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Giannino G, Nocera L, Andolfatto M, Braia V, Giacobbe F, Bruno F, Saglietto A, Angelini F, De Filippo O, D'Ascenzo F, De Ferrari GM, Dusi V. Vagal nerve stimulation in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury: from bench to bedside. Bioelectron Med 2024; 10:22. [PMID: 39267134 DOI: 10.1186/s42234-024-00153-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The identification of acute cardioprotective strategies against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury that can be applied in the catheterization room is currently an unmet clinical need and several interventions evaluated in the past at the pre-clinical level have failed in translation. Autonomic imbalance, sustained by an abnormal afferent signalling, is a key component of I/R injury. Accordingly, there is a strong rationale for neuromodulation strategies, aimed at reducing sympathetic activity and/or increasing vagal tone, in this setting. In this review we focus on cervical vagal nerve stimulation (cVNS) and on transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS); the latest has the potential to overcome several of the issues of invasive cVNS, including the possibility of being used in an acute setting, while retaining its beneficial effects. First, we discuss the pathophysiology of I/R injury, that is mostly a consequence of the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. Second, we describe the functional anatomy of the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system and the most relevant principles of bioelectronic medicine applied to electrical vagal modulation, with a particular focus on taVNS. Then, we provide a detailed and comprehensive summary of the most relevant pre-clinical studies of invasive and non-invasive VNS that support its strong cardioprotective effect whenever there is an acute or chronic cardiac injury and specifically in the setting of myocardial I/R injury. The potential benefit in the emerging field of post cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) is also mentioned. Indeed, electrical cVNS has a strong anti-adrenergic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, anti-apoptotic and pro-angiogenic effect; most of the involved molecular pathways were already directly confirmed to take place at the cardiac level for taVNS. Pre-clinical data clearly show that the sooner VNS is applied, the better the outcome, with the possibility of a marked infarct size reduction and almost complete left ventricular reverse remodelling when VNS is applied immediately before and during reperfusion. Finally, we describe in detail the limited but very promising clinical experience of taVNS in I/R injury available so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Giannino
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, Turin, 10126, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Nocera
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, Turin, 10126, Italy
| | - Maria Andolfatto
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, Turin, 10126, Italy
| | - Valentina Braia
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, Turin, 10126, Italy
| | - Federico Giacobbe
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, Turin, 10126, Italy
| | - Francesco Bruno
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Andrea Saglietto
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Filippo Angelini
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Ovidio De Filippo
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
| | - Fabrizio D'Ascenzo
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, Turin, 10126, Italy
| | - Gaetano Maria De Ferrari
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, Turin, 10126, Italy
| | - Veronica Dusi
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Torino, Italy.
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, Turin, 10126, Italy.
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Giannino G, Braia V, Griffith Brookles C, Giacobbe F, D'Ascenzo F, Angelini F, Saglietto A, De Ferrari GM, Dusi V. The Intrinsic Cardiac Nervous System: From Pathophysiology to Therapeutic Implications. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:105. [PMID: 38392323 PMCID: PMC10887082 DOI: 10.3390/biology13020105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The cardiac autonomic nervous system (CANS) plays a pivotal role in cardiac homeostasis as well as in cardiac pathology. The first level of cardiac autonomic control, the intrinsic cardiac nervous system (ICNS), is located within the epicardial fat pads and is physically organized in ganglionated plexi (GPs). The ICNS system does not only contain parasympathetic cardiac efferent neurons, as long believed, but also afferent neurons and local circuit neurons. Thanks to its high degree of connectivity, combined with neuronal plasticity and memory capacity, the ICNS allows for a beat-to-beat control of all cardiac functions and responses as well as integration with extracardiac and higher centers for longer-term cardiovascular reflexes. The present review provides a detailed overview of the current knowledge of the bidirectional connection between the ICNS and the most studied cardiac pathologies/conditions (myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmias and heart transplant) and the potential therapeutic implications. Indeed, GP modulation with efferent activity inhibition, differently achieved, has been studied for atrial fibrillation and functional bradyarrhythmias, while GP modulation with efferent activity stimulation has been evaluated for myocardial infarction, heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias. Electrical therapy has the unique potential to allow for both kinds of ICNS modulation while preserving the anatomical integrity of the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Giannino
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Valentina Braia
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Carola Griffith Brookles
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Federico Giacobbe
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Fabrizio D'Ascenzo
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Filippo Angelini
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Andrea Saglietto
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Gaetano Maria De Ferrari
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Veronica Dusi
- Cardiology, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10124 Torino, Italy
- Division of Cardiology, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, 'Città della Salute e della Scienza' Hospital, 10126 Torino, Italy
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Koncz I, Verkerk AO, Nicastro M, Wilders R, Árpádffy-Lovas T, Magyar T, Tóth N, Nagy N, Madrid M, Lin Z, Efimov IR. Acetylcholine Reduces IKr and Prolongs Action Potentials in Human Ventricular Cardiomyocytes. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020244. [PMID: 35203454 PMCID: PMC8869322 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) has a meaningful basis as a potentially effective treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. There is an ongoing VNS randomized study, and four studies are completed. However, relatively little is known about the effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on repolarization in human ventricular cardiomyocytes, as well as the effect of ACh on the rapid component of the delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr). Here, we investigated the effect of ACh on the action potential parameters in human ventricular preparations and on IKr in human induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). Using standard microelectrode technique, we demonstrated that ACh (5 µM) significantly increased the action potential duration in human left ventricular myocardial slices. ACh (5 µM) also prolonged repolarization in a human Purkinje fiber and a papillary muscle. Optical mapping revealed that ACh increased the action potential duration in human left ventricular myocardial slices and that the effect was dose-dependent. Perforated patch clamp experiments demonstrated action potential prolongation and a significant decrease in IKr by ACh (5 µM) in hiPSC-CMs. Computer simulations of the electrical activity of a human ventricular cardiomyocyte showed an increase in action potential duration upon implementation of the experimentally observed ACh-induced changes in the fully activated conductance and steady-state activation of IKr. Our findings support the hypothesis that ACh can influence the repolarization in human ventricular cardiomyocytes by at least changes in IKr.
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Affiliation(s)
- István Koncz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (I.K.); (M.M.); (Z.L.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 6721 Szeged, Hungary; (T.Á.-L.); (T.M.); (N.T.); (N.N.)
| | - Arie O. Verkerk
- Heart Center, Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.O.V.); (M.N.)
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Michele Nicastro
- Heart Center, Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.O.V.); (M.N.)
| | - Ronald Wilders
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
| | - Tamás Árpádffy-Lovas
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 6721 Szeged, Hungary; (T.Á.-L.); (T.M.); (N.T.); (N.N.)
| | - Tibor Magyar
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 6721 Szeged, Hungary; (T.Á.-L.); (T.M.); (N.T.); (N.N.)
| | - Noémi Tóth
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 6721 Szeged, Hungary; (T.Á.-L.); (T.M.); (N.T.); (N.N.)
| | - Norbert Nagy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School, University of Szeged, 6721 Szeged, Hungary; (T.Á.-L.); (T.M.); (N.T.); (N.N.)
- ELKH-SZTE Research Group of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 6721 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Micah Madrid
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (I.K.); (M.M.); (Z.L.)
| | - Zexu Lin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (I.K.); (M.M.); (Z.L.)
| | - Igor R. Efimov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA; (I.K.); (M.M.); (Z.L.)
- Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-202-294-8182
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