Heart in a Sac

(Fair Use)

Wearing your heart on your sleeve could be dangerous. Keeping it in the pericardial sac is your best bet.

Medical researchers have found that specialized cells within this fluid sac may have tremendous healing potential. Appearing to be macrophage-related, these GATA6+ cells can help to clear injury-related “debris” from the area.  This could be especially important after a heart attack.

Heart surgeons are therefore being advised not to remove the pericardium during surgery.  There is also potential for harvesting these cells, multiplying them, then administering them to patients.

Resources

https://gizmodo.com/scientists-find-a-new-kind-of-cell-that-helps-heal-the-18

Copyright July 19, 2019 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved