We envied them zebra fish when we found out that they could actually heal their hearts by themselves. But now, no longer do we have to be envious because scientists just may have found a way to develop a DIY repair mechanism for heart disease.

A team from the Institute of Child Health in UK">London has stumbled upon cells in the outermost layer of the heart that can be stimulated to move deeper into the heart muscle. This then will help to repair the organ. With this discovery, they could soon find a way to have injections given into the bloodstream or, in cases of emergency, directly into the heart muscle itself.

Dr. Riley of the ICH said, "Our research has shown that blood vessel regeneration is possible in the adult heart. In the future... there could be potential for therapy based on the patients' own heart cells."

The 'wonder cells', otherwise known as progenitor cells, are similar to stem cells in a way that it is capable of developing into any kind of new tissue or structure in the heart. To stimulate them to move into the heart muscle and form new blood vessels, Thymosin-beta 4 is what would be needed.

"The progenitor cells are already located in the right place - within the heart itself. All that these cells need is the appropriate instructions to guide them towards new blood vessel formation that will help repair of muscle damage following a heart attack."

The British Heart Foundation funded the research. Says Professor Jeremy Pearson, BHF associate medical doctor:

These results are important and exciting. By identifying for the first time a molecule that can cause cells in the adult heart to form new blood vessels, Dr. Riley's group have taken a large step towards practical therapy to encourage damaged hearts to repair themselves. That is a goal that researchers are urgently aiming for.