Research sheds light on regeneration of human heart

In order to restore the reproduction ability of cardiac muscle cells that disappear shortly after birth, researchers have found the theory behind this phenomenon.

Researcher Felix B. Engel from the University of Erlangen claims that he has discovered that the centrosome in cardiac muscle cells undergoes a process of disassembly which is completed shortly after birth.

He added that this disassembly process proceeds by some proteins leaving the centrosome and relocating to the membrane of the cell nucleus in which the DNA is stored and this process causes the centrosome to break down into the two centrioles of which it is composed, and this causes the cell to lose its ability to reproduce.

During the study the researchers have also investigated that whether the state of centrosome integrity is regulated naturally in the animal kingdom in order to control the reproduction of certain cells.

Researcher David Zebrowski said that they were incredibly surprised to discover that the centrosome in the cardiac muscle cells of zebrafish and amphibians remains intact into adulthood.

He added that this is the first time that they have discovered a significant difference between the cardiac muscle cells of mammals and those of zebrafish and amphibians that presents a possible explanation as to why the human heart cannot regenerate.

Further, the researchers have claimed that their research can enable new forms of medical treatment and can help researchers in developing methods of inhibiting the uncontrolled growth of cancer cells.