Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Carmen Tarifa, Selma A. Serra, Adela Herraiz-Martinez, Estefania Lozano-Velasco, Raul Benitez, Amelia Aranega, Diego Franco, Leif Hove-Madsen
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Pitx2c expression and calcium release and electrical activity in atrial myocytes. By using confocal calcium imaging and patch-clamp techniques, it was found that Pitx2c deletion leads to calcium homeostasis imbalance and abnormal electrical activity, which resemble the abnormalities observed in right atrial myocytes from patients with AF.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Dorothee Jakob, Alexander Klesen, Benoit Allegrini, Elisa Darkow, Diana Aria, Ramona Emig, Ana Simon Chica, Eva A. Rog-Zielinska, Tim Guth, Friedhelm Beyersdorf, Fabian A. Kari, Susanne Proksch, Stephane N. Hatem, Matthias Karck, Stephan R. Kunzel, Helene Guizouarn, Constanze Schmidt, Peter Kohl, Ursula Ravens, Remi Peyronnet
Summary: The study found that human atrial fibroblasts contain at least two types of ion channels activated during stretch: Piezol and BKca. Sustained atrial fibrillation is associated with increased Piezol and decreased BKca activity, indicating differential regulation of these channels.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Heather S. Jameson, Alan Hanley, Matthew C. Hill, Ling Xiao, Jiangchuan Ye, Aneesh Bapat, Elsa Ronzier, Amelia Weber Hall, William J. Hucker, Sebastian Clauss, Miranda Barazza, Elizabeth Silber, Julie A. Mina, Nathan R. Tucker, Robert W. Mills, Jin-Tang Dong, David J. Milan, Patrick T. Ellinor
Summary: This study identified the causative genetic variation related to atrial fibrillation (AF) at the ZFHX3 locus and explored the impact of Zfhx3 loss on cardiac function in mice. The results showed that ZFHX3 is the causative gene for AF at the 16q22 locus and its loss leads to cardiac abnormalities and dysregulation of atrial-specific pathways involved in AF susceptibility.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aaron D. Kaplan, Humberto C. Joca, Liron Boyman, Maura Greiser
Summary: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common type of cardiac arrhythmia that affects millions of people globally. Changes in intracellular Ca2+ handling and Na+ concentration may play a role in the arrhythmogenic mechanisms associated with AF. Blocking I-Na,I-L with drugs like ranolazine has shown potential in treating AF, highlighting the importance of studying these cellular changes in AF treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xiaobiao Zang, Zhihan Zhao, Ke Chen, Weifeng Song, Jifang Ma, Haixia Fu, Xianqing Wang, Yonghui Zhao
Summary: Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (SHP-1) plays a role in myocardial infarction but its involvement in atrial fibrosis and atrial fibrillation (AF) is not known. This study investigated whether SHP-1 modulates AF development and found that SHP-1 expression was reduced in patients with AF and in AF mice and Ang II-treated cells. Overexpression of SHP-1 alleviated AF severity in mice and counteracted excessive extracellular matrix deposition, reactive oxygen species generation, and TGF-beta 1/SMAD2 pathway activation. SHP-1 regulates AF fibrosis progression by modulating STAT3 activation and may be a potential treatment target for atrial fibrosis and AF.
EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Wern Yew Ding, Dhiraj Gupta, Christopher F. Wong, Gregory Y. H. Lip
Summary: Atrial fibrillation and chronic kidney disease are closely related conditions with complex interlinking mechanisms, requiring careful management and treatment for patients with both diseases.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Steffen Pabel, Maria Knierim, Thea Stehle, Felix Alebrand, Michael Paulus, Marcel Sieme, Melissa Herwig, Friedrich Barsch, Thomas Koertl, Arnold Poeppl, Brisca Wenner, Senka Ljubojevic-Holzer, Cristina E. Molina, Nataliya Dybkova, Daniele Camboni, Thomas H. Fischer, Simon Sedej, Daniel Scherr, Christof Schmid, Christoph Brochhausen, Gerd Hasenfuss, Lars S. Maier, Nazha Hamdani, Katrin Streckfuss-Boemeke, Samuel Sossalla
Summary: This study investigates the effects and molecular mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF) on the human left ventricle (LV). The results demonstrate that AF causes distinct functional and molecular remodeling of the LV, potentially through alterations in reactive oxygen species and CaMKII activity. These findings are significant for our understanding of the impact of AF on the heart.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jia Song, Jose Alberto Navarro-Garcia, Jiao Wu, Arnela Saljic, Issam Abu-Taha, Luge Li, Satadru K. Lahiri, Joshua A. Keefe, Yuriana Aguilar-Sanchez, Oliver M. Moore, Yue Yuan, Xiaolei Wang, Markus Kamler, William E. Mitch, Gema Ruiz-Hurtado, Zhaoyong Hu, Sandhya S. Thomas, Dobromir Dobrev, Xander H. T. Wehrens, Na Li
Summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a higher risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). The mechanism linking CKD and AF is unclear. This study found that elevated NLRP3 inflammasome activity in atria of CKD patients contributed to the development of AF. Inhibiting NLRP3 or neutralizing IL-113 effectively reduced the occurrence of AF.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Guenseli Cubukcuoglu Deniz, Serkan Durdu, Yesim Dogan, Esra Erdemli, Hilal Ozdag, Ahmet Ruchan Akar
Summary: This study aimed to characterize the transcriptomics of atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic primary mitral regurgitation. The results showed that persistent atrial fibrillation is associated with increased expression of genes related to the transition to heart failure, structural remodeling, and cellular stress response. These findings suggest potential novel therapeutic targets for treating atrial fibrillation in patients with primary mitral regurgitation.
CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Sami O. Simons, Adrian Elliott, Manuel Sastry, Jeroen M. Hendriks, Michael Arzt, Michiel Rienstra, Jonathan M. Kalman, Hein Heidbuchel, Stanley Nattel, Geertjan Wesseling, Ulrich Schotten, Isabelle C. van Gelder, Frits M. E. Franssen, Prashanthan Sanders, Harry J. G. M. Crijns, Dominik Linz
Summary: COPD is highly prevalent in AF patients and may promote AF progression and reduce treatment efficacy. Close interdisciplinary collaboration between electrophysiologists/cardiologists and pulmonologists is required for the diagnosis and treatment of COPD in AF patients. Acute exacerbation of COPD may transiently increase AF risk.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gurbey Ocak, Meriem Khairoun, Othman Khairoun, Willem Jan W. Bos, Edouard L. Fu, Maarten J. Cramer, Jan Westerink, Marianne C. Verhaar, Frank L. Visseren, F. W. Asselbergs, H. M. Nathoe, G. J. de Borst, M. L. Bots, M. I. Geerlings, M. H. Emmelot, P. A. de Jong, T. Leiner, A. T. Lely, N. P. van der Kaaij, L. J. Kappelle, Y. M. Ruigrok, M. C. Verhaar, F. L. J. Visseren, J. Westerink
Summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are both associated with bleeding, ischemic stroke, and mortality. There is a positive interaction between AF and CKD for ischemic stroke risk, but no interaction for bleeding or mortality.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Chao Gong, Yu Ding, Feng Liang, Shuang Wu, Xiruo Tang, Hongzhang Ding, Wenjing Huang, Xiaotong Yu, Likun Zhou, Jun Li, Shaowen Liu
Summary: This study found that chronic pain can increase the susceptibility of atrial fibrillation in mice, possibly through the mediation of autonomic cholinergic nerves.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Aurelio Quesada, Lucas Lopez-Valero, Goitzane Marcaida-Benito, Javier Jimenez Bello, Javier Quesada-Ocete, Ricardo Rubini-Costa, Blanca Quesada-Ocete, Ricardo Rubini-Puig, Angeles Ferez-Marti, Victor del Moral-Ronda, Victor Palanca-Gil, Fernando de la Guia-Galipienso, Carl J. Lavie, Giuseppe Lippi, Fabian Sanchis-Gomar
Summary: Evaluating circulating cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels can help stratify the risk of adverse events and mortality in patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF), identifying a subgroup with increased risk in the medium to long term.
