University of Sydney researchers find human heart can regenerate muscle cells after infarction

Researchers at the University of Sydney, in collaboration with the Baird Institute and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, have discovered that the human heart possesses an intrinsic regenerative potential following an ischemic injury. While it was previously believed that damaged cardiac tissue could not repair itself in adults, this study suggests that cardiomyocytes—the muscle cells of the heart—can reactivate proliferation processes to produce new muscle cells.

By analyzing human heart samples collected shortly after an infarction and biopsies taken one to two weeks later, the team identified markers of cell division and metabolic changes in damaged zones. Although this natural process is not sufficient to fully replace all lost muscle tissue or prevent scarring, the findings provide a new understanding of how the heart responds to injury. Dr. Robert Hume noted that while the heart remains scarred, the production of new muscle cells opens new possibilities for regenerative medicine and the development of strategies to enhance this natural repair mechanism.