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Posted on Sep 15, 2008, 5 a.m.
By Rich Hurd
US researchers have identified an enzyme that appears to reduce damage to the heart caused by a lack of oxygen.
US researchers have identified an enzyme that appears to reduce damage to the heart caused by a lack of oxygen.
Results of the study on rats by Dr Che-Hong Chen and colleagues revealed that boosting levels of the enzyme mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) before triggering a heart attack in the animals reduced heart muscle damage by 60%.
In order to boost levels of the enzyme researchers pre-treated the rat hearts with a molecule called Alda-1. The researchers conclude: "The enhancement of ALDH2 activity with Alda-1 may be useful for patients with normal or mutated forms of ALDH2 who are subjected to reduced oxygen supply to the heart muscle, such as during coronary bypass surgery."
Chen CH, Budas GR, Churchill EN, Disatnik MH, Hurley TD, Mochly-Rosen D. Activation of Aldehyde Dehydrogenase-2 Reduces Ischemic Damage to the Heart. Science 2008;321:1493-1495.
