Skin grazed pushes back quickly, the dead heart tissue does not exist. This is why cardiac arrest often leads to serious long-term problems. At the University of technology of Vienna, chemical substances have been developed, which turn own the operating body stem cells, beating heart cells. This discovery could open the door to a new type of medicine stem cells.Renewable embryonic can develop into any type of tissue. Adult stem cells can turn into different types of cells, but their potential for differentiation is significantly reduced. “Mechanisms that influence the differentiation of stem cells in tissues are still far from being understood,” says Professor Marko Mihovilovic. However, his research group managed to synthesize substances that control the differentiation process.
Progenitor cells can be transformed into heart cells, which has finally begin to beat in the dish substances.Various Petri dishes are known to influence the development of cardiac tissue. We systematically synthesized and tested substances in cardiogenic potential”, explains Thomas Lindner, PhD student at the University of technology of Vienna. Customized chemical products are then tested on the stem cells of mice at the Medical University of Vienna. “The new derivatives of triazine we use are much more effective to transform stem cells in heart cells and other substances never tested before,” says Marko Mihovilovic. The team from the University of technology of Vienna already patented the new advantage key method.The method developed at the University of technology of Vienna is its flexibility.
Our modular synthesis strategies are a bit like playing with LEGO bricks. A very high degree of complexity can be realized by assembling building blocks very simple,”says Marko Mihovilovic. Many variations of these substances can be produced without having to develop new methods of synthesis for each substance.Now the goal is to transform this pharmacological tool in a pharmaceutical for humans. “It is crucial to unveil the exact mode of action. “We want to know at the molecular level, how our triazine derivatives affect the development of the cell,” said Mihovilovic.We want to open the door to a whole new type of regenerative medicine “, Marko Mihovilovic hope. “For the moment, the transplant medicine dominates, but it would be much better to create tissues in the laboratory, with its own DNA of the patient, so that the risk of tissue rejection is completely eliminated.”
Not only the differentiation of stem cells from tissue can be influenced by chemical signals. It is also possible to go in the opposite direction and turn cells differentiated into rear pluripotent cells, which can turn into different types of tissues. “Our vision is to collect cells that are easy to retrieve, such as skin cells, and treat them with a cocktail of different chemicals, creating new fabrics,” says Mihovilovic. Synthetic chemistry will help to overcome the problem that cardiac tissue regenerates so evil. If therapy can be used for human beings, the quality of life of patients could be increased dramatically and the cost of health care could be reduced.