A breakthrough discovery at Massachusetts General Hospital reveals how a single immune protein causes deadly heart rhythms after heart attacks, offering new hope for preventing sudden cardiac death.
Story Highlights
- Immune protein Resistin-like molecule gamma literally punches holes in heart cells after heart attacks
- Discovery explains why dangerous fast heart rhythms strike after cardiac infarctions
- Massachusetts General Hospital research could lead to targeted treatments preventing sudden death
- Finding represents major advance in understanding post-heart attack complications
Protein Attacks Heart Cells After Cardiac Events
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital identified Resistin-like molecule gamma as the culprit behind post-heart attack arrhythmias. This immune defense protein launches a destructive assault on heart cells following cardiac infarction, creating physical holes in the cellular structure. The protein’s aggressive response transforms the body’s natural defense mechanism into a threat against the heart’s electrical system, disrupting normal rhythm patterns that keep patients alive.
Watch:
Mechanism Behind Deadly Heart Rhythms Revealed
The research team’s findings explain the dangerous fast heart rhythms that frequently develop after heart attacks, a complication that has puzzled cardiologists for decades. When Resistin-like molecule gamma punctures heart cell membranes, it disrupts the electrical conduction pathways essential for coordinated heartbeats. This cellular damage creates conditions where the heart’s natural pacemaker system fails, leading to potentially fatal arrhythmias that can strike without warning during the critical recovery period.
Breakthrough Opens Door for Targeted Therapies
This discovery represents a significant advancement in cardiovascular medicine, providing researchers with a specific target for developing life-saving treatments. Understanding how Resistin-like molecule gamma operates allows scientists to design interventions that could block this protein’s destructive activity without compromising the immune system’s beneficial functions. The research offers hope for millions of heart attack survivors who face the ongoing risk of sudden cardiac death from rhythm disturbances.
Sources:
https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-discover-a-protein-that-literally-punches-holes-in-the-heart-after-a-heart-attack/
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250909/Resistin-like-molecule-gamma-punches-holes-into-heart-cells-after-myocardial-infarction.aspx
