Brazilian scientists develop a molecule capable of treating heart failure | Science and health



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USP researchers have developed a molecule that can improve the treatment of heart failure, a problem that affects people who have had a heart attack, Chagas disease, or even heart disease. hypertension. The research, the result of ten years of study, was published this Friday (18) in the journal Nature Communications.

Named for "Samba", acronym for "Selective Antagonist Mitofusin 1 and Beta2-PKC Association", the molecule created by scientists was tested on rats. According to the coordinator of the study, Professor Julio Cesar Batista Ferreira, of the USP, she was able to improve the problem at the heart of animals by preventing the connection between two proteins present in the cells of the body. organ.

When they come together, says Ferreira, these two proteins damage the "engine" of the cells of the heart – the mitochondria. This causes the body to lose the ability to contract and relax: hence heart failure.

  The mitochondria (in yellow) are the place where the problem arises with the proteins and where the samba acts to prevent the connection between them. - The mitochondrion (in yellow) is where the problem arises with the proteins and where the samba acts to prevent the connection between them. - Photo: Márcio Ribeiro Campos (USP) <img clbad = "picture content-media__image" itemprop = "contentUrl" alt = "The mitochondria (yellow) is where the problem occurs to proteins, and where Samba works by preventing binding between them – The mitochondria (in yellow) is where the problem arises with proteins and where samba acts to prevent the connection between them – Photo: Márcio Campos Ribeiro (USP) "data-src =" https://s2.glbimg.com/WdAjoklLkk-LQAwScFT6yFTsSU=/0x12:1585/757/1008×0/smart/filters:strip_icc()/is The mitochondrion (in yellow) is the Where the problem is with protein and where Samba acts to prevent the connection [/ M] [/ m] [/ m] [/ m] [edit] "In order to understand what is happening in a sick heart, scientists looked at the abandoned hearts of transplant patients. # 39; organ. "They then found that If the problem was developed, there was such a link between the proteins.

Gr this to the promising result of the application of Samba in mice, the molecule could in the future be a possibility of treatment of heart failure in humans, but according to Ferreira, the treatments for heart failure, although they help the patient, do not guarantee good quality or life expectancy. Samba represents a possibility of additional effect to what already exists today, he says.

Scientists have already filed a patent application for the molecule and its application in the United States. In addition to the USP team, researchers from Stanford University and Case Western, USA, also participated in the study.

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