PROGRESS IN CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ying-Ju Lai, Feng-Chun Tsai, Gwo-Jyh Chang, Shang-Hung Chang, Chung-Chi Huang, Wei-Jan Chen, Yung-Hsin Yeh
Summary: This study reveals a mechanistic link between TGF-β-induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and atrial fibrosis through the miR-181b/Sema3A/LIMK/p-cofilin signaling pathway, and suggests blocking miR-181b and increasing Sema3A as potential strategies for AF therapeutic intervention.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nefeli Grammatika Pavlidou, Shokoufeh Dobrev, Kira Beneke, Franziska Reinhardt, Simon Pecha, Eric Jacquet, Issam H. Abu-Taha, Constanze Schmidt, Niels Voigt, Markus Kamler, Renate B. Schnabel, Istvan Baczko, Anne Garnier, Hermann Reichenspurner, Viacheslav O. Nikolaev, Dobromir Dobrev, Cristina E. Molina
Summary: In this study, it was found that upregulation of PDE8B isoforms in cAF patients reduces I-Ca,I-L through direct interaction with the Cav1.2(alpha 1C) subunit. Thus, upregulated PDE8B2 may serve as a novel molecular mechanism for the proarrhythmic reduction of I-Ca,I-L in cAF.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Seif El Hadidi, Giuseppe Rosano, Juan Tamargo, Stefan Agewall, Heinz Drexel, Juan Carlos Kaski, Alexander Niessner, Basil S. Lewis, Andrew J. S. Coats, Gianluigi Savarese
Summary: Heart failure is a chronic and potentially life-threatening condition. To improve clinical outcomes and avoid inappropriate drug prescriptions, a comprehensive prescribing review tool is compiled based on the latest guidelines, scientific evidence, and expert opinions.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Marta Perez-Hernandez, Alejandra Leo-Macias, Sarah Keegan, Mariam Jouni, Joon-Chul Kim, Esperanza Agullo-Pascual, Sarah Vermij, Mingliang Zhang, Feng-Xia Liang, Paul Burridge, David Fenyo, Eli Rothenberg, Mario Delmar
Summary: This study identified a subcellular domain formed by sodium channel clusters and subjacent subsarcolemmal mitochondria in adult cardiac myocytes, shedding light on the intersection between electrical and structural functions of the heart. The proximity of Na(V)1.5 channels to mitochondria resulted in functional changes in mitochondria upon TTX exposure, with increased Ca2+ accumulation and reactive oxygen species production. Additionally, a negative correlation between SCN5A and SLC8B1 at a transcriptional level was observed, highlighting the intricate crosstalk between sodium channels and mitochondria.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Marta Perez-Hernandez, Grecia M. Marron-Linares, Florencia Schlamp, Adriana Heguy, Chantal J. M. van Opbergen, Valeria Mezzano, Mingliang Zhang, Feng-Xia Liang, Marina Cerrone, Mario Delmar
Summary: In cardiac myocytes, deficiency of PKP2 results in upregulation of a large number of transcripts, which are inversely correlated with PKP2 abundance in human transcriptomes and are associated with functional pathways related to inflammatory/immune responses.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Emma Forton Magavern, Juan Carlos Kaski, Richard M. Turner, Heinz Drexel, Azara Janmohamed, Andrew Scourfield, Daniel Burrage, Christopher N. Floyd, Elizabeth Adeyeye, Juan Tamargo, Basil S. Lewis, Keld Per Kjeldsen, Alexander Niessner, Sven Wassmann, Patrick Sulzgruber, Pascal Borry, Stefan Agewall, Anne Grete Semb, Gianluigi Savarese, Munir Pirmohamed, Mark J. Caulfield
Summary: There is a growing body of evidence supporting the use of pharmacogenomics in cardiovascular pharmacology, but international cardiovascular societies lack a common position on the diverse availability, interpretation, and application of such data, as well as the challenges presented by variations in clinical practice across European countries. In addition to barriers to implementing pharmacogenomic testing and complexity in acting on results, there are disparities in the availability of resources and expertise internationally within Europe. Legal and ethical considerations for genomic testing and clinical therapeutic application also require serious thought.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Marina Cerrone, Grecia M. Marron-Linares, Chantal J. M. van Opbergen, Sarah Costa, Mimount Bourfiss, Marta Perez-Hernandez, Florencia Schlamp, Fabian Sanchis-Gomar, Kabir Malkani, Kamelia Drenkova, Mingliang Zhang, Xianming Lin, Adriana Heguy, Birgitta K. Velthuis, Niek H. J. Prakken, Andre LaGerche, Hugh Calkins, Cynthia A. James, Anneline S. J. M. Te Riele, Mario Delmar
Summary: Exercise increases the risk of arrhythmia and progression of cardiomyopathy in ARVC patients, and transcriptomic changes caused by endurance training in mice deficient in PKP2 reveals similarities to sedentary and exercised PKP2cKO mice. PKP2 loss leads to cardiac contractile deficit, decreased muscle mass, and increased functional/transcriptomic signatures of apoptosis. Additionally, cardiac dimensions in human athletes carrying PKP2 mutations are reduced compared to matched controls.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nami Tajima, Noriko Simorowski, Remy A. Yovanno, Michael C. Regan, Kevin Michalski, Ricardo Gomez, Albert Y. Lau, Hiro Furukawa
