Scientists may have found a way to create biological pacemakers for heart patients, it was announced last night.
The new technique involves converting ordinary heart muscle cells into specialist cells that generate electrical impulses.
So far scientists in Los Angeles, USA, have successfully tested the procedure on guinea pigs, according t a report in Nature Biotechnology.
The technique involves inserting a single gene Tbx18 into the cells.
The British Heart Foundation called for more research into the technique to ensure it would work on humans.
Professor Jeremy Pearson, of the Foundation, said it was "highly novel and scientifically fascinating."
He added: “It opens up the tantalising possibility of using cell therapy to restore normal heart rhythm in people who would otherwise need electronic pacemakers.
“However, much more research now needs to be done to understand if these findings can help people with heart disease in the future.”
Transcription factor-driven conversion of quiescent cardiomyocytes to pacemaker cells. Nature Biotechnology December 16 2012; doi:10.1038/nbt.2465
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