Scientists have developed a hybrid biomaterial that could help slow or reverse the aging of the heart.
- A new study examines how a lesser-known part of cell biology may
impact the aging heart.
- Specifically, the scientists investigate the extracellular matrix,
which helps support the structure of cells, among other things.
- The authors hope that their study might lead to innovative ways to
slow and even reverse the aging of the heart.
As we grow
older, the body’s organs and systems tend to slow and become less efficient,
and the heart is no exception.
According
to the authors of a new study, the extracellular matrix (ECM) may play a
pivotal role in the decline in cardiac function that we see with age.
They hope
that their research, which utilizes an innovative new material, may one day
help us slow this process. Here, we will explain their study and what the
future may hold.
We will
also provide tips for reducing heart aging that you can start today.
What is the extracellular matrix?
The
Depending
on where in the body it is, it generally provides structural support, stops
different tissues from sticking together, enhances cell-to-cell communication,
and assists in wound healing.
Why does
it matter for heart health?
ECM and the aging heart
According to the authors of the recent paper, which appears
in
They
explain that these ECM changes may play a part in the stiffening of the cardiac
muscle that occurs as we grow older. Age-related changes trigger so-called
cardiac fibroblasts, which can lead to fibrosis: A buildup of connective
tissue, as seen in scarring.
Although
fibrosis is an important function and helps repair heart tissue after damage,
when it is uncontrolled, it leads to a stiffer, less flexible ECM. In the case
of the heart, this can make it less efficient at pumping blood.
Focusing
on the ECM is relatively novel. “Most aging research focuses on how cells
change over time,” explains Jennifer Young, senior author of the study and
assistant professor at the Mechanobiology Institute of the National University
of Singapore. “Our study looks instead at the ECM and how changes in this
environment affect heart aging.”
DECIPHER: A hybrid biomaterial
To help uncover the role of the ECM in heart health, the team
designed a new, hi-tech model called DECellularized In Situ Polyacrylamide
Hydrogel-ECM hybrid (DECIPHER).
This model
was created using heart tissue from a rat and a lab-created gel that shares
physical properties with ECM.
Previously,
the authors explain, it was unclear whether changes in cell signaling or
changes in tissue stiffness were most responsible for age-related declines in
heart function.
“The
DECIPHER platform solves this problem,” explains Avery Rui Sun, first author of the study, in a press release. He explains
how it allows “researchers to independently control the stiffness and the
biochemical signals presented to the cells — something no previous system using
native tissue has been able to do.”
In other
words, they could adjust the model and see what happens when cell signalling
occurs as it does in a young heart, but with an older, stiffer ECM. Conversely,
they could mimic the biochemical signals of an aged heart with a young,
flexible ECM.
They found
that “young” cell signaling outweighed the negative effects of the stiffer ECM.
In reverse, young cells placed on “aged” ECM showed signs of dysfunction.
This
implies that “the biochemical environment around aged heart cells matters more
than stiffness,” explains Young.
What does it all mean?
Medical News
Today reached
out to Nishant Kalra, MD, an
interventional cardiologist, chief medical officer at VitalSolution — an
Ingenovis Health company — who was not involved in the study.
“Surface
molecules (ligands) found in young heart tissue can prevent the activation of
fibrosis-promoting cells, even when the tissue is as stiff as aged heart
tissue, which points to new ways to target the extracellular environment to
slow heart aging,” he told us.
HUMAN
STUDIES NEXT
“This work provides a platform for
identifying molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets to prevent
or reverse age-related cardiac dysfunction. While promising, human translation
requires further validation, as the study used rat cells.”— Nishant Kalra, MD
Although
intriguing, it will be countless studies and many years before these results
will lead to new treatments. However, there are many science-backed lifestyle
changes that will support your heart as you age.
How to protect your heart as you age
We asked Kalra for some tips on maintaining heart health.
“For lifestyle-based prevention of heart aging, the most evidence-based
strategies are:”
- Regular aerobic exercise: At least 150 minutes of
moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity
per week
- Adherence to a healthy dietary
pattern: Emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while
limiting saturated and trans fats, cholesterol, and sodium, such as by
adopting the Mediterranean or DASH
diets.
- Stop smoking: Tobacco damages blood vessels
and increases the risk of heart disease.
- Adequate sleep: Aim for 7–9 hours of quality sleep
per night. Sleep deprivation can negatively impact heart health.
- Weight management: Obesity is a major risk factor
for heart disease.
- Stress reduction: Find healthy ways to manage
stress, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time in nature.
“These
behaviors,” he continued, “are consistently associated with reduced biological
and cardiovascular aging, as shown in large epidemiological studies and
supported by the American Heart Association.”
MNT also
reached out to Daniel Atkinson, MD, a family physician from
the United Kingdom, working for a private healthcare company called Treated. He
also advised reducing alcohol intake.
“Keep it
below 14 units (roughly 4–5 drinks) per week, avoid drinking more than 3 drinks
in any one session, and give your body (and heart and liver) a break from
alcohol for at least one continuous 48-hour period each week.”
— Daniel Atkinson, MD
“Excess
alcohol consumption carries a few health risks,” Atkinson said, “and among
these is the effect it can have on raising blood pressure, which elevates your
risk of heart disease.”
He
explained how drinking alcohol in excess can weaken the heart muscles, making
it more difficult for the heart to pump blood around the body.
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