Heart tissue Wikimedia Commons, Nathanael Reveal
For years, scientists have found stem cells lurking in the heart, but they didn’t know whether the cells originated there or migrated from elsewhere through the blood stream. Now, a new study published today (December 1) in Cell Stem Cell describes stem cells that are indeed native to the heart, and can form cell types that could one day be used to help repair damage, such as from a heart attack.
“It’s another fascinating twist on the story of how the heart can maintain and repair itself long term,” said University of Wisconsin, Madison, stem cell biologist Tim Kamp, who was not involved in the study. “They make a strong case that these [cells] are resident within the heart, and are poised to do the ...
