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News
Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine have identified a previously unknown "perivascular" cell type that helps regulate blood vessel growth in the heart. Found in zebrafish, these cells surround coronary vessels and produce signals that control how much new vasculature forms — and when to stop. The discovery could one day guide efforts to regenerate the human heart after a heart attack.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have identified a brand-new type of cell that plays a key role in regulating blood vessel growth in the heart. Published in Nature Communications, the study — conducted in zebrafish — found that these "perivascular" cells surround coronary blood vessels and produce a collagen-derived signal that controls how much vascular expansion occurs, essentially telling the heart when to stop building new vessels.
The cells are generated by epicardial progenitor cells (found in the thin outer layer of the heart) in response to low oxygen levels, or hypoxia. A master regulator gene called scxa acts as the switch, directing progenitor cells to become these specialized perivascular cells during development or after injury. A related gene, SCX, exists in humans, but after a heart attack it currently activates scar-forming cells rather than regenerative ones — a hurdle researchers hope to eventually overcome.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Heart disease remains a leading cause of death globally, and the human heart has very limited ability to repair itself after injury. This discovery adds a new piece to the regeneration puzzle, potentially pointing toward future therapies — like a "biological bandage" — that could one day help damaged hearts heal more effectively.
