Researchers at the National University of Singapore have made a groundbreaking discovery that could lead to new therapies for aging hearts. By studying the extracellular matrix, a complex framework that surrounds and supports heart cells, they found that certain effects of aging in the heart can be slowed and even reversed.
The team developed a hybrid biomaterial called DECIPHER, which mimics the stiffness and composition of the ECM and allows researchers to control its biochemical signals. They placed aged heart cells onto scaffolds with “young” ECM cues and found that the cells began to behave more like young cells, even when the material remained stiff.
This suggests that restoring the biochemical environment around aging heart cells could help reverse some of the damage and improve heart function over time. In contrast, young cells on “aged” ECM showed signs of dysfunction, even if the scaffold was soft.
The researchers believe their findings open up a new direction for therapies aimed at preserving or restoring heart health during aging. The DECIPHER method could be applied to studying aging and disease in other organs, such as kidney and skin tissue, due to the major role of the ECM in cell function across all tissues.
This study provides hope for developing new treatments that target the ECM itself, rather than just the cells, which could lead to more effective therapies for age-related diseases.
Source: https://www.labonline.com.au/content/life-scientist/article/biomaterial-helps-to-reverse-aging-in-the-heart-703266476