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Li T, Marashly Q, Kim JA, Li N, Chelu MG. Cardiac conduction diseases: understanding the molecular mechanisms to uncover targets for future treatments. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2024; 28:385-400. [PMID: 38700451 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2024.2351501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The cardiac conduction system (CCS) is crucial for maintaining adequate cardiac frequency at rest and modulation during exercise. Furthermore, the atrioventricular node and His-Purkinje system are essential for maintaining atrioventricular and interventricular synchrony and consequently maintaining an adequate cardiac output. AREAS COVERED In this review article, we examine the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of the CCS. We then discuss in detail the most common genetic mutations and the molecular mechanisms of cardiac conduction disease (CCD) and provide our perspectives on future research and therapeutic opportunities in this field. EXPERT OPINION Significant advancement has been made in understanding the molecular mechanisms of CCD, including the recognition of the heterogeneous signaling at the subcellular levels of sinoatrial node, the involvement of inflammatory and autoimmune mechanisms, and the potential impact of epigenetic regulations on CCD. However, the current treatment of CCD manifested as bradycardia still relies primarily on cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). On the other hand, an If specific inhibitor was developed to treat inappropriate sinus tachycardia and sinus tachycardia in heart failure patients with reduced ejection fraction. More work is needed to translate current knowledge into pharmacologic or genetic interventions for the management of CCDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Li
- Department of Medicine (Section of Cardiovascular Research), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Qussay Marashly
- Department of Cardiology, Montefiore Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jitae A Kim
- Division of CardiovasculMedicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Na Li
- Department of Medicine (Section of Cardiovascular Research), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mihail G Chelu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Medicine (Division of Cardiology), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX, USA
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2
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Broman MT, Nadadur RD, Perez-Cervantes C, Burnicka-Turek O, Lazarevic S, Gams A, Laforest B, Steimle JD, Iddir S, Wang Z, Smith L, Mazurek SR, Olivey HE, Zhou P, Gadek M, Shen KM, Khan Z, Theisen JW, Yang XH, Ikegami K, Efimov IR, Pu WT, Weber CR, McNally EM, Svensson EC, Moskowitz IP. A Genomic Link From Heart Failure to Atrial Fibrillation Risk: FOG2 Modulates a TBX5/GATA4-Dependent Atrial Gene Regulatory Network. Circulation 2024; 149:1205-1230. [PMID: 38189150 PMCID: PMC11152454 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.066804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) is clear, with up to half of patients with HF progressing to AF. The pathophysiological basis of AF in the context of HF is presumed to result from atrial remodeling. Upregulation of the transcription factor FOG2 (friend of GATA2; encoded by ZFPM2) is observed in human ventricles during HF and causes HF in mice. METHODS FOG2 expression was assessed in human atria. The effect of adult-specific FOG2 overexpression in the mouse heart was evaluated by whole animal electrophysiology, in vivo organ electrophysiology, cellular electrophysiology, calcium flux, mouse genetic interactions, gene expression, and genomic function, including a novel approach for defining functional transcription factor interactions based on overlapping effects on enhancer noncoding transcription. RESULTS FOG2 is significantly upregulated in the human atria during HF. Adult cardiomyocyte-specific FOG2 overexpression in mice caused primary spontaneous AF before the development of HF or atrial remodeling. FOG2 overexpression generated arrhythmia substrate and trigger in cardiomyocytes, including calcium cycling defects. We found that FOG2 repressed atrial gene expression promoted by TBX5. FOG2 bound a subset of GATA4 and TBX5 co-bound genomic locations, defining a shared atrial gene regulatory network. FOG2 repressed TBX5-dependent transcription from a subset of co-bound enhancers, including a conserved enhancer at the Atp2a2 locus. Atrial rhythm abnormalities in mice caused by Tbx5 haploinsufficiency were rescued by Zfpm2 haploinsufficiency. CONCLUSIONS Transcriptional changes in the atria observed in human HF directly antagonize the atrial rhythm gene regulatory network, providing a genomic link between HF and AF risk independent of atrial remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T. Broman
- Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Rangarajan D. Nadadur
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Carlos Perez-Cervantes
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Ozanna Burnicka-Turek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Sonja Lazarevic
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Anna Gams
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University
| | - Brigitte Laforest
- Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Jeffrey D. Steimle
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Sabrina Iddir
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Zhezhen Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Linsin Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Stefan R. Mazurek
- Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Harold E. Olivey
- Department of Biology, Indiana University Northwest, Gary, IN 46408
| | | | - Margaret Gadek
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Kaitlyn M. Shen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Zoheb Khan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Joshua W.M. Theisen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Xinan H. Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Kohta Ikegami
- Division of Molecular and Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229
| | - Igor R. Efimov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University
| | - William T. Pu
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115
| | | | - Elizabeth M. McNally
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Superior, SQ5-516, Chicago, IL 60611
| | | | - Ivan P. Moskowitz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
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3
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Tubeeckx MRL, De Keulenaer GW, Heidbuchel H, Segers VFM. Pathophysiology and clinical relevance of atrial myopathy. Basic Res Cardiol 2024; 119:215-242. [PMID: 38472506 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-024-01038-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Atrial myopathy is a condition that consists of electrical, structural, contractile, and autonomic remodeling of the atria and is the substrate for development of atrial fibrillation, the most common arrhythmia. Pathophysiologic mechanisms driving atrial myopathy are inflammation, oxidative stress, atrial stretch, and neurohormonal signals, e.g., angiotensin-II and aldosterone. These mechanisms initiate the structural and functional remodeling of the atrial myocardium. Novel therapeutic strategies are being developed that target the pathophysiologic mechanisms of atrial myopathy. In this review, we will discuss the pathophysiology of atrial myopathy, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel R L Tubeeckx
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, Universiteitsplein 1, Building T (2nd Floor), 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Gilles W De Keulenaer
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, Universiteitsplein 1, Building T (2nd Floor), 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, ZNA Middelheim Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Hein Heidbuchel
- Research Group Cardiovascular Diseases, GENCOR, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Vincent F M Segers
- Laboratory of Physiopharmacology, Universiteitsplein 1, Building T (2nd Floor), 2610, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
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4
