A new study co-led by Dr. Hesham Sadek, from the University of Arizona’s Sarver Heart Center, has revealed groundbreaking results about artificial hearts and their potential role in regeneratively healing heart muscle tissue. This research could revolutionize treatment for heart failure, a condition affecting nearly 7 million adults across the U.S.
Heart failure, which is associated with about 14% of annual deaths, is recognized as an incurable ailment. Treatment options have been limited primarily to medications aimed at slowing disease progression, heart transplants, or mechanical supports such as left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). These devices act as artificial hearts to help pump blood but do not offer the possibility of muscle regeneration.
The study, published recently in the journal Circulation, examined tissue samples from patients with artificial hearts provided by the University of Utah Health. The unique collaborative effort included international experts, particularly from institutions like the Karolinska Institute. They utilized innovative carbon-dated techniques to understand how regeneratively active these heart muscle cells are among patients living with artificial hearts.
To the researchers' astonishment, they discovered patients with artificial hearts regenerated muscle cells at over six times the rate expected for healthy hearts. Dr. Sadek stated, "This is the strongest evidence we have so far, so far, about human heart muscle cells can actually regenerate," explaining the importance of the findings.
Skeletal muscle, by comparison, has shown significant regeneration abilities, particularly after injury, as demonstrated by sports injuries. "Skeletal muscle has significant ability to regenerate after injury. If you're playing soccer and you tear a muscle, you need to rest it, and it heals," said Dr. Sadek. He highlighted the stark difference with heart muscle, which traditionally has not been able to regrow after injury, leaving physicians without any means to reverse heart muscle loss.
This pivotal study suggests the mechanical support provided by artificial hearts may mimic the necessary conditions for muscle recovery. The hypothesis centers on the notion of 'rest'—while the heart normally continuously pumps blood, the support offered by artificial devices allows it to recuperate. Dr. Sadek explored this analogy, saying, "The pump pushes blood through the aorta, bypassing the heart. The heart is effectively resting." This study provided direct evidence to support the theory of proportional muscle recovery through mechanical devices.
Interestingly, only about 25% of patients with artificial hearts exhibit significant muscle regeneration, prompting Dr. Sadek and his team to investigate what distinguishes these responders from others. He noted, “It’s clear some patients respond and some don’t,” and emphasizes the need for greater investigation to broaden the pool of patients who can experience similar benefits.
The findings suggest future applications of this research may entail targeting the molecular pathways involved in cell division to stimulate heart muscle regeneration, potentially transforming the treatment arena for heart failure patients. "The beauty of this is... we’ve been using them for years," remarked Dr. Sadek, expressing confidence about the future of mechanical hearts as therapeutic tools.
Overall, this promising research work not only opens doors to innovative treatments but perhaps one day, offers hope for curing heart failure altogether. Dr. Sadek aims to continue this line of research, which, if successful, could lead to advanced methodologies for reviving cardiac health and enhancing the lives of millions.
