After a heart attack, an SOS distress signal is turned on which mobilizes specific heart repair cells from the bone marrow to the injured heart. Such findings were discovered by researchers at the McEwen Centre for Regenerative Medicine at Toronto General Hospital.

It was previously known that bone marrow cells have the ability to clear the dead tissue after a heart attack. But it hasn't been demonstrated until now (in this study) that the role of bone marrow adult stem cells is critically important in repairing damaged heart, thereby restoring its function and enhancing the growth of new blood vessels.

"These cells act like generals in a battlefield, explained Dr. Shafie Fazel, cardiac surgery resident at TGH, University of Toronto surgeon/scientist program fellow and lead author of the study.

"When damaged heart tissue sends out an 'SOS' distress signal, this subset of bone marrow cells mobilizes quickly and stimulates the growth of new blood vessels in the heart. This is the first step in repairing the heart and in preventing the vicious downward spiral of heart failure in which the heart progressively thins and dilates, eventually causing death."

This new study entitled, "Cardioprotective c-kit+ cells are from the bone marrow and regulate the myocardial balance of angiogenic cytokines" is published July 3 in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Read more at EurekAlert.

Photo Credit: SMM