Boosting the Body’s Own Stem Cells
Researchers are also attempting to boost the existing stem cell activity in the body by using molecules such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which promotes muscle repair.
A transgenic mouse with boosted levels of IGF-1 can repair cardiac muscle after an artificially induced heart attack (Transgenic).
In the control mouse, the heart loses muscle mass and becomes weak and membranous (Control, arrow).
![A control mouse heart with an arrow pointing to areas where the heart has lost muscle mass.](images/stem-cell-based-therapies-09-1.jpg)
![A transgenic mouse heart with repaired cardiac muscle.](images/stem-cell-based-therapies-09-2.jpg)