Transferring death and health

A recent article (1) demonstrates that cardiac failure is transportable using mice models. That is to say, bone marrow transplant from a mouse that suffered heart failure can induce the same in a healthy model. The authors argue that the bone marrow of the suffering entity can carry an “innate immune memory of cardiac stress that may exacerbate HF and predispose other organs.” From the therapeutic perspective, the question is the reverse.

If a patient who carries high risk of HF due to family history and other conditions, be helped by an early intervention of a bone marrow transplant from a healthy individual? The innate immune memory perhaps due to micro events, carried by a patient, that appears deleterious to future health, be reversed or reprogrammed? More generally, is it possible that a patient’s immune system, either tired or overacting, will likely lead to future adverse impact not only on cardiac events but in the health of other systems?

Human, a walking battleground of fights between the immune system and itself as well as a plethora of invaders, is a miracle of evolution. It may be possible to rejuvenate it, erase its haunting memories and make it healthier.

(1) Heart failure promotes multimorbidity through innate immune memory | Science Immunology