University of Houston System

Animatus Biosciences, LLC

Dinakar Iyer

Robert J Schwartz

Siyu Xiao

Loss of cardiomyocytes underlies most causes of heart failure, and normal repair processes are inadequate to deal with extensive myocardial damage. The inventors have identified mutations of the N-terminus of serum response factor (SRF)'s MADS box, termed STEMINs, that block cardiac differentiation, but also powerfully activate the stem cell marker genes Nanog and Octomer 4, as well as cyclins, which promotes adult myocyte replication. SRF Stemin mutations are not cardiac-specific, and also propel mammalian fibroblasts into a proliferative state. Thus, STEMINs may be useful for regeneration of all tissue and organ types, by activating partial pluripotency programs and enhancing repair by increased cell replication. Following withdrawal of STEMINs, the cells then return to normal cell identity.

Serum response factor regenerates senescent cells

Compositions and methods for promoting adult mammalian cardiomyocytes processes and systems for enhancing cardiomyocyte regeneration are described. The invention relates to locally administering a therapeutic agent containing a modified messenger RNA for expressing a mutated serum response factor polypeptide and a modified messenger RNA for expressing a mutated YAP polypeptide into diseased heart muscle to promote cardiomyocyte proliferation and cardiac regeneration.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Dinakar Iyer