Italians discover protein to 'rejuvenate' heart

Medical discovery says mechanism cleans up toxins in body

(ANSA) - Milan, May 2 - Italian scientists say they have isolated a protein that helps heart cells to clean out toxic substances, regenerating the organ and preventing serious disease. The discovery of the protein Atrogin-1 could improve diagnosis and treatment of some cardiovascular disease, according to findings published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation and coordinated by the Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM) and the University of Padua.

The protein Atrogin-1 acts in the cells of the heart in the dual role of 'sentinel' and 'scavenger' of toxic substances by altering cellular mechanisms so they can work together on heart health. "Research has shown that the two mechanisms are not separate and independent as previously thought, but are related by the activity of Atrogin-1," said Marco Mongillo of the University of Padua. "Having identified the critical role of Atrogin-1 will have important repercussions for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of (cardiovascular) diseases," said Marco Sandri, a researcher and associate professor at the Padua university.