A team of Japanese researchers announces that they have transplanted heart cells cultivated in the laboratory in a patient.
Cardiomyopathies are diseases that affect the myocardium (the heart muscle). Roughly, this muscle does not receive enough blood. In fact, this prevents the heart from pumping enough to circulate it throughout the body. In the most severe cases, when the patient’s life prognosis is engaged, it is necessary to perform a heart transplant.
However, in addition to the lack of available grafts, this type of procedure is still very risky. Indeed, it involves a lifelong immunosuppressive drug therapy to reduce the risk of rejection. It also requires a close medical surveillance, especially to avoid the risk of infections. That’s why researchers at Osaka University in Japan have been looking into another alternative for the past few years. less risky and less restrictive.
Transplanting heart cells
Rather than replacing the entire organ of the affected patients, the general idea would be to implant heart muscle cells directly on damaged areas of the heart.
On the technical side, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) are taken from the patient first. Simply put, these cells are capable of being reprogrammed in their embryonic state. At this point, the researchers can then encourage them to become the type of cell they want. In this case, they will become heart muscle cells.
Once cultured in the laboratory, these new cells are then integrated into small biodegradable sheets measuring approximately 4 cm wide and 0.1 mm thick. These are then placed on the damaged areas of the heart. Once this “dressing” is installed, the cells can then secrete a protein. This helps regenerate blood vessels, thereby improving the patient’s heart function.
The advantage of this new technique is that it is much easier to obtain iPS cells than whole hearts. In addition, the risk of rejection is almost zero insofar as these cells are taken directly from the patient.
A first successful intervention
This procedure has never been attempted in humans until now. It’s now done. In a clinical trial, the Osaka University surgical team led by Professor Yoshiki Sawa attempted a first intervention on Monday. And the procedure went very well.
Researchers are now planning to monitor this patient’s progress this year. They also hope to perform the same procedure on nine other people suffering from the same pathology over the next three years.
If successful, this new procedure could become in a few years a real alternative heart transplants.
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