Blocking A Matrix Forming Protein to Avoid Heart Failure

Heart disease had become a very common disease and the leading cause of death worldwide. Multiple studies are being done to find the new treatment therapy to stop heart failure at their initial levels.

A new study done by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Heart Institute reported that blocking a protein which forms matrix might prevent heart failure.  In their research, scientist applied experimental molecular therapy to block protein which forms a matrix in the heart cells damaged by heart attacks. This therapy can reduce the level of damaged muscle tissue.

Fibronectin is the glycoprotein whose function is to form the cell supporting matrix and repairs tissue after injury. But after heart attacks, fibronectin level increases which lead to overproduction of connective tissues hence forming a matrix in heart cells. In addition, fibronectin also causes the agitated production of clogged and dysfunctional cardio myofibroblast cell which cause more damage to the heart.

To stop this overreaction of fibronectin, scientist synthesized a peptide called puR1 which can block the fibronectin in injured heart cells. puR1 is a compound which attaches itself to the surface points on fibronectin thus inhibiting its effect on injured heart cells. The treatment prevented the heart cell from failure coupled with restoring their function. puR1 is a compound which attaches itself to the surface points on fibronectin thus inhibiting its effect on injured heart cells. The treatment prevented the heart cell from failure coupled with restoring their function.

“Our data are a strong proof of principle and the first to show that inhibiting fibronectin polymerization preserves heart function, reduces left ventricle remodeling and limits formation of fibrotic connective tissue,” said the study’s lead investigator Burns Blaxall, PhD, director of translational research in the Heart Institute and the Center for Translational Fibrosis Research.

Researchers say that extensive additional research is needed before they can use this experimented therapy to treat human heart patients which means they still need to do further study to establish the proof-of-principal effectiveness of this therapy for treating heart failure. Researchers also are working to refine the pUR4 peptide to enhance its capabilities for localized administration to the heart and for extended-release in patients