RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Evidence for Cardiomyocyte Renewal in Humans JF Science JO Science FD American Association for the Advancement of Science SP 98 OP 102 DO 10.1126/science.1164680 VO 324 IS 5923 A1 Bergmann, Olaf A1 Bhardwaj, Ratan D. A1 Bernard, Samuel A1 Zdunek, Sofia A1 Barnabé-Heider, Fanie A1 Walsh, Stuart A1 Zupicich, Joel A1 Alkass, Kanar A1 Buchholz, Bruce A. A1 Druid, Henrik A1 Jovinge, Stefan A1 Frisén, Jonas YR 2009 UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/324/5923/98.abstract AB It has been difficult to establish whether we are limited to the heart muscle cells we are born with or if cardiomyocytes are generated also later in life. We have taken advantage of the integration of carbon-14, generated by nuclear bomb tests during the Cold War, into DNA to establish the age of cardiomyocytes in humans. We report that cardiomyocytes renew, with a gradual decrease from 1% turning over annually at the age of 25 to 0.45% at the age of 75. Fewer than 50% of cardiomyocytes are exchanged during a normal life span. The capacity to generate cardiomyocytes in the adult human heart suggests that it may be rational to work toward the development of therapeutic strategies aimed at stimulating this process in cardiac pathologies.