Mechanisms of Cardiac Regeneration

Aysu Uygur; Richard T Lee

doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2016.01.018

Mechanisms of Cardiac Regeneration

Dev Cell. 2016 Feb 22;36(4):362-74. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2016.01.018.

Authors

Aysu Uygur¹, Richard T Lee²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
² Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Brigham Regenerative Medicine Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Electronic address: rlee@bwh.harvard.edu.

Abstract

Adult humans fail to regenerate their hearts following injury, and this failure to regenerate myocardium is a leading cause of heart failure and death worldwide. Although all adult mammals appear to lack significant cardiac regeneration potential, some vertebrates can regenerate myocardium throughout life. In addition, new studies indicate that mammals have cardiac regeneration potential during development and very soon after birth. The mechanisms of heart regeneration among model organisms, including neonatal mice, appear remarkably similar. Orchestrated waves of inflammation, matrix deposition and remodeling, and cardiomyocyte proliferation are commonly seen in heart regeneration models. Understanding why adult mammals develop extensive scarring instead of regeneration is a crucial goal for regenerative biology.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Proliferation / physiology*
Heart / growth & development*
Humans
Mammals
Myocardium / cytology*
Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology*
Regeneration / physiology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding