A Kentucky researcher has solved a mystery about how the heart works that has been unsolved for 60 years.
In collaboration with the University of Massachusetts, a team used samples from patients’ donated hearts to create 3D images of the heart’s thick cardiac filaments – which help the heart contract as it beats – at the level of individual molecules.
For reference, scientists have said that if the heart were a continent, they would be working with a few strands of hair.
Kenneth Campbell, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Kentucky, said: “People have been trying to figure out the structure of these filaments for 60 years.”
‘We 1700260841 “We know the molecular structure of thick cardiac filaments and can use this information to develop better therapies.”
The research is especially relevant to people in Kentucky, as the state is one of the worst states for heart disease
Mr Campbell added: “The heart is made up of billions of cells.” Cells are made up of structures called sarcomeres, and inside sarcomeres are what are called thick filaments.
“Each filament consists of about 2,000 molecules arranged in a very complicated structure that scientists have been trying to understand for decades.”
He said the discovery of the structure means the heart muscle can be controlled more precisely than doctors and researchers previously thought.
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The professor added: “We were also curious to see what the structure of myosin-binding protein C, a protein linked to genetic heart disease, is like.” “This gives us a new level of information about how those molecules in the heart.”
The research is particularly relevant to people in Campbell’s home state of Kentucky, as the state has one of the highest rates of heart disease.
“We urgently need better therapies,” he said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in Kentucky, making it one of the top 10 states with the highest death rates from the disease.
The team used heart samples from the Gill Cardiovascular Biorepository, which Mr. Campbell leads the way.
For research purposes, samples from patients who have undergone cardiovascular treatment at the University of Kentucky are given to the institute.
“With the help of a surgeon at the University of Kentucky HealthCare, we began collecting myocardial samples from organ donors and patients receiving heart transplants,” said Mr. Campbell said.
Myocardium is the muscle tissue of the heart.
He added: “Now we have built a huge resource with around 15,000 samples from almost 500 people. We also share these samples with research groups around the world.”
The research was published earlier this month in Nature.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
