Singapore researchers develop new stem cell therapy for heart disease

Monday September 1 2008
By Hoe Yeen Nie, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE:

Researchers at Singapore's National Heart Centre have successfully used adult stem cells to treat cardiac disease in lab rats by changing the stem cells into heart-like cells.

This breakthrough can reduce the need for heart transplants in humans.

When humans injure themselves, the body’s healing mechanism will automatically send stem cells to mend the damage and change these cells into the required cell-types needed to repair the organs.

But in a heart attack, these repairs are not carried out fully and in severe cases, the patient may need a transplant or even die.

After six years, researchers at the National Heart Centre have discovered a potentially effective alternative by first turning a patient's adult stem cells into those similar to heart muscle cells in the lab over two to three weeks, before injecting them into the damaged area.

In contrast, researchers elsewhere have focused on using undifferentiated stem cells.

The findings, which were presented at a conference in Munich, have met with positive response.

Dr Philips Wong, head of Research & Development at the National Heart Centre, said, "We have shown that in the rat model, these cells are more effective (and superior) than those used worldwide."

"It increases the pumping action of the heart and secondly, it decreases the swelling of the heart which has long-term detrimental effects on the patient."

Dr Wong said the treatment is not targeted at the treatment of congenital heart disease, but rather, aimed at those who suffer from coronary heart disease, a major killer in Singapore.

"One major advantage of using your own adult stem cells is that there is no risk of rejection by your own body, and therefore no need to take immuno-suppressants. While it can't promise to be a cure for cardiac disease, the treatment can alleviate symptoms and give patients a better quality of life," said Dr Wong.

Preliminary tests on animals have been successful, and the team hopes to conduct human clinical trials within two years.