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Vinciguerra M, Dobrev D, Nattel S. Atrial fibrillation: pathophysiology, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE 2024; 37:100785. [PMID: 38362554 PMCID: PMC10866930 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia affecting up to 1% of the general population. Its prevalence dramatically increases with age and could reach up to ∼10% in the elderly. The management of AF is a complex issue that is object of extensive ongoing basic and clinical research, it depends on its genetic and epigenetic causes, and it varies considerably geographically and also according to the ethnicity. Mechanistically, over the last decade, Genome Wide Association Studies have uncovered over 100 genetic loci associated with AF, and have shown that European ancestry is associated with elevated risk of AF. These AF-associated loci revolve around different types of disturbances, including inflammation, electrical abnormalities, and structural remodeling. Moreover, the discovery of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, involving non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation and histone modification, has allowed unravelling what modifications reshape the processes leading to arrhythmias. Our review provides a current state of the field regarding the identification and functional characterization of AF-related genetic and epigenetic regulatory networks, including ethnic differences. We discuss clear and emerging connections between genetic regulation and pathophysiological mechanisms of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manlio Vinciguerra
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
- Department of Medicine and Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stanley Nattel
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
- Department of Medicine and Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- IHU LIRYC and Fondation Bordeaux Université, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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5
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Jonker T, Barnett P, Boink GJJ, Christoffels VM. Role of Genetic Variation in Transcriptional Regulatory Elements in Heart Rhythm. Cells 2023; 13:4. [PMID: 38201209 PMCID: PMC10777909 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic predisposition to cardiac arrhythmias has been a field of intense investigation. Research initially focused on rare hereditary arrhythmias, but over the last two decades, the role of genetic variation (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in heart rate, rhythm, and arrhythmias has been taken into consideration as well. In particular, genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of genomic loci associated with quantitative electrocardiographic traits, atrial fibrillation, and less common arrhythmias such as Brugada syndrome. A significant number of associated variants have been found to systematically localize in non-coding regulatory elements that control the tissue-specific and temporal transcription of genes encoding transcription factors, ion channels, and other proteins. However, the identification of causal variants and the mechanism underlying their impact on phenotype has proven difficult due to the complex tissue-specific, time-resolved, condition-dependent, and combinatorial function of regulatory elements, as well as their modest conservation across different model species. In this review, we discuss research efforts aimed at identifying and characterizing-trait-associated variant regulatory elements and the molecular mechanisms underlying their impact on heart rate or rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Jonker
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
| | - Phil Barnett
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
| | - Gerard J. J. Boink
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent M. Christoffels
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
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6
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Benzoni P, Da Dalt L, Elia N, Popolizio V, Cospito A, Giannetti F, Dell’Era P, Olesen MS, Bucchi A, Baruscotti M, Norata GD, Barbuti A. PITX2 gain-of-function mutation associated with atrial fibrillation alters mitochondrial activity in human iPSC atrial-like cardiomyocytes. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1250951. [PMID: 38028792 PMCID: PMC10679737 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1250951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide; however, the underlying causes of AF initiation are still poorly understood, particularly because currently available models do not allow in distinguishing the initial causes from maladaptive remodeling that induces and perpetuates AF. Lately, the genetic background has been proven to be important in the AF onset. iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, being patient- and mutation-specific, may help solve this diatribe by showing the initial cell-autonomous changes underlying the development of the disease. Transcription factor paired-like homeodomain 2 (PITX2) has been identified as a key regulator of atrial development/differentiation, and the PITX2 genomic locus has the highest association with paroxysmal AF. PITX2 influences mitochondrial activity, and alterations in either its expression or function have been widely associated with AF. In this work, we investigate the activity of mitochondria in iPSC-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (aCMs) obtained from a young patient (24 years old) with paroxysmal AF, carrying a gain-of-function mutation in PITX2 (rs138163892) and from its isogenic control (CTRL) in which the heterozygous point mutation has been reverted to WT. PITX2 aCMs show a higher mitochondrial content, increased mitochondrial activity, and superoxide production under basal conditions when compared to CTRL aCMs. However, increasing mitochondrial workload by FCCP or β-adrenergic stimulation allows us to unmask mitochondrial defects in PITX2 aCMs, which are incapable of responding efficiently to the higher energy demand, determining ATP deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Benzoni
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Da Dalt
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Noemi Elia
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
- Cell Factory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Vera Popolizio
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cospito
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Giannetti
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
- Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Patrizia Dell’Era
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Morten S. Olesen
- The Heart Centre, Rigshospitalet, Laboratory for Molecular Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Annalisa Bucchi
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Mirko Baruscotti
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Danilo Norata
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Barbuti
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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7
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Grzeczka A, Graczyk S, Kordowitzki P. DNA Methylation and Telomeres-Their Impact on the Occurrence of Atrial Fibrillation during Cardiac Aging. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15699. [PMID: 37958686 PMCID: PMC10650750 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in humans. AF is characterized by irregular and increased atrial muscle activation. This high-frequency activation obliterates the synchronous work of the atria and ventricles, reducing myocardial performance, which can lead to severe heart failure or stroke. The risk of developing atrial fibrillation depends largely on the patient's history. Cardiovascular diseases are considered aging-related pathologies; therefore, deciphering the role of telomeres and DNA methylation (mDNA), two hallmarks of aging, is likely to contribute to a better understanding and prophylaxis of AF. In honor of Prof. Elizabeth Blackburn's 75th birthday, we dedicate this review to the discovery of telomeres and her contribution to research on aging.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pawel Kordowitzki
- Department for Basic and Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Szosa Bydgoska 13, 87-100 Torun, Poland
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8
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Selewa A, Luo K, Wasney M, Smith L, Sun X, Tang C, Eckart H, Moskowitz IP, Basu A, He X, Pott S. Single-cell genomics improves the discovery of risk variants and genes of atrial fibrillation. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4999. [PMID: 37591828 PMCID: PMC10435551 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40505-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have linked hundreds of loci to cardiac diseases. However, in most loci the causal variants and their target genes remain unknown. We developed a combined experimental and analytical approach that integrates single cell epigenomics with GWAS to prioritize risk variants and genes. We profiled accessible chromatin in single cells obtained from human hearts and leveraged the data to study genetics of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Enrichment analysis of AF risk variants using cell-type-resolved open chromatin regions (OCRs) implicated cardiomyocytes as the main mediator of AF risk. We then performed statistical fine-mapping, leveraging the information in OCRs, and identified putative causal variants in 122 AF-associated loci. Taking advantage of the fine-mapping results, our novel statistical procedure for gene discovery prioritized 46 high-confidence risk genes, highlighting transcription factors and signal transduction pathways important for heart development. In summary, our analysis provides a comprehensive map of AF risk variants and genes, and a general framework to integrate single-cell genomics with genetic studies of complex traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Selewa
- Biophysical Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Kaixuan Luo
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Michael Wasney
- Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Linsin Smith
- Committee on Genetics, Genomics and Systems Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Xiaotong Sun
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Chenwei Tang
- The College, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Heather Eckart
- Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Ivan P Moskowitz
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Anindita Basu
- Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Xin He
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Sebastian Pott
- Department of Medicine, Section of Genetic Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
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9
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Wass SY, Smith JD, Chung MK. Connecting the Dots From GWAS to Function in Atrial Fibrillation for ZFHX3. Circ Res 2023; 133:330-332. [PMID: 37535755 PMCID: PMC10403289 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.323281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sojin Y Wass
- The Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, and the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, OH
| | - Jonathan D Smith
- The Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, and the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, OH
| | - Mina K Chung
- The Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute, and the Department of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, OH
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10
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Hu D, Barajas-Martinez H, Zhang ZH, Duan HY, Zhao QY, Bao MW, Du YM, Burashnikov A, Monasky MM, Pappone C, Huang CX, Antzelevitch C, Jiang H. Advances in basic and translational research in atrial fibrillation. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220174. [PMID: 37122214 PMCID: PMC10150218 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a very common cardiac arrhythmia with an estimated prevalence of 33.5 million patients globally. It is associated with an increased risk of death, stroke and peripheral embolism. Although genetic studies have identified a growing number of genes associated with AF, the definitive impact of these genetic findings is yet to be established. Several mechanisms, including electrical, structural and neural remodelling of atrial tissue, have been proposed to contribute to the development of AF. Despite over a century of exploration, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying AF have not been fully established. Current antiarrhythmic drugs are associated with a significant rate of adverse events and management of AF using ablation is not optimal, especially in cases of persistent AF. This review discusses recent advances in our understanding and management of AF, including new concepts of epidemiology, genetics and pathophysiological mechanisms. We review the current status of antiarrhythmic drug therapy for AF, new potential agents, as well as mechanism-based AF ablation. This article is part of the theme issue 'The heartbeat: its molecular basis and physiological mechanisms'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Hu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Hector Barajas-Martinez
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, and Lankenau Heart Institute, Wynnwood, PA 19096, USA
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zhong-He Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Yi Duan
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing-Yan Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming-Wei Bao
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Mei Du
- Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, People's Republic of China
| | - Alexander Burashnikov
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, and Lankenau Heart Institute, Wynnwood, PA 19096, USA
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michelle M. Monasky
- Arrhythmology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan 20097, Italy
| | - Carlo Pappone
- Arrhythmology Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan 20097, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Cardiology (IMTC), San Donato Milanese, Milan 20097, Italy
| | - Cong-Xin Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Charles Antzelevitch
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, and Lankenau Heart Institute, Wynnwood, PA 19096, USA
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Cardiovascular Research Institute of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, People's Republic of China
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11
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Scarpa JR, Elemento O. Multi-omic molecular profiling and network biology for precision anaesthesiology: a narrative review. Br J Anaesth 2023:S0007-0912(23)00125-3. [PMID: 37055274 DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2023.03.006] [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: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Technological advancement, data democratisation, and decreasing costs have led to a revolution in molecular biology in which the entire set of DNA, RNA, proteins, and various other molecules - the 'multi-omic' profile - can be measured in humans. Sequencing 1 million bases of human DNA now costs US$0.01, and emerging technologies soon promise to reduce the cost of sequencing the whole genome to US$100. These trends have made it feasible to sample the multi-omic profile of millions of people, much of which is publicly available for medical research. Can anaesthesiologists use these data to improve patient care? This narrative review brings together a rapidly growing literature in multi-omic profiling across numerous fields that points to the future of precision anaesthesiology. Here, we discuss how DNA, RNA, proteins, and other molecules interact in molecular networks that can be used for preoperative risk stratification, intraoperative optimisation, and postoperative monitoring. This literature provides evidence for four fundamental insights: (1) Clinically similar patients have different molecular profiles and, as a consequence, different outcomes. (2) Vast, publicly available, and rapidly growing molecular datasets have been generated in chronic disease patients and can be repurposed to estimate perioperative risk. (3) Multi-omic networks are altered in the perioperative period and influence postoperative outcomes. (4) Multi-omic networks can serve as empirical, molecular measurements of a successful postoperative course. With this burgeoning universe of molecular data, the anaesthesiologist-of-the-future will tailor their clinical management to an individual's multi-omic profile to optimise postoperative outcomes and long-term health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Scarpa
- Department of Anesthesiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Olivier Elemento
- Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
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12
