Can Mitochondrial Transplants Improve Heart Health and Treat Genetic Diseases?

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SUMMARY

Mitochondrial transplants have emerged as a promising approach to improve heart health and treat genetic diseases. Recent studies demonstrate that undamaged mitochondria can be isolated from healthy tissues and injected into injured cardiac muscle cells, enhancing their energy production and improving heart function. Additionally, in vivo gene editing in monkeys has shown a significant reduction in liver protein levels, leading to lower cholesterol and better cardiac health. These advancements highlight the potential of mitochondrial replacement techniques, which have already been successfully applied in embryos to prevent genetic diseases.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of mitochondrial biology and function
  • Familiarity with gene editing techniques, particularly in vivo methods
  • Knowledge of cardiac physiology and the role of mitochondria in heart health
  • Awareness of mitochondrial replacement therapy and its ethical considerations
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the mechanisms of mitochondrial uptake in cardiac cells
  • Explore the latest advancements in in vivo gene editing technologies
  • Investigate the implications of mitochondrial replacement therapy in genetic disease prevention
  • Study the impact of cholesterol reduction on cardiac health through gene editing
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Medical researchers, cardiologists, geneticists, and healthcare professionals interested in innovative treatments for heart disease and genetic disorders.

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New approaches to treat diseases:

In vivo (In the living animal) gene editing in monkeys reduces a liver protein, lowering cholesterol levels to improve cardiac health.
About 60% of the cells in the liver were effected, an impressive percentage.
Science mag news article here.

Mitochondrial transplant to damaged infant heart tissue.
Mitochondrial can get damaged and/or killed, leaving the cells alive but not very functional (not good for heart cells).
Undamaged mitochondrial from OK parts of the injured party's body (eliminating the possibility of immune rejection) are isolated and injected into a mass of injured cardiac muscle cells.
The [URL="https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/when-did-mitochondria-evolve/"]mitochondria[/URL] (a cellular organelle, much larger than a molecule, more like a bacteria, with their own mini-genome) get into the cells (by means unknown to me,) and provide the cell with much more functional energy sources than the damaged mitocondria.
Cells get better, improving heart output.
This also requires effecting a decent percentage of the target cells (thousands to millions), in a tissue (lots of structure and diffusion barriers (especially for large particles)).
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/10/health/https://www.physicsforums.com/insights/when-did-mitochondria-evolve/-transplant-heart-attack.html?em_pos=large&emc=edit_sc_20180710&nl=science-times&nlid=38810697edit_sc_20180710&ref=headline&te=1.
 
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