University of California Television (UCTV)

Can Stem Cells Repair a Damaged Heart?

A version of this video with audio description track is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibmyHzBeoA8 Heart regeneration faces two connected challenges: replacing lost muscle and keeping transplanted cells safe and accepted by the body. Charles Murry, M.D., Ph.D., of USC explains why the adult heart heals major cardiomyocyte loss with scar tissue rather than new muscle, leading to progressive heart failure. Murry describes how stem cell derived cardiomyocytes can be manufactured at scale, transplanted into injured hearts, and tested for function in animal models. He also examines major barriers, including graft related arrhythmias, calcium handling stress, immune rejection, and the need for practical immunosuppression or immune edited cells. By connecting cell manufacturing, electrophysiology, immunology, and clinical trial planning, this research shows why heart regeneration is difficult and why careful translation matters for patients with severe heart injury. [Show ID: 40853] 0:00 Why the adult heart struggles to regenerate 2:34 Why cell transplantation could add new muscle 3:15 How stem cells are made into heart cells 15:30 Controlling graft related arrhythmias 19:06 Calcium leaks and transplant stress 31:57 Autologous cells and immune rejection 36:14 Immunosuppression for mismatched cells 38:31 Moving heart regeneration toward patients Donate to UCTV to support informative & inspiring programming: https://www.uctv.tv/donate Please Note: Knowledge about health and medicine is constantly evolving. This information may become out of date. More videos from: Sanford Stem Cell Institute Seminar Series (https://www.uctv.tv/stem-cell/stem-cell-seminar/) More from: Stem Cell Channel (https://www.uctv.tv/stem-cell) Explore More Health & Medicine on UCTV (https://www.uctv.tv/health) UCTV features the latest in health and medicine from University of California medical schools. Find the information you need on cancer, transplantation, obesity, disease and much more. Explore More Science & Technology on UCTV (https://www.uctv.tv/science) Science and technology continue to change our lives. University of California scientists are tackling the important questions like climate change, evolution, oceanography, neuroscience and the potential of stem cells. UCTV is the broadcast and online media platform of the University of California, featuring programming from its ten campuses, three national labs and affiliated research institutions. UCTV explores a broad spectrum of subjects for a general audience, including science, health and medicine, public affairs, humanities, arts and music, business, education, and agriculture. Launched in January 2000, UCTV embraces the core missions of the University of California -- teaching, research, and public service – by providing quality, in-depth television far beyond the campus borders to inquisitive viewers around the world. (https://www.uctv.tv) FAQ Q: Can stem cells regenerate heart muscle after a heart attack? A: The adult heart has limited ability to replace large amounts of lost cardiomyocytes after injury, so it heals with scar tissue. Murry explains an approach that grows cardiomyocytes from stem cells and transplants them to add new muscle. In animal studies, transplanted human cardiomyocytes survived, beat together, and improved heart function. Q: Why can stem cell based heart regeneration cause arrhythmias? A: Murry explains that transplanted cardiomyocytes can initially behave like pacemaker cells and create a fast, abnormal rhythm. His team traced the problem to immature cell behavior, ion channels, transplant stress, and calcium leaks inside the cells. They tested gene editing and drug approaches to reduce this arrhythmia burden. Q: Why is the immune system a major barrier to heart regeneration? A: Stem cell therapies must survive in the body long enough to repair tissue. Murry describes tests of autologous cells, which come from the same individual, as well as mismatched allogeneic cells, which can be rejected by the immune system. His team is studying immunosuppression and immune editing as possible paths forward. The adult heart cannot replace large amounts of lost muscle on its own. Chuck Murry’s team is testing whether stem cell derived cardiomyocytes can add new muscle after severe injury. The path forward depends on solving arrhythmias, calcium stress, and immune rejection.