Immune cells could mend broken hearts

By: Agencies | | Published: January 17, 2014 6:01 pm

A new research has revealed that immune system plays an important role in the heart’s response to injury, suggesting that embryonic macrophages in the heart promote healing after injury. Now, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have shown that two major pools of immune cells are at work in the heart. Both belong to a class of cells known as macrophages. Also Read - 7 reasons why the #BeefBan is good

One appears to promote healing, while the other likely drives inflammation, which is detrimental to long-term heart function. ‘Macrophages have long been thought of as a single type of cell,’ first author Slava Epelman, MD, PhD, instructor in medicine, said. Also Read - When stress can give you a broken heart syndrome

‘Our study shows there actually are many different types of macrophages that originate in different places in the body.Some are protective and can help blood vessels grow and regenerate tissue. Others are inflammatory and can contribute to damage.’ Also Read - Cytotoxic T-cells can be used to check life longevity : Research

Epelman said they found that the heart is one of the few organs with a pool of macrophages formed in the embryo and maintained into adulthood. (Read: Occasional stress good for your heart?)

The heart, brain and liver are the only organs that contain large numbers of macrophages that originated in the yolk sac, in very early stages of development, and they think these macrophages tend to be protective. (Read: Bio-inspired glue can mend `broken hearts`)

Studying mice, Epelman and his colleagues showed that healthy hearts maintain this population of embryonic macrophages, as well as a smaller pool of adult macrophages derived from the blood. (Read: Congenital heart disease – your queries answered)

But during cardiac stress such as high blood pressure, not only were more adult macrophages recruited from the blood and brought to the heart, they actually replaced the embryonic macrophages. The study is published in the journal Immunity. (Read: Drink green tea for weight loss and to keep heart disease at bay!)

Source: ANI

For more articles on diseases and conditions, check out our diseases & conditions section and for videos, check out our YouTube Channel. Don’t miss out on the latest updates. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus.

Published : January 17, 2014 6:01 pm

Read Disclaimer

`Smart contact lenses` which can help patients with glaucoma?

13 milliseconds - The time it takes for your brain to process an image

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com

+91 – 22 – 6697 1234

91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

We respect your privacy

`Smart contact lenses` which can help patients with glaucoma?

13 milliseconds - The time it takes for your brain to process an image

7 reasons why the #BeefBan is good

When stress can give you a broken heart syndrome

Broken Heart Syndrome: Ouch, stress can give you a heart break too, literally

Cytotoxic T-cells can be used to check life longevity : Research

Are you suffering from a broken heart syndrome? Beware of cancer

About The health Site

Useful Links