Scientists discover a gene that helps the heart regenerate
npj Regenerative Medicine (RM): The CCNA2 gene aids heart recovery after heart attack
The cyclin A2 (CCNA2) gene, which is normally switched off after birth, can reinitiate the division of heart cells and help repair damage caused by heart attacks and heart failure. This conclusion was made by researchers at Mount Sinai Hospital. The study was published in npj Regenerative Medicine.
During the experiments, scientists found that activating CCNA2 using a safe viral vector stimulates the division of cardiac muscle cells in middle-aged adults. This is the first evidence that heart cells—once believed incapable of regeneration—can form new functional tissue.
The experiment used heart cells from donors aged 21, 41, and 55. Therapy involving cyclin A2 activated cell division in the older donors but had no effect on the 21-year-old donor’s young heart, consistent with previous findings about the natural regenerative capacity of young hearts.
Previously, a team led by Dr. Hess Chaudhry demonstrated for the first time that reactivating CCNA2 could restore the heart of a large mammal (a pig) after a heart attack. The new study confirms that the same mechanism can be safely applied to human cells.
According to the researchers, CCNA2 activates growth genes, temporarily “turning back the clock” for heart cells so they can divide without losing maturity or causing tissue thickening. This approach could mark a shift from treating symptoms to truly regenerating the heart muscle.