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Hennings E, Blum S, Aeschbacher S, Coslovsky M, Knecht S, Eken C, Lischer M, Paladini RE, Krisai P, Reichlin T, Rodondi N, Beer JH, Ammann P, Conte G, De Perna ML, Kobza R, Blum MR, Bossard M, Kastner P, Ziegler A, Müller C, Bonati LH, Pfister O, Zuern CS, Conen D, Kühne M, Osswald S. Bone Morphogenetic Protein 10-A Novel Biomarker to Predict Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. J Am Heart Assoc 2023; 12:e028255. [PMID: 36926939 PMCID: PMC10111531 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.122.028255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Background Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) face an increased risk of death and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We aimed to assess the predictive value of the novel atrial-specific biomarker BMP10 (bone morphogenetic protein 10) for death and MACE in patients with AF in comparison with NT-proBNP (N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide). Methods and Results BMP10 and NT-proBNP were measured in patients with AF enrolled in Swiss-AF (Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Study), a prospective multicenter cohort study. A total of 2219 patients were included (median follow-up 4.3 years [interquartile range 3.9, 5.1], mean age 73±9 years, 73% male). In multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) associated with 1 ng/mL increase of BMP10 was 1.60 (95% CI, 1.37-1.87) for all-cause death, and 1.54 (95% CI, 1.35-1.76) for MACE. For all-cause death, the concordance index was 0.783 (95% CI, 0.763-0.809) for BMP10, 0.784 (95% CI, 0.765-0.810) for NT-proBNP, and 0.789 (95% CI, 0.771-0.815) for both biomarkers combined. For MACE, the concordance index was 0.732 (95% CI, 0.715-0.754) for BMP10, 0.747 (95% CI, 0.731-0.768) for NT-proBNP, and 0.750 (95% CI, 0.734-0.771) for both biomarkers combined. When grouping patients according to NT-proBNP categories (<300, 300-900, >900 ng/L), higher aHRs were observed in patients with high BMP10 in the categories of low NT-proBNP (all-cause death aHR, 2.28 [95% CI, 1.15-4.52], MACE aHR, 1.88 [95% CI, 1.07-3.28]) and high NT-proBNP (all-cause death aHR, 1.61 [95% CI, 1.14-2.26], MACE aHR, 1.38 [95% CI, 1.07-1.80]). Conclusions BMP10 strongly predicted all-cause death and MACE in patients with AF. BMP10 provided additional prognostic information in low- and high-risk patients according to NT-proBNP stratification. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02105844.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Hennings
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Steffen Blum
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Stefanie Aeschbacher
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Michael Coslovsky
- Department of Clinical ResearchUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Sven Knecht
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Ceylan Eken
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Mirko Lischer
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Rebecca E. Paladini
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Philipp Krisai
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Tobias Reichlin
- Department of CardiologyInselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Nicolas Rodondi
- Department of General Internal MedicineInselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of BernBernSwitzerland
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM)University of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Jürg H. Beer
- Department of Internal MedicineCantonal Hospital BadenBadenSwitzerland
| | - Peter Ammann
- Department of CardiologyKantonsspital St. GallenSt. GallenSwitzerland
| | - Giulio Conte
- Cardiocentro Ticino InstituteEnte Ospedaliero CantonaleLuganoSwitzerland
| | | | - Richard Kobza
- Cardiology DivisionHeart Center, Luzerner KantonsspitalLuzernSwitzerland
| | - Manuel R. Blum
- Department of General Internal MedicineInselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of BernBernSwitzerland
- Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM)University of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Matthias Bossard
- Cardiology DivisionHeart Center, Luzerner KantonsspitalLuzernSwitzerland
| | | | - André Ziegler
- Roche Diagnostics International AGRotkreuzSwitzerland
| | - Christian Müller
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Leo H. Bonati
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Department of Neurology and Stroke CenterUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Otmar Pfister
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Christine S. Zuern
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - David Conen
- Population Health Research InstituteMcMaster UniversityHamiltonCanada
| | - Michael Kühne
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Stefan Osswald
- Cardiovascular Research Institute BaselUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- CardiologyUniversity Hospital Basel, University of BaselBaselSwitzerland
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13
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Kefayati F, Karimi Babaahmadi A, Mousavi T, Hodjat M, Abdollahi M. Epigenotoxicity: a danger to the future life. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART A, TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2023; 58:382-411. [PMID: 36942370 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2023.2190713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Environmental toxicants can regulate gene expression in the absence of DNA mutations via epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs' (ncRNAs). Here, all three epigenetic modifications for seven important categories of diseases and the impact of eleven main environmental factors on epigenetic modifications were discussed. Epigenetic-related mechanisms are among the factors that could explain the root cause of a wide range of common diseases. Its overall impression on the development of diseases can help us diagnose and treat diseases, and besides, predict transgenerational and intergenerational effects. This comprehensive article attempted to address the relationship between environmental factors and epigenetic modifications that cause diseases in different categories. The studies main gap is that the precise role of environmentally-induced epigenetic alterations in the etiology of the disorders is unknown; thus, still more well-designed researches need to be accomplished to fill this gap. The present review aimed to first summarize the adverse effect of certain chemicals on the epigenome that may involve in the onset of particular disease based on in vitro and in vivo models. Subsequently, the possible adverse epigenetic changes that can lead to many human diseases were discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Kefayati
- Toxicology and Diseases Group (TDG), Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center (PSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atoosa Karimi Babaahmadi
- Toxicology and Diseases Group (TDG), Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center (PSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Taraneh Mousavi
- Toxicology and Diseases Group (TDG), Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center (PSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahshid Hodjat
- Toxicology and Diseases Group (TDG), Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center (PSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Dental Research Center, Dentistry Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Abdollahi
- Toxicology and Diseases Group (TDG), Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center (PSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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14
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van Kampen SJ, Han SJ, van Ham WB, Kyriakopoulou E, Stouthart EW, Goversen B, Monshouwer-Kloots J, Perini I, de Ruiter H, van der Kraak P, Vink A, van Laake LW, Groeneweg JA, de Boer TP, Tsui H, Boogerd CJ, van Veen TAB, van Rooij E. PITX2 induction leads to impaired cardiomyocyte function in arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:749-764. [PMID: 36868229 PMCID: PMC10031305 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is an inherited progressive disease characterized by electrophysiological and structural remodeling of the ventricles. However, the disease-causing molecular pathways, as a consequence of desmosomal mutations, are poorly understood. Here, we identified a novel missense mutation within desmoplakin in a patient clinically diagnosed with ACM. Using CRISPR-Cas9, we corrected this mutation in patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and generated an independent knockin hiPSC line carrying the same mutation. Mutant cardiomyocytes displayed a decline in connexin 43, NaV1.5, and desmosomal proteins, which was accompanied by a prolonged action potential duration. Interestingly, paired-like homeodomain 2 (PITX2), a transcription factor that acts a repressor of connexin 43, NaV1.5, and desmoplakin, was induced in mutant cardiomyocytes. We validated these results in control cardiomyocytes in which PITX2 was either depleted or overexpressed. Importantly, knockdown of PITX2 in patient-derived cardiomyocytes is sufficient to restore the levels of desmoplakin, connexin 43, and NaV1.5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiaan J van Kampen
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Su Ji Han
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Willem B van Ham
- Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Eirini Kyriakopoulou
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth W Stouthart
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Birgit Goversen
- Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Physiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Location VU Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Jantine Monshouwer-Kloots
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ilaria Perini
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hesther de Ruiter
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Petra van der Kraak
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Aryan Vink
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Linda W van Laake
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Judith A Groeneweg
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Teun P de Boer
- Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Hoyee Tsui
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Cornelis J Boogerd
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Toon A B van Veen
- Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Eva van Rooij
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center Utrecht, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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15
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Schulz C, Lemoine MD, Mearini G, Koivumäki J, Sani J, Schwedhelm E, Kirchhof P, Ghalawinji A, Stoll M, Hansen A, Eschenhagen T, Christ T. PITX2 Knockout Induces Key Findings of Electrical Remodeling as Seen in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2023; 16:e011602. [PMID: 36763906 DOI: 10.1161/circep.122.011602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electrical remodeling in human persistent atrial fibrillation is believed to result from rapid electrical activation of the atria, but underlying genetic causes may contribute. Indeed, common gene variants in an enhancer region close to PITX2 (paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2) are strongly associated with atrial fibrillation, but the mechanism behind this association remains unknown. This study evaluated the consequences of PITX2 deletion (PITX2-/-) in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes. METHODS CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated 9) was used to delete PITX2 in a healthy human iPSC line that served as isogenic control. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes were differentiated with unfiltered retinoic acid and cultured in atrial engineered heart tissue. Force and action potential were measured in atrial engineered heart tissues. Single human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes were isolated from atrial engineered heart tissue for ion current measurements. RESULTS PITX2-/- atrial engineered heart tissue beats slightly slower than isogenic control without irregularity. Force was lower in PITX2-/- than in isogenic control (0.053±0.015 versus 0.131±0.017 mN, n=28/3 versus n=28/4, PITX2-/- versus isogenic control; P<0.0001), accompanied by lower expression of CACNA1C and lower L-type Ca2+ current density. Early repolarization was weaker (action potential duration at 20% repolarization; 45.5±13.2 versus 8.6±5.3 ms, n=18/3 versus n=12/4, PITX2-/- versus isogenic control; P<0.0001), and maximum diastolic potential was more negative (-78.3±3.1 versus -69.7±0.6 mV, n=18/3 versus n=12/4, PITX2-/- versus isogenic control; P=0.001), despite normal inward rectifier currents (both IK1 and IK,ACh) and carbachol-induced shortening of action potential duration. CONCLUSIONS Complete PITX2 deficiency in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes recapitulates some findings of electrical remodeling of atrial fibrillation in the absence of fast beating, indicating that these abnormalities could be primary consequences of lower PITX2 levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Schulz
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
| | - Marc D Lemoine
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany (M.D.L., A.H., P.K., T.E., T.C.)
| | - Giulia Mearini
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
- DiNAQOR AG, Pfäffikon, Switzerland (G.M., P.K.)
| | - Jussi Koivumäki
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Finland (J.K.)
| | - Jascha Sani
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
| | - Edzard Schwedhelm
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (E.S.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
| | - Paulus Kirchhof
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany (M.D.L., A.H., P.K., T.E., T.C.)
- DiNAQOR AG, Pfäffikon, Switzerland (G.M., P.K.)
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom (P.K.)
| | - Amer Ghalawinji
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Germany (A.G., M.S.)
| | - Monika Stoll
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Germany (A.G., M.S.)
- Department of Biochemistry, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Sciences, Maastricht University, the Netherlands (M.S.)
| | - Arne Hansen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany (M.D.L., A.H., P.K., T.E., T.C.)
| | - Thomas Eschenhagen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany (M.D.L., A.H., P.K., T.E., T.C.)
| | - Torsten Christ
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany (M.D.L., A.H., P.K., T.E., T.C.)
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16
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Chapski DJ, Vondriska TM. Unwind to the beat: chromatin and cardiac conduction. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:165663. [PMID: 36719369 PMCID: PMC9888370 DOI: 10.1172/jci165663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
How chromatin accessibility and structure endow highly specialized cells with their unique phenotypes is an area of intense investigation. In the mammalian heart, an exclusive subset of cardiac cells comprise the conduction system. Many molecular components of this system are well studied and genetic variation in some of the components induces abnormal cardiac conduction. However, genetic risk for cardiac arrhythmias in human populations also occurs in noncoding regions. A study by Bhattacharyya, Kollipara, et al. in this issue of the JCI examines how chromatin accessibility and structure may explain the mechanisms by which noncoding variants increase susceptibility to cardiac arrhythmias. We discuss the implications of these findings for cell type-specific gene regulation and highlight potential therapeutic strategies to engineer locus-specific epigenomic remodeling in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas M. Vondriska
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine,,Department of Medicine, and,Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
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17
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Bosada FM, van Duijvenboden K, Giovou AE, Rivaud MR, Uhm JS, Verkerk AO, Boukens BJ, Christoffels VM. An atrial fibrillation-associated regulatory region modulates cardiac Tbx5 levels and arrhythmia susceptibility. eLife 2023; 12:80317. [PMID: 36715501 PMCID: PMC9928424 DOI: 10.7554/elife.80317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart development and rhythm control are highly Tbx5 dosage-sensitive. TBX5 haploinsufficiency causes congenital conduction disorders, whereas increased expression levels of TBX5 in human heart samples has been associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). We deleted the conserved mouse orthologues of two independent AF-associated genomic regions in the Tbx5 locus, one intronic (RE(int)) and one downstream (RE(down)) of Tbx5. In both lines, we observed a modest (30%) increase of Tbx5 in the postnatal atria. To gain insight into the effects of slight dosage increase in vivo, we investigated the atrial transcriptional, epigenetic and electrophysiological properties of both lines. Increased atrial Tbx5 expression was associated with induction of genes involved in development, ion transport and conduction, with increased susceptibility to atrial arrhythmias, and increased action potential duration of atrial cardiomyocytes. We identified an AF-associated variant in the human RE(int) that increases its transcriptional activity. Expression of the AF-associated transcription factor Prrx1 was induced in Tbx5RE(int)KO cardiomyocytes. We found that some of the transcriptional and functional changes in the atria caused by increased Tbx5 expression were normalized when reducing cardiac Prrx1 expression in Tbx5RE(int)KO mice, indicating an interaction between these two AF genes. We conclude that modest increases in expression of dose-dependent transcription factors, caused by common regulatory variants, significantly impact on the cardiac gene regulatory network and disease susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda M Bosada
