The body seems to retain the stress of heart failure and this may contribute to recurring failure and other health problems, according to recent studies. Researchers have discovered that heart failure creates a ‘stress memory’ by causing changes to the DNA modification of hematopoietic stem cells, which are responsible for producing blood and immune cells known as macrophages. These immune cells are crucial for maintaining heart health.
The stress of heart failure is remembered by the body and appears to lead to recurrent failure, along with other related health issues, according to new re rnrnResearchers have discovered that heart failure can create a “stress memory” by altering the DNA modification of hematopoietic stem cells, which are responsible for producing blood and immune cells known as macrophages. These immune cells are essential for maintaining heart health, but during heart failure, a crucial signaling pathway called transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) is suppressed in the hematopoietic stem cells, leading to a decrease in macrophage production. Enhancing TGF-β levels could potentially be a new approach for treating recurring heart failure.been diagnosed, it is important to find ways to prevent further deterioration of the heart. One promising new approach involves monitoring stress levels as a potential predictor of heart failure. Researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden have been studying the relationship between stress and heart health, and their findings have been quite promising. By analyzing the accumulation of stress memory in the body, they believe they can develop an early warning system for potential heart failure.
With the global focus on improving health and well-being, it is critical to explore new avenues for preventing and treating heart disease. The research on stress and heart health provides an exciting opportunity to intervene before heart failure occurs. This could ultimately save countless lives and improve the quality of life for millions of people around the world.
Researchers in Japan were interested in understanding why heart failure tends to reoccur and lead to other health issues like kidney and muscle problems. They wanted to know if this recurrence and the deterioration of other organs could be prevented. “Based on our previous research, we hypothesized that the recurrence might be due to the accumulation of stress in the body, particularly in hematopoietic stem cells,” explained Project Professor Katsuhito Fujiu from the Graduate School of Medicine at the University of Tokyo. Hematopoietic stem cells are found in bone marrow and are responsible for producing blood cells.A type of immune cell known as macrophages plays a crucial role in maintaining heart health. Researchers observed stress-related changes to the DNA of mice with heart failure, specifically in the epigenome. This resulted in the suppression of an important signaling pathway called transforming growth factor beta in the hematopoietic stem cells of the mice, leading to the production of dysfunctional immune cells. These changes were found to persist over a prolonged period, even after the transplantation of bone marrow from mice with heart failure into healthy ones.In a study on mice, researchers discovered that the stem cells in the mice continued to generate malfunctioning immune cells. As a result, these mice later developed heart failure and became more susceptible to organ damage.
The researchers referred to this phenomenon as “stress memory” because the effects of heart failure were remembered for an extended period and continued to impact the entire body. While other forms of stress may also contribute to this stress memory, the researchers believe that the stress caused by heart failure is particularly significant,” said Fujiu.
The exciting development is that by recognizing and comprehending these changes in the TGF-β signaling pathway, new possibilities have emerged for potential treatments.future treatments. “We might consider completely new therapies to stop the buildup of stress memory during hospitalization for heart failure,” Fujiu noted. “In animals with heart failure, giving additional active TGF-β has shown potential as a treatment. Rectifying the epigenome of hematopoietic stem cells could also help erase stress memory.”
Now that it’s been identified, the team aims to create a system that can detect and prevent the accumulation of stress memory in humans. The long-term goal is not only to prevent the recurrence of heart failure, but also to detect the condition early.n before it can fully develop.
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