Stem cells no, heart improves immune responses that cause

2019/11/27 Etxebeste Aduriz, Egoitz - Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Osasuna
• Medikuntza

The improvement that occurs when stem cells are introduced into the affected hearts is due to the immune response of the introduction of these cells and not to the stem cells generating new cells in the heart. This is the conclusion they have reached in a recent study published in the journal Nature.

In numerous experiments with animals it has been observed that the introduction of stem cells in hearts that have suffered damage such as Ischemia improves their functioning despite its reduced dimension. And this treatment has already been tested in several clinical sessions with thousands of people. However, the results have been everything and often not very good.

Good recent research has shown that stem cells do not cause the creation of new cells in the heart, as previous studies suggest, but that this cell transplant produces an acute immune response that alters the activity of fibroblasts and improves the mechanical properties of affected tissues. The introduction of unviable stem cells in animals gave the same effects and a chemical compound that gives immune response. Thus, they have come to the conclusion that it is an immune response and not signals that come out of stem cells and help repair the heart.