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Karel van Duijvenboden
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Alexandra E Giovou
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Mathilde R Rivaud
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Jae-Sun Uhm
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Severance Hospital, College of Medicine, Yonsei UniversitySeoulRepublic of Korea
| | - Arie O Verkerk
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
| | - Bastiaan J Boukens
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
- Department of Physiology, University of Maastricht, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical CenterMaastrichtNetherlands
| | - Vincent M Christoffels
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of AmsterdamAmsterdamNetherlands
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18
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van der Velden J, Asselbergs FW, Bakkers J, Batkai S, Bertrand L, Bezzina CR, Bot I, Brundel BJJM, Carrier L, Chamuleau S, Ciccarelli M, Dawson D, Davidson SM, Dendorfer A, Duncker DJ, Eschenhagen T, Fabritz L, Falcão-Pires I, Ferdinandy P, Giacca M, Girao H, Gollmann-Tepeköylü C, Gyongyosi M, Guzik TJ, Hamdani N, Heymans S, Hilfiker A, Hilfiker-Kleiner D, Hoekstra AG, Hulot JS, Kuster DWD, van Laake LW, Lecour S, Leiner T, Linke WA, Lumens J, Lutgens E, Madonna R, Maegdefessel L, Mayr M, van der Meer P, Passier R, Perbellini F, Perrino C, Pesce M, Priori S, Remme CA, Rosenhahn B, Schotten U, Schulz R, Sipido KR, Sluijter JPG, van Steenbeek F, Steffens S, Terracciano CM, Tocchetti CG, Vlasman P, Yeung KK, Zacchigna S, Zwaagman D, Thum T. Animal models and animal-free innovations for cardiovascular research: current status and routes to be explored. Consensus document of the ESC Working Group on Myocardial Function and the ESC Working Group on Cellular Biology of the Heart. Cardiovasc Res 2022; 118:3016-3051. [PMID: 34999816 PMCID: PMC9732557 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality, necessitating research to improve diagnostics, and to discover and test novel preventive and curative therapies, all of which warrant experimental models that recapitulate human disease. The translation of basic science results to clinical practice is a challenging task, in particular for complex conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, which often result from multiple risk factors and comorbidities. This difficulty might lead some individuals to question the value of animal research, citing the translational 'valley of death', which largely reflects the fact that studies in rodents are difficult to translate to humans. This is also influenced by the fact that new, human-derived in vitro models can recapitulate aspects of disease processes. However, it would be a mistake to think that animal models do not represent a vital step in the translational pathway as they do provide important pathophysiological insights into disease mechanisms particularly on an organ and systemic level. While stem cell-derived human models have the potential to become key in testing toxicity and effectiveness of new drugs, we need to be realistic, and carefully validate all new human-like disease models. In this position paper, we highlight recent advances in trying to reduce the number of animals for cardiovascular research ranging from stem cell-derived models to in situ modelling of heart properties, bioinformatic models based on large datasets, and state-of-the-art animal models, which show clinically relevant characteristics observed in patients with a cardiovascular disease. We aim to provide a guide to help researchers in their experimental design to translate bench findings to clinical routine taking the replacement, reduction, and refinement (3R) as a guiding concept.
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Grants
- R01 HL150359 NHLBI NIH HHS
- RG/16/14/32397 British Heart Foundation
- FS/18/37/33642 British Heart Foundation
- PG/17/64/33205 British Heart Foundation
- PG/15/88/31780 British Heart Foundation
- FS/RTF/20/30009, NH/19/1/34595, PG/18/35/33786, CS/17/4/32960, PG/15/88/31780, and PG/17/64/33205 British Heart Foundation
- NC/T001488/1 National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research
- PG/18/44/33790 British Heart Foundation
- CH/16/3/32406 British Heart Foundation
- FS/RTF/20/30009 British Heart Foundation
- NWO-ZonMW
- ZonMW and Heart Foundation for the translational research program
- Dutch Cardiovascular Alliance (DCVA)
- Leducq Foundation
- Dutch Research Council
- Association of Collaborating Health Foundations (SGF)
- UCL Hospitals NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, and the DCVA
- Netherlands CardioVascular Research Initiative CVON
- Stichting Hartekind and the Dutch Research Counsel (NWO) (OCENW.GROOT.2019.029)
- National Fund for Scientific Research, Belgium and Action de Recherche Concertée de la Communauté Wallonie-Bruxelles, Belgium
- Netherlands CardioVascular Research Initiative CVON (PREDICT2 and CONCOR-genes projects), the Leducq Foundation
- ERA PerMed (PROCEED study)
- Netherlands Cardiovascular Research Initiative
- Dutch Heart Foundation
- German Centre of Cardiovascular Research (DZHH)
- Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland
- Tenovus Scotland
- Friends of Anchor and Grampian NHS-Endowments
- National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research
- European Research Council (ERC-AG IndivuHeart), the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- European Union Horizon 2020 (REANIMA and TRAINHEART)
- German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
- Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)
- European Union Horizon 2020
- DFG
- National Research, Development and Innovation Office of Hungary
- Research Excellence Program—TKP; National Heart Program
- Austrian Science Fund
- European Union Commission’s Seventh Framework programme
- CVON2016-Early HFPEF
- CVON She-PREDICTS
- CVON Arena-PRIME
- European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Volkswagenstiftung
- French National Research Agency
- ERA-Net-CVD
- Fédération Française de Cardiologie, the Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale
- French PIA Project
- University Research Federation against heart failure
- Netherlands Heart Foundation
- Dekker Senior Clinical Scientist
- Health Holland TKI-LSH
- TUe/UMCU/UU Alliance Fund
- south African National Foundation
- Cancer Association of South Africa and Winetech
- Netherlands Heart Foundation/Applied & Engineering Sciences
- Dutch Technology Foundation
- Pie Medical Imaging
- Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research
- Dr. Dekker Program
- Netherlands CardioVascular Research Initiative: the Dutch Heart Foundation
- Dutch Federation of University Medical Centres
- Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development and the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences for the GENIUS-II project
- Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) (VICI grant); the European Research Council
- Incyte s.r.l. and from Ministero dell’Istruzione, Università e Ricerca Scientifica
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (Junior Research Group & Translational Research Project), the European Research Council (ERC Starting Grant NORVAS),
- Swedish Heart-Lung-Foundation
- Swedish Research Council
- National Institutes of Health
- Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care through the research project DigiMed Bayern
- ERC
- ERA-CVD
- Dutch Heart Foundation, ZonMw
- the NWO Gravitation project
- Ministero dell'Istruzione, Università e Ricerca Scientifica
- Regione Lombardia
- Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development
- ITN Network Personalize AF: Personalized Therapies for Atrial Fibrillation: a translational network
- MAESTRIA: Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Early Detection Stroke Atrial Fibrillation
- REPAIR: Restoring cardiac mechanical function by polymeric artificial muscular tissue
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation)
- European Union H2020 program to the project TECHNOBEAT
- EVICARE
- BRAV3
- ZonMw
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)
- British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiac Regeneration
- British Heart Foundation studentship
- NC3Rs
- Interreg ITA-AUS project InCARDIO
- Italian Association for Cancer Research
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanda van der Velden
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Netherlands Heart Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Folkert W Asselbergs
