2023-11-28 12:15:16
Scientists have identified a key player in the heart formation process. It plays an essential role in the transformation of the heart from a delicate structure to a strong, beating organ. This is Neuregulin-1 (Nrg1).
The team led by Dr. José Luis de la Pompa, from the National Cardiovascular Research Center (CNIC) in Spain,
The discovery not only highlights the pathways through which the human heart is formed, but also offers essential clues for future medical advances. Thus, says Dr. De la Pompa, head of the Laboratory of Intercellular Signaling in Development and Cardiovascular Disease at the CNIC, “by understanding these fundamental processes, scientists are one step closer to solving the mysteries of the human heart, and to promote healthier hearts.”
The heart is the engine of our body, and to function correctly it depends on specialized parts. One of these components is the ventricles, essential chambers of the heart and responsible for its rhythmic beats, which play a crucial role in pumping blood throughout our lives.
Scientists have long been deeply curious about how these vital chambers, initially structured as thin layers called trabeculae, grow and mature into the solid structures that keep our hearts beating.
Neuregulin-1 induces changes in actin filaments during ventricular maturation. An embryonic murine heart shows a striated pattern corresponding to mature trabecular sarcomeres (green). The inset shows the differences in luminosity that highlight the more organized network of actin filaments in the trabecular versus the compact myocardium. (Image: CNIC)
Trabeculae: The Master Plan of the Heart
The trabeculae, explains Joaquín Grego-Bessa, first author of the study, are like the scaffolding of the heart, providing support as it grows. “Let’s think of them as small, primitive projections that form the base of the heart.” Understanding how these structures evolve into mature ventricles is not only fascinating for biologists, but also has immense potential for regenerative medicine, offering possible insights into heart-related conditions and treatments.
Researchers have identified a key player in this process: Nrg1, a signaling protein that guides the formation of trabeculae. However, the intricate mechanisms by which Nrg1 operates and its role in heart wall maturation remain an enigma.
To solve this mystery, CNIC scientists carried out experiments using advanced imaging techniques, genetic analysis and biochemical studies in mice. By manipulating Nrg1 levels specifically in cardiac cells, they observed fascinating patterns.
“The experiments showed that Nrg1 acts as a conductor coordinating a symphony of events within cardiac cells,” explains Donal MacGrogan, senior co-author of this study. Thus, he adds, “it influences the way cardiac cells divide and form trabeculae, ensuring that they grow in the right direction.”
Scientists imagine it as a guiding hand that shapes the architecture of the heart. The research observed that, “when Nrg1 levels were altered, cardiac cells behaved differently, causing irregularities in their structure and function. These changes are similar to a stumble in the heart’s growth process, which could cause heart problems in that person in the future,” MacGrogan says.
José Luis de la Pompa emphasizes that understanding how Nrg1 works is not just an intellectual quest, but “could pave the way for revolutionary treatments in the future.”
That’s right, he adds, since by deciphering the language of cardiac development, “new strategies could be unlocked to repair damaged hearts. “This research not only deepens our knowledge of how our bodies grow and function,” he highlights, “but also provides hope to those fighting heart disease.”
The study is titled “Nrg1 Regulates Cardiomyocyte Migration and Cell Cycle in Ven-tricular Development.” And it is published in the academic journal Circulation Research. (Source: CNIC)
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