Heart attack and stress hormones

The available drug started the regeneration of the heart after a heart attack

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

First, scientists discovered the important role of stress hormones in the regeneration of the heart, and then blocked a new mechanism, which led to the restoration of tissue. The experiments used a drug approved for humans, so the new strategy potentially opens up previously inaccessible opportunities in the treatment of stroke and heart attack.

An international team of researchers led by scientists from the University of Bologna found that glucocorticoids act as a brake on the regenerative ability of the heart, and their blocking, on the contrary, promotes tissue repair, writes EurekAlert. Steroid hormones glucocorticoids play an important role in the development, metabolism, regulation of homeostasis, as well as in the management of stressful situations.

Article by Pianca et al. Glucocorticoid receptor antagonization propels endogenous cardiomyocyte proliferation and cardiac regeneration published in the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research – VM.

First, scientists discovered an increase in the activity of glucocorticoids in the postnatal period and suggested that they contribute to the maturation of heart muscle cells to the detriment of their replication and proliferation. Observations of laboratory mice confirmed this hypothesis.

Then they removed the glucocorticoid receptor from mice with myocardial infarction, which led to the regeneration of heart tissue within a few weeks. Similar results were achieved with the help of a receptor inhibitor drug that has already been approved for human treatment.

Now scientists are working on studying all the details of the regeneration mechanism in order to find additional regenerative stimuli for more effective recovery after stroke and heart attack. If successful, their approach can help millions of patients prevent the development of heart failure and other serious heart diseases.

Another experimental heart regeneration strategy was previously presented by scientists from the USA. Treatment is based on the discovery of two transcription factors that trigger cardiomyocyte replication.

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