- Division Heart & Lungs, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Faculty of Population Health Sciences, Institute of Cardiovascular Science and Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jeroen Bakkers
- Hubrecht Institute-KNAW and University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sandor Batkai
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover, Germany
| | - Luc Bertrand
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover, Germany
| | - Connie R Bezzina
- Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Pole of Cardiovascular Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ilze Bot
- Heart Center, Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC, Location Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Division of BioTherapeutics, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Bianca J J M Brundel
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lucie Carrier
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Steven Chamuleau
- Amsterdam UMC, Heart Center, Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michele Ciccarelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Odontology, University of Salerno, Fisciano (SA), Italy
| | - Dana Dawson
- Department of Cardiology, Aberdeen Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Sean M Davidson
- The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, University College London, 67 Chenies Mews, London WC1E 6HX, UK
| | - Andreas Dendorfer
- Walter-Brendel-Centre of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Dirk J Duncker
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Eschenhagen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Larissa Fabritz
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
- University Center of Cardiovascular Sciences and Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center Hamburg, Germany and Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK
| | - Ines Falcão-Pires
- UnIC - Cardiovascular Research and Development Centre, Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
| | - Péter Ferdinandy
- Cardiometabolic Research Group and MTA-SE System Pharmacology Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Pharmahungary Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Mauro Giacca
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences and Cardiovascular Department, Centre for Translational Cardiology, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Henrique Girao
- Univ Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Centre of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | | | - Mariann Gyongyosi
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Tomasz J Guzik
- Instutute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
- Jagiellonian University, Collegium Medicum, Kraków, Poland
| | - Nazha Hamdani
- Division Cardiology, Molecular and Experimental Cardiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Institute of Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Stephane Heymans
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andres Hilfiker
- Department for Cardiothoracic, Transplant, and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner
- Department for Cardiology and Angiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Cardiovascular Complications in Pregnancy and in Oncologic Therapies, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany
| | - Alfons G Hoekstra
- Computational Science Lab, Informatics Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jean-Sébastien Hulot
- Université de Paris, INSERM, PARCC, F-75015 Paris, France
- CIC1418 and DMU CARTE, AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou, F-75015 Paris, France
| | - Diederik W D Kuster
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Linda W van Laake
- Division Heart & Lungs, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sandrine Lecour
- Department of Medicine, Hatter Institute for Cardiovascular Research in Africa and Cape Heart Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Tim Leiner
- Department of Radiology, Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wolfgang A Linke
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Muenster, Robert-Koch-Str. 27B, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Joost Lumens
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Esther Lutgens
- Experimental Vascular Biology Division, Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Munich, Germany
- DZHK, Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Rosalinda Madonna
- Department of Pathology, Cardiology Division, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Division, University of Texas Medical School in Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lars Maegdefessel
- DZHK, Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Department for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Manuel Mayr
- King’s British Heart Foundation Centre, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Peter van der Meer
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Robert Passier
- Department of Applied Stem Cell Technologies, TechMed Centre, University of Twente, 7500AE Enschede, The Netherlands
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Filippo Perbellini
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover, Germany
| | - Cinzia Perrino
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Maurizio Pesce
- Unità di Ingegneria Tissutale Cardiovascolare, Centro cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Priori
- Molecular Cardiology, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri, Pavia, Italy
- University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Carol Ann Remme
- Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Pole of Cardiovascular Research, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Bodo Rosenhahn
- Institute for information Processing, Leibniz University of Hanover, 30167 Hannover, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schotten
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Rainer Schulz
- Institute of Physiology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Karin R Sipido
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joost P G Sluijter
- Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht, Circulatory Health Laboratory, Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank van Steenbeek
- Division Heart & Lungs, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sabine Steffens
- Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Munich, Germany
- DZHK, Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Carlo Gabriele Tocchetti
- Cardio-Oncology Unit, Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), Interdepartmental Center for Clinical and Translational Research (CIRCET), Interdepartmental Hypertension Research Center (CIRIAPA), Federico II University, Naples, Italy
| | - Patricia Vlasman
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kak Khee Yeung
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Surgery, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Serena Zacchigna
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences and Cardiovascular Department, Centre for Translational Cardiology, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Integrata Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Dayenne Zwaagman
- Amsterdam UMC, Heart Center, Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Thum
- Hannover Medical School, Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies, Hannover, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany
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19
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Crespo-García T, Cámara-Checa A, Dago M, Rubio-Alarcón M, Rapún J, Tamargo J, Delpón E, Caballero R. Regulation of cardiac ion channels by transcription factors: Looking for new opportunities of druggable targets for the treatment of arrhythmias. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 204:115206. [PMID: 35963339 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115206] [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: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac electrical activity is governed by different ion channels that generate action potentials. Acquired or inherited abnormalities in the expression and/or function of ion channels usually result in electrophysiological changes that can cause cardiac arrhythmias. Transcription factors (TFs) control gene transcription by binding to specific DNA sequences adjacent to target genes. Linkage analysis, candidate-gene screening within families, and genome-wide association studies have linked rare and common genetic variants in the genes encoding TFs with genetically-determined cardiac arrhythmias. Besides its critical role in cardiac development, recent data demonstrated that they control cardiac electrical activity through the direct regulation of the expression and function of cardiac ion channels in adult hearts. This narrative review summarizes some studies showing functional data on regulation of the main human atrial and ventricular Na+, Ca2+, and K+ channels by cardiac TFs such as Pitx2c, Tbx20, Tbx5, Zfhx3, among others. The results have improved our understanding of the mechanisms regulating cardiac electrical activity and may open new avenues for therapeutic interventions in cardiac acquired or inherited arrhythmias through the identification of TFs as potential drug targets. Even though TFs have for a long time been considered as 'undruggable' targets, advances in structural biology have led to the identification of unique pockets in TFs amenable to be targeted with small-molecule drugs or peptides that are emerging as novel therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Crespo-García
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - A Cámara-Checa
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - M Dago
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - M Rubio-Alarcón
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - J Rapún
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - J Tamargo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - E Delpón
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - R Caballero
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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20
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Zhao Y, Jiang D, Xia Y. Editorial: Epigenetic and transcriptional networks underlying ventricular and atrial arrhythmias. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:978891. [PMID: 35966545 PMCID: PMC9372575 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.978891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Zhao
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation of Ministry of Education, National Health Commission and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China,*Correspondence: Yuanyuan Zhao
| | - Dingsheng Jiang
- Division of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,Dingsheng Jiang
| | - Yong Xia
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States,Yong Xia
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21
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Young LJ, Antwi-Boasiako S, Ferrall J, Wold LE, Mohler PJ, El Refaey M. Genetic and non-genetic risk factors associated with atrial fibrillation. Life Sci 2022; 299:120529. [PMID: 35385795 PMCID: PMC9058231 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmic disorder and its prevalence in the United States is projected to increase to more than twelve million cases in 2030. AF increases the risk of other forms of cardiovascular disease, including stroke. As the incidence of atrial fibrillation increases dramatically with age, it is paramount to elucidate risk factors underlying AF pathogenesis. Here, we review tissue and cellular pathways underlying AF, as well as critical components that impact AF susceptibility including genetic and environmental risk factors. Finally, we provide the latest information on potential links between SARS-CoV-2 and human AF. Improved understanding of mechanistic pathways holds promise in preventative care and early diagnostics, and also introduces novel targeted forms of therapy that might attenuate AF progression and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay J Young
- The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Steve Antwi-Boasiako
- The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Joel Ferrall
- The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Loren E Wold
- The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; College of Nursing, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Peter J Mohler
- The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Mona El Refaey
- The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA; Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
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22
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Steimle JD, Grisanti Canozo FJ, Park M, Kadow ZA, Samee MAH, Martin JF. Decoding the PITX2-controlled genetic network in atrial fibrillation. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e158895. [PMID: 35471998 PMCID: PMC9221021 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.158895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia and a major risk factor for stroke, often arises through ectopic electrical impulses derived from the pulmonary veins (PVs). Sequence variants in enhancers controlling expression of the transcription factor PITX2, which is expressed in the cardiomyocytes (CMs) of the PV and left atrium (LA), have been implicated in AF predisposition. Single nuclei multiomic profiling of RNA and analysis of chromatin accessibility combined with spectral clustering uncovered distinct PV- and LA-enriched CM cell states. Pitx2-mutant PV and LA CMs exhibited gene expression changes consistent with cardiac dysfunction through cell type-distinct, PITX2-directed, cis-regulatory grammars controlling target gene expression. The perturbed network targets in each CM were enriched in distinct human AF predisposition genes, suggesting combinatorial risk for AF genesis. Our data further reveal that PV and LA Pitx2-mutant CMs signal to endothelial and endocardial cells through BMP10 signaling with pathogenic potential. This work provides a multiomic framework for interrogating the basis of AF predisposition in the PVs of humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Zachary A. Kadow
- Program in Developmental Biology, and
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - James F. Martin
- Department of Integrative Physiology
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas, USA
- Center for Organ Repair and Renewal, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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23
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Pessente GD, Sacilotto L, Calil ZO, Olivetti NQS, Wulkan F, de Oliveira TGM, Pedrosa AAA, Wu TC, Hachul DT, Scanavacca MI, Krieger JE, Darrieux FCDC, Pereira ADC. Effect of Occurrence of Lamin A/C (LMNA) Genetic Variants in a Cohort of 101 Consecutive Apparent “Lone AF” Patients: Results and Insights. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:823717. [PMID: 35449878 PMCID: PMC9016147 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.823717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveMutations in the Lamin A/C(LMNA) gene are commonly associated with cardiac manifestations, such as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and conduction system disease. However, the overall spectrum and penetrance of rare LMNA variants are unknown. The present study described the presence of LMNAvariants in patients with “lone atrial fibrillation (AF)” as their sole clinical presentation.MethodsOne-hundred and one consecutive patients with “lone AF” criteria were initially screened by genetic testing. Genetic variants were classified according to the American College of Genetic and Genomic criteria. All subjects were evaluated through clinical and familial history, ECG, 24-h Holter monitoring, echocardiogram, cardiac magnetic resonance, treatment response, and the present relatives of LMNA carriers. In addition, whole-exome data from 49,960 UK Biobank (UKB) participants were analyzed to describe the overall penetrance of rare LMNA missense and loss of function (LOF) variants.ResultsThree missense variants in LMNA were identified in probands with AF as their first and unique clinical manifestation. Other five first-degree relatives, after the screening, also presented LMNA gene variants. Among 49,960 analyzed UKB participants, 331 carried rare LMNA missense or LOF variant. Participants who carried a rare LMNA variant were significantly associated with higher odds of arrhythmic events and of an abnormal ECG in the per-protocol ECG exam (p = 0.03 and p = 0.05, respectively).ConclusionAlthough a rare occurrence, our findings emphasize the possibility of an initial presentation of apparently “lone AF” in LMNA gene variant carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle D'Arezzo Pessente
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology (LGMC) - Heart Institute (Institute Coração, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
- Arrhythmia Unit - Heart Institute (Institute Coração), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciana Sacilotto
- Arrhythmia Unit - Heart Institute (Institute Coração), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Zaine Oliveira Calil
- Arrhythmia Unit - Heart Institute (Institute Coração), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Fanny Wulkan
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology (LGMC) - Heart Institute (Institute Coração, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Théo Gremen