A critical new gene has reportedly been discovered by scientists at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute that is hoped could help human hearts repair the damaged heart muscle after a heart attack.
In research recently published in the journal, Science, researchers at the Institute investigated a critical gene known as Klf1 that previously had only been identified in red blood cells.
For the first time they have discovered that this gene plays a vital role in healing damaged hearts.
“Our research has identified a secret switch that allows heart muscle cells to divide and multiply after the heart is injured,” explains Dr Kazu Kikuchi, who led this world-first research, adding that he is astonished by the findings.
“It kicks in when needed and turns off when the heart is fully healed. In humans where damaged and scarred heart muscle cannot replace itself, this could be a game-changer.”
Dr Kikuchi adds that this finding “really has the potential to save many, many lives and lead to new drug developments”.
The gene works by making remaining uninjured heart muscle cells more immature and changing their metabolic wiring. This allows them to divide and make new cells.
Professor Bob Graham, Head of the Institute’s Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics Division, says they hope to utilise this world-first discovery, made in collaboration with the Garvan Institute of Medical Research, to transform the treatment of heart attack patients and other heart diseases.
“The team has been able to find this vitally important protein that swings into action after an event like a heart attack and supercharges the cells to heal damaged heart muscle. It’s an incredible discovery,” says Professor Graham.
“The gene may also act as a switch in human hearts. We are now hoping further research into its function may provide us with a clue to turn on regeneration in human hearts, to improve their ability to pump blood around the body.”
Importantly, the team also found that the Klf1 gene played no role in the early development of the heart and that its regenerative properties were only switched on after a heart injury.
Professor Graham adds: “This is clear evidence that the regeneration you get after a heart injury is not the same as what happens during the development of the heart but involves an entirely different pathway; an issue that has been debated for years.”
