Imperial College London’s researchers are trying to cultivate rare latent stem cells that can be grown and harvested in laboratory. The researchers will now try to re-activate the cells in a safe and controlled way.

The researchers are of the opinion that if the research turns out to be a success the day will not be far when heart transplant for humans will no longer remain a necessity. However, there are many stages that the researchers need to go through before they can come up with a solution. The cell development and regeneration in mammals is different compared to that in other species of animals.