Scientists discover new type of immune cells that are essential for forming heart valves

UCLA researchers have identified for the first time the origin of an immune cell that plays a critical role in the formation of healthy heart valves. The findings could pave the way for new treatments for heart valve disorders, which can be caused by congenital defects, aging or disease.Their study, led by Dr. Atsushi “Austin” Nakano, a UCLA associate professor of molecular, cell and developmental biology and member of theEli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA, was published in the journal Developmental Cell.Building on previous research by Nakano, which showed that the embryonic heart tube produces blood progenitor cells,the new study found that those cells, in turn, generate specialized immune cells called macrophages. The research also revealed that these heart-derived macrophages are particularly adept at consuming excess tissue, a skill that makes them indispensable to the formation and maintenance of heart valves.The human heart has four valves — tissue-paper thin membranes that constantly open and close to control blood flow through the heart. When the valves do not function properly, blood flow to the body is disrupted, which strains the heart and can lead to heart failure, stroke or sudden death.“When valves are seriously damaged, they cannot be fixed; replacement surgery is the only option,” Nakano said. “Identifying cells that contribute to valve health could reveal targets for new, less-invasive therapies....
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news