U.K. scientists have developed a new drug that can reduce tissue damage in the body after a heart attack.
A team of U.K. researchers have developed a new drug named MitoSNO, which reportedly reduces tissue damage in the body after a heart attack. A compound in the drug protects the heart from harm when blood flow suddenly starts after a heart attack and goes through tissues that have been deprived of oxygen.
Researchers reveal that the main reason why heart tissues undergo drastic damage is because after a heart attack there is a sudden flow of blood through these tissues after a prolonged absence of oxygen in the tissues. This sudden flow results in the production of harmful molecules called free radicals, which are generated inside mitochondria.
The new drug works by "switching off" the mitochondria for a while so that there is no production of free radicals.
The drug has already been tested successfully on mice but is yet to be tested on humans. However, researchers are hopeful that this drug will open new doors to medication.
"MitoSNO effectively flicks a switch in the mitochondria, slowing down reactivation during those critical first minutes when blood flow returns and protecting the heart tissue from further damage," said Dr Mike Murphy from the Medical Research Council Mitochondrial Biology Unit, who led the study, according to BBC News report. "We think a similar process happens in other situations where tissue is starved of oxygen for a prolonged period, for example after a stroke or during surgery where major arteries are clamped to prevent blood loss. We are hopeful that if human trials of MitoSNO are successful it could eventually be used in many other areas of medicine."
The British Heart Foundation partly funded this study and said that the drug shows promising potential.
"It could potentially treat people immediately after a heart attack when blood flow to the heart is restored as part of routine treatment," said research adviser Shannon Amoils. "This could mean fewer heart attack survivors go on to live with the burden of heart failure, which for many is a debilitating and distressing condition."
The findings of the study are published in the journal Nature.
