Fstl1 protein is capable of inducing cardiac muscle cell regeneration

American scientists have conducted biological research on mice and pigs through recombinant rat proteins, and the research showed that a protein called follistatin-like protein 1 (Fstl1) is capable of inducing cardiac muscle cell regeneration after an adult mammalian heart attack. The results suggest that repair of epicardial Fstl1 expression may be the effective way to stimulate the heart "rebirth", opening up a new treatment.

The mammalian heart lacks the ability to fully self-repair a significant number of damaged cardiomyocytes after a heart attack, and the medical community has not been very clear about the factors limiting myocardial regeneration. Fstl1, a member of the extracellular matrix protein family, is found in almost all mammals and is secreted by many cells. It has been shown that Fstl1 possesses the ability to regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and metabolism. But the biological function has not been fully revealed.

This time, Praz Ritz-Rozno of Stanford University and her team showed that Fstl1 is expressed mainly in the epicardium in healthy hearts. Epicardium is a layer of the membrane wrapped around the heart. But after a heart attack, epicardial Fstl1 expression will be missing. The team found that when placing a patch of biochemically mimicked epicardial tissue on the heart of damaged mice and pigs, as a source of Fstl1, it can induce proliferation of cardiomyocytes and improve the function of the heart and their survival in these animal models.

The results of this study suggest that restoration of Fstl1 expression in the epicardium may be an effective way to regenerate cardiomyocytes after a heart attack, thus developing new therapies. Research related papers were published in the 17th issue of the British journal Nature. By the way, Flarebio provides you with superior recombinant proteins including recombinant CDH15 at good prices.