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Molecular switch that promotes heart cell maturation discovered


May 12, 2015

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The difficulty in getting stem cells to mature into more adult-like heart cells has hindered the search for regenerative treatments for hearts damaged by disease. A molecular switch has now been discovered that appears to help embryonic heart cells switch from a glucose to fatty acid-based metabolism. They become larger, stronger, and look and act like more mature heart cells. This discovery may lead to lab methods to grow heart cells that function more like those in adult hearts.Full Story

Source
University of Washington Health Sciences/UW Medicine

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