Scientists in Australia have uncovered evidence that human heart tissue can regenerate after a heart attack. Researchers observed new heart muscle cells forming in damaged areas, challenging the long-standing belief that the human heart can only heal by creating non-beating scar tissue.
The study, led by cardiologist Dr. Robert Hume at University of Sydney, analyzed living human heart tissue from organ donors and bypass surgery patients. Using RNA sequencing and metabolic analysis, the team identified environments where cardiomyocytes began dividing, similar to regenerative processes previously seen only in animals.
While the regeneration observed is not yet strong enough to prevent long-term damage or heart failure, researchers say the discovery opens the door to future therapies that could amplify this natural repair process.