Australian researchers have developed human heart valve tissue from stem cells, creating a new laboratory platform that could help advance treatments for heart valve disorders in children and adults.

The study, led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), produced lab-grown heart valve tissues that closely resemble those found in the human body, according to a statement from the institute.

The findings, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, provide new insights into how human heart valves develop, mature and become damaged.

Potential for regenerative heart treatments

Holly Voges, team leader of MCRI’s Heart Regeneration group, said the breakthrough could help accelerate the development of regenerative approaches to repair damaged heart valves in children and adults.

Heart valve disease affects an estimated 28 million people worldwide and can result from developmental abnormalities, infections or age-related degeneration. There are currently no treatments that can reverse existing valve damage, leaving many patients dependent on valve replacement surgery, which has significant limitations.

New model for rheumatic heart disease

The researchers also demonstrated that the new platform can be used to model inflammatory valve disease, a precursor to rheumatic heart disease (RHD), which is largely preventable but disproportionately affects Indigenous Australians.

Voges said the genetically engineered stem cell-derived tissues became stiffer when exposed to inflammatory proteins previously identified in studies and linked to rheumatic heart disease. The tissues also developed biomarkers consistent with those found in diseased human heart valves.

MCRI Professor Enzo Porrello said the technology could ultimately support the development of stem cell-derived artificial heart valves capable of growing and adapting with patients.(ILKHA)