Revolutionary Stem-Cell Technology Stabilizes Failing Heart Before Transplant

A promising new stem-cell treatment has achieved a significant breakthrough in the fight against heart failure. Scientists report that a 46-year-old woman with severe heart failure, following a heart attack, was kept stable with the help of laboratory-grown heart muscle patches.

The Patient and Her Condition

In 2016, the woman experienced a severe heart attack, which led to chronic heart failure—a condition where the heart cannot pump sufficient blood to the body. Facing a heart transplant, she participated in an experimental stem-cell clinical trial.

The Stem-Cell Procedure

During surgery, doctors implanted tiny patches of lab-grown heart muscle cells onto the woman’s heart. Each patch contained approximately 400 million heart cells. These patches stabilized her condition until she ultimately received a heart transplant three months later.

“We now have, for the first time, a laboratory-grown biological transplant available which has the potential to stabilize and strengthen the heart muscle,” said Dr. Ingo Kutschka, a heart surgeon at University Medical Center Göttingen in Germany.

Heart Failure and Its Impact

Heart failure affects around 6.7 million adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is a leading cause of death, listed as a contributing factor in more than 450,000 U.S. deaths in 2022.

One of the most pressing challenges in treating heart failure is the limited availability of donor hearts. Over half of individuals with severe heart failure die within a year without a transplant.

The Stem-Cell Solution

To address this shortage, researchers have been exploring alternatives to heart transplants, such as transplantation of heart muscle cells grown from stem cells called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

iPSCs are adult cells reprogrammed back into a pluripotent state, capable of developing into nearly any cell type in the body. By encouraging iPSCs to grow into heart muscle and connective tissues, scientists create tiny patches that can be implanted onto the heart surface.

“The graft is basically outside of the heart,” stated Dr. Jianyi Jay Zhang, an iPSC bioengineering expert at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Animal Trials and Success

Before testing on humans, the researchers conducted experiments on rhesus macaque monkeys with heart failure. After six months, the treated monkeys developed thicker heart walls, pumping up to 10% more blood per heartbeat than untreated monkeys.

During the procedure, the monkeys received immunosuppressant drugs to prevent graft rejection. Results showed no tumors or irregular heartbeats, significant safety concerns in previous studies.

Human Trial and Additional Research

The success of the monkey trial led to human trials, including the 46-year-old woman. Upon her transplant, researchers observed that the patches had formed tiny blood vessels, indicating proper blood and oxygen supply.

“This is clear now, that you can add muscle to the failing heart, and that we can do that without safety concerns,” explained Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann, a pharmacologist at University Medical Center Göttingen.

Scientists are currently conducting further research with 15 patients and working to minimize the use of immunosuppressants in animal trials. The goal is to help patients survive long enough to receive a donor heart without extensive side effects from immunosuppressant drugs.

The Future of Heart Disease Treatment

While not a substitute for heart transplants, this new approach offers hope for those awaiting transplants. It represents a significant step forward in the ongoing battle against heart failure.

“We’ve taken a crucial first step, and there’s so much more potential for developments in this area,” Kutschka added.

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About the Researchers

Dr. Ingo Kutschka: Heart Surgeon, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany.

Dr. Jianyi Jay Zhang: iPSC Bioengineering Expert, University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann: Pharmacologist, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany.

References

For more information on this study, refer to the article in Nature.

For more on heart failure, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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