Molecular and Cellular Study of Human Heart Tissue in Postnatal Development and Congenital Heart Disease

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying small pieces of human heart tissue removed during necessary surgeries to understand how calcium ions move through heart cells. This movement helps control the force of heart contractions. They aim to learn how newborn heart cells regulate contraction force differently from adult heart cells and hypothesize that infant hearts manage calcium entry uniquely. The study also explores how 3D cardiac spheres combined with various environmental signals can improve the development and function of lab-grown human heart cells, creating a more relevant model for clinical research. The study investigates developmental differences in heart cell currents and calcium regulation in patients ranging from infants to young adults up to 20 years old. It examines specific currents and proteins in atrial and ventricular cells to understand changes through postnatal development. Additionally, the research tests the effects of tissue engineering and pharmacological agents to enhance the metabolic maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Participants are patients undergoing heart surgery for congenital heart conditions like ventricular septal defects or valve problems. Researchers measure calcium currents and study structural, functional, and metabolic maturation of heart cells over periods up to 13 years. Various molecular and cellular assessments are performed to track developmental changes. Safety monitoring and long-term follow-up are part of the study to evaluate heart cell characteristics and maturation comprehensively.

Molecular and Cellular Characterization of Cardiac Tissue in Postnatal Development