Despite medical advancements in recent years, there is no effective way of restoring damaged arteries in patients suffering from coronary artery disease. However, researchers from Stanford University discovered cells that can grow into new arteries and refurbish blood supply without supplanting a heart.
By studying an embryonic mouse heart, the scientists found that the arteries' smooth muscle is drawn from cells called pericytes, which cover the tiny capillary blood vessels. Pericytes wait for signals from the Notch 3 protein to generate into a smooth muscle sheath needed to cover larger artery walls.
These pericytes cells are also found in an adult human heart. Its existence could be an indicator that they could be coaxed to perform a self-repair system. Scientists are hopeful that by delivering the correct molecular signals to coax the pericytes into smooth muscle cells, they can be transformed from small blood vessels into large true arteries in an injured heart.
"Whenever you have a blockage in a coronary artery, the blood supply is cut off, and you need a new supply. We want to coax arteries to form and grow around the blocked area," said lead researcher Kristy Red-Horse who worked with Katharina Volz. Both are from Stanford University.
The initial test was done using lab mice, paving the way towards the creation of natural bypass therapy and treatments that can make the cells form new arteries. While the research team has yet to conduct studies on a human heart, the shared physiology of mice and humans can lead to further findings that could be used on real-life scenarios.
When perfected, the procedure can be given to heart attack patients post-surgery or pre-surgery as a form of precaution, giving patients more security of having additional arteries that can re-route the blood supply if the existing ones become blocked.
Current treatments for coronary artery disease includes angioplasty, which involves the removal of the matter that causes the obstruction in the arteries. Another treatment is bypass surgery, which involves removing a blood vessel or redirecting it from one part to the narrowing areas, forming a 'bridge' to bypass the blockages.
The scientists are now looking into how pericytes can be stimulated through the introduction of molecules that signal Notch 3.
The scientists published their study in the eLife journal on Oct. 19, 2015.
