The Research
Department I
Cardiac Development and RemodellingProf. Dr. Dr. Thomas Braun
Department II
PharmacologyProf. Dr. Stefan Offermanns
Department III
Developmental GeneticsDr. Didier Stainier
Department IV
Lung Development and RemodellingProf. Dr. Werner Seeger
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Heart Regeneration in the newt Notophthalmus viridescens
Scientific Background
Mammalians show only very little capacity to regenerate their hearts. After substantial injury of the myocardium, contractile tissue is irreplaceably lost. Instead the heart responds with fibrosis and scar formation. Numerous approaches have been made to improve cardiac function in mammalians, like the induction of cardiomyocyte cell cycle reentry or the application of stem/progenitor cells from skeletal muscle or bone marrow origin. Promising results from preclinical studies have initiated a number of clinical trials in patients with acute myocardial infarction or end stage cardiac failure. Unfortunately, none of the clinical trials could demonstrate a major improvement of cardiac function in human patients.
The newt Notopthalmus viridescens can completely replace lost appendages like limb and tail, lens and retina and parts of the central nervous system. Moreover, after partial amputation or mechanical damage, newts can rebuild functional myocardium with no scar formation. The scientific project aims to obtain a detailed understanding of the molecular processes of heart regeneration in the newt, leading to the development of approaches, efficiently stimulating regenerative pathways in mammalian hearts.
Group members:
Marc Bruckskotten, Nadine Biesemann, Sven Griep, Mario Looso, Christian Michel, Tanja Piatkowski, Jia Shen
Contact:
Dept. I - Cardiac Development and Remodelling
Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research
Ludwigstrasse 43
D-61231 Bad Nauheim
Tel.: +49 (0)6032 705-1111 (office)
Tel.: +49 (0)6032 705-1165 (lab)