By Drug Target Review –
UCLA researchers have developed a monoclonal antibody, AD-NP1, that blocks ENPP1 to enhance heart repair and reduce scar tissue.
Injuries like cuts to the skin tend to heal naturally, but damage to internal organs like the heart or kidneys often leads to lasting damage. Until now, drugs that target the body’s natural repair mechanisms for these organs have been hard to formulate – but this could all be about to change.
In a new study, UCLA cardiovascular scientist Arjun Deb has discovered that heart tissue samples from mice and humans after a heart attack show elevated levels of a protein called ENPP1. These heightened levels of ENPP1 were shown to begin a metabolic chain reaction that disrupted energy generation and function of multiple cells in the injured organ, preventing tissue repair. By blocking ENPP1, the team found they could enhance heart repair, reduce scar tissue and improve overall heart function.
