A potential treatment to prevent deadly muscle scarring that contributes to chronic heart failure has been uncovered by scientists.

The therapy could also prevent scarring of the skeletal muscles we use to move our arms and legs, a cause of long-term disabilities.

The treatment works by targeting molecules on the surface of scar-forming cells, called alpha V integrins.

A research team, led by the University of Edinburgh, found that blocking these molecules with a new experimental drug helped to reduce scarring following heart or skeletal muscle injury.

The treatment works even when the muscle scarring process has already started, the research with mice found.

The next step will be to test the drug in clinical trials with people to check whether it can help to reduce scarring in patients with chronic heart failure, and also patients with skeletal muscle scarring.

Scarring is a natural response to tissue injury, but in excess it can stop muscles from working effectively.

In many people excessive scarring -- known as fibrosis -- is permanent, and causes muscles to become stiff and less compliant.

When fibrosis occurs in cardiac muscle during chronic heart failure, the heart muscle is less able to contract properly and pump blood around the body.

The team found that scarring is initiated by cells around the lining of blood vessels, which have alpha V integrins on their surface.

Lab tests on human cells of this type -- called mesenchymal cells -- found that blocking alpha V integrins stops them from becoming activated and blocks the scarring process.

The study, published in Nature Communications, was supported by the Wellcome Trust and the British Heart Foundation. Funding was also received from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

Professor Neil Henderson, of the Medical Research Council Centre for Inflammation Research at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Cardiac fibrosis is a major contributor to chronic heart failure, which is a major cause of death worldwide. Our research has identified a promising therapeutic target in the development of new treatments for patients with chronic heart failure."

Professor Jeremy Pearson, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation said: "Scarring of the heart muscle has a major impact on the heart's ability to pump effectively. This can lead to heart failure and there is no effective treatment at the moment. By finding a new way to limit scarring in the hearts of mice, this research has unlocked the route to a potential treatment for this life-threatening problem."

Materials provided by University of Edinburgh. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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References:

I. R. Murray, Z. N. Gonzalez, J. Baily, R. Dobie, R. J. Wallace, A. C. Mackinnon, J. R. Smith, S. N. Greenhalgh, A. I. Thompson, K. P. Conroy, D. W. Griggs, P. G. Ruminski, G. A. Gray, M. Singh, M. A. Campbell, T. J. Kendall, J. Dai, Y. Li, J. P. Iredale, H. Simpson, J. Huard, B. Péault, N. C. Henderson. (2017). αv integrins on mesenchymal cells regulate skeletal and cardiac muscle fibrosis. Nature Communications. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01097-z