Summary: This study reports the identification of a functional antibody that specifically targets and regulates the ion channel activity of the GluN1-GluN2B subtype of NMDA receptors. The findings suggest that antibodies can serve as specific reagents for modulating NMDA receptor functions, which has important implications for both basic research and therapeutic applications.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Juan Tamargo, Koji Hasegawa, Stefan Agewall
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2022)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Juan Tamargo, Juan Carlos Kaski, Takeshi Kimura, Jack Charles Barton, Ko Yamamoto, Maki Komiyama, Heinz Drexel, Basil S. Lewis, Stefan Agewall, Koji Hasegawa
Summary: Awareness of racial/ethnic disparities in cardiovascular disease is crucial for providing effective healthcare. Differences in prevalence, risk factors, and drug response among different ethnic groups are mainly related to genetic variations. Understanding these differences helps optimize treatment and improve outcomes.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Marta Perez-Hernandez, Chantal J. M. van Opbergen, Navratan Bagwan, Christoffer Rasmus Vissing, Grecia M. Marron-Linares, Mingliang Zhang, Estefania Torres Vega, Andrea Sorrentino, Lylia Drici, Karolina Sulek, Ruxu Zhai, Finn B. Hansen, Alex Horby Christensen, Soren Boesgaard, Finn Gustafsson, Kasper Rossing, Eric M. Small, Michael J. Davies, Eli Rothenberg, Priscila Y. Sato, Marina Cerrone, Thomas Hartvig Lindkaer Jensen, Klaus Qvortrup, Henning Bundgaard, Mario Delmar, Alicia Lundby
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the molecular landscape of ARVC, revealing the key role of nuclear envelope integrity loss and subsequent DNA damage in the disease. The findings suggest that therapies targeting oxidant formation may be a potential intervention to restrict DNA damage in ARVC.
Article
Physiology
Teresa Crespo-Garcia, Marcos Rubio-Alarcon, Anabel Camara-Checa, Maria Dago, Josu Rapun, Paloma Nieto-Marin, Maria Marin, Jorge Cebrian, Juan Tamargo, Eva Delpon, Ricardo Caballero
Summary: The p.S1054Y SUR2A mutation associated with Cantu syndrome increases the open probability and conductance of ATP-sensitive potassium channels, disrupts the interaction between ankyrin B and K-ATP channels, and reduces the membrane expression of channel subunits, possibly explaining the mild phenotype associated with this mutation.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marcos Matamoros, Xue Wen Ng, Joshua B. Brettmann, David W. Piston, Colin G. Nichols
Summary: The authors used a combination of techniques to investigate the conformational stability and ion-dependence of the potassium channel selectivity filter. They found that the selectivity filter of the NaK2K mutant adopts a constricted configuration in high potassium conditions, indicating the influence of potassium ions on filter stability. Their results also demonstrate the generality of conformational stability in the selectivity filters of different types of potassium channels.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Dago, Teresa Crespo-Garcia, Anabel Camara-Checa, Josu Rapun, Marcos Rubio-Alarcon, Maria Marin, Juan Tamargo, Ricardo Caballero, Eva Delpon
Summary: Dapagliflozin (dapa) and empagliflozin (empa) are drugs that can increase sodium and potassium ion currents in cardiomyocytes, making them a potential new class of antiarrhythmic drugs.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Juan Tamargo, Stefan Agewall, Claudio Borghi, Claudio Ceconi, Elisabetta Cerbai, Gheorghe A. Dan, Peter Ferdinandy, Erik Lerkevang Grove, Bianca Rocca, Patrick Sulzgruber, Anne Grete Semb, Samuel Sossalla, Alexander Niessner, Juan Carlos Kaski, Dobromir Dobrev
Summary: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death globally, and current pharmacotherapy is not optimal. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new drugs with higher efficacy and better safety profiles. This review summarizes the recent advances in cardiovascular pharmacology in 2022, including the approval of first-in-class drugs for the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and heart failure independent of left ventricular ejection fraction. It also discusses the repurposing of existing drugs and the potential of new therapies for the treatment of various cardiovascular diseases.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Johanna L. Syrjanen, Max Epstein, Ricardo Gomez, Hiro Furukawa
Summary: The cryo-EM structures of human CALHM1 in apo- and blocked-states were presented in this study. The researchers examined the effects of lipid binding on channel structure and activity. It was found that the amino-terminal helix formed the channel pore that ruthenium red binds and blocks.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)