Virus Creates Biological Pacemaker

Dec-19-12 A virus able to convert normal heart cells into pacemaker cells could eliminate the need for a surgically implanted pacemaker device.

The virus, which was genetically modified to carry the Tbx18 gene, was injected into guinea pigs, where it caused the ordinary heart cells to change into SAN cells. The infected SAN cells then became thin, smaller and tapered—mimicking the characteristics of pacemaker cells. In tests, five of the seven guinea pigs treated developed heartbeats driver by the biological pacemaker.

The new cells, called iSAN cells (induced SAN cells) are indistinguishable from native pacemaker cells and, since they are non-embryonic, the chances of tumor formation are reduced.

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