A team of scientists have developed a beating “mini heart” in a tiny petri dish in the lab, paving the way for future treatments.
Using 35,000 pluripotent stem cells that are rolled into a ball using a centrifuge (rapid spinning machine), the groundbreaking development has been completed, according to Jam Press.
Eager to learn more about the early stages of human heart development and develop treatments for a number of different defects, experts led by Dr. Alessandra Moretti, professor of regenerative cardiovascular medicine, from the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany, performed the procedure.
According to a certain protocol, various signaling molecules were added to the cell culture for several weeks.
“In this way, we mimic the signaling pathways in the body that control the developmental program of the heart,” explained Dr. Moretti.
The resulting “organelle” (living parts or bodies found in the cytoplasm of a eukaryotic cell) is about half a millimeter in diameter, and although it does not pump blood, it can be electrically stimulated and contracted like a human heart.
It is believed that the human heart begins to form about three weeks after conception, when most mothers are unaware of their pregnancy.
While research on animal hearts cannot be transferred to human research, experts hope this groundbreaking development will provide answers.
Explorers grew up #organelles made from #pluriopotent#stem cells imitate development of human heart in laboratory and study of heredity #heart diseases: https://t.co/2aMwzSjSGE#Cardiovascular diseases
????A.Moretti
– Technical University of Munich (@TU_Müenchen) April 5, 2023
For the first time in the world, a team from the Technical University of Munich managed to create an “organelle” from the cells of the outer layer of the heart wall (pericardium or epicardium) and myocardial cells.
Study author Dr Anna Meyer said: “In order to understand how the heart is formed, the cells of the pericardium are critical. Other types of cells in the heart, such as those in connective tissues and blood vessels, develop from these cells. The pericardium also plays an important role. very important role in the formation of the chambers of the heart.”
After analyzing individual cells, the scientists found that progenitor cells (biological cells that can divide and differentiate into certain types of cells) recently found in mice formed around the seventh day of organelle development.
Scientists hope that these findings will shed light on why the fetal heart is able to repair itself, something the adult heart is almost unable to do.
With this information, researchers can develop new treatments for a wide range of heart conditions, including heart attacks.
Source: Independent
