Chicago: For the first time, scientists have grown human heart valves using stem cells from the fluid that cushions babies in the womb - offering a revolutionary approach that may be used to repair defective hearts in the future.
The idea is to create the new valves in the lab while the pregnancy progresses and have them ready to implant in a baby after it is born.
The Swiss experiment follows recent successes at growing bladders and blood vessels and suggests that people may one day be able to grow their own replacement heart parts – in some cases, even before they are even born.
It is one of several sci-fi tissue engineering advances that could lead to homegrown heart valves for infants and adults that are more durable and effective than artificial or cadaver valves.
"This may open a whole new therapy concept to the treatment of congenital heart defects," said a University of Zurich scientist who led the work, Simon Hoerstrup.
Japanese researchers said they had grown new heart valves in rabbits using cells from the animals' own tissue. It is the first time replacement heart valves have been created in this manner, said lead author Kyoko Hayashida.
"It's very promising," University of Chicago cardiologist Ziyad Hijazi said of the two studies. "I don't doubt that it will be applied one day in humans,” he said.
Comments
0 comment