New mechanism reveals how heart cells resist regenerative reprogramming

Specialized cells in the human body make biological trade-offs to perform certain jobs.

To support the large, hardworking hearts that power other organs, heart cells have evolved to be extremely efficient and resilient.

Because the adult human heart cannot repair itself the way skin does, scientists have studied ways to "reprogram" heart cells to regenerate after heart attacks.

Heart cells have very stable identities, however, and are resistant to reprogramming. ...