New stem cell technique offers potential in heart cell production

A research team led by the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a potential new stem cell technique that could be used to create an abundant supply of important heart cells.

Scientists have found that simple manipulation of a key developmental pathway known as Wnt can transform both embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes, the workhorse cells that comprise the beating heart.

Currently, the process of converting blank slate stem cells into specialised heart cells requires a complex bath of serum or growth factors, but this new method could be far more inexpensive and effective.

According to researchers, the new technique has been shown to reliably generate more than 80 percent cardiomyocytes in the final population, whereas other means produce about 30 percent heart cells, with high batch-to-batch variability.

Sean Palecek, senior author of the new report and a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of chemical and biological engineering, said: "The biggest advantage of our method is that it uses small molecule chemicals to regulate biological signals. It is completely defined and therefore more reproducible."

This comes after a recent study from Israel outlined a new means of transforming skin samples into functioning heart muscle cells that are capable of integrating with existing heart tissue.