An international team, led by Duke University Medical Center, has, in fact, used a new process which eliminates the need for stem cell transplant -- molecules called microRNAs to trigger the cardiac tissue conversion in a laboratory dish.
And, for the first time, in a living mouse, the scientists demonstrated the potential of a simpler process for tissue regeneration, the 'Circulation Research' journal said.
If additional studies confirm the approach in human cells, it could lead to a new way for treating millions of people worldwide who suffer heart failure, which is often caused by scar tissue that develops after a heart attack.