Heart health stories

Oct 30, 2026

Blocking microRNA-31-5p interaction reverses heart scarring and atrial fibrillation in study

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and University of Oxford found that blocking a specific molecular interaction between microRNA-31-5p and calcitonin receptor reduced atrial fibrosis and abnormal heart rhythms in mouse models and human cells, offering a potential RNA-based therapeutic strategy for atrial fibrillation.

Oct 30, 20262 sources

Oct 28, 2026

University of Utah researchers discover heart backup energy system using lactate

Researchers at the University of Utah have identified a backup energy system in the heart that uses the protein MCT1 to import lactate into mitochondria, where it is converted to pyruvate to sustain cardiac function when normal glucose pathways fail. The discovery, demonstrated in mouse hearts, shows this mechanism can prevent stress-induced heart failure.

Oct 28, 20262 sources

Top claims

▪Human atrial cardiofibroblasts from patients with atrial fibrillation produce twice the amount of microRNA-31-5p compared to non-fibrillating sinus rhythm cells.
▪Treatment with a selective target-site blocker preventing microRNA-31-5p from binding calcitonin receptor mRNA restored calcitonin receptor protein levels in human atrial fibroblasts and mouse models.
▪Inhibition of microRNA-31-5p reduced fibronectin protein levels in human atrial fibroblasts isolated from patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Subtopics

Biomedical research2 Cardiovascular diseases2 Molecular biology2 Drug development1 Energy metabolism1 Genetic drugs1 Medical research1 Mitochondrial function1 Scientific research1

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