Researchers discover protein cardiotrophin 1 that tricks heart into pumping more blood

A protien has been identified by scientist that can help the heart to grow in a healthy way and boost its function by mimicking the effects of exercise. It will help heart failure patients to advance and stay safe.

Researchers, including those from University of Ottawa in Canada, discovered that a protein called cardiotrophin 1 (CT1) can trick the heart into pumping more blood, just as it does in response to exercise and pregnancy.

They also showed that this kind of heart growth is very unique and different from the harmful enlargement of the heart that occurs during heart failure.

"When part of the heart dies, the remaining muscles try to adapt by getting bigger, but this happens in a dysfunctional way and it does not actually help the heart pump more blood," said Lynn Megeney, professor at the University of Ottawa.

"We found that CT1 causes heart muscles to grow in a more healthy way and it also stimulates blood vessel growth in the heart. This actually increases the heart's ability to pump blood, just like what you would see with exercise and pregnancy," Megeney said.

Researchers conducted a variety of studies in mice, rats and cells growing in the lab. In addition to CT-1, some of the studies involved a drug called phenylephrine (PE), which is known to cause the bad kind of heart growth.

"This experimental therapy is very exciting, particularly because it shows promise in treating both left and right heart failure," said Duncan Stewart, a professor at the University of Ottawa.

"Currently, the only treatment for right heart failure is a transplant. And although we have drugs that can reduce the symptoms of left heart failure, we can not fix the problem, and left heart failure often leads to right heart failure over time," Stewart said.
The study was published in the journal Cell Research.

With PTI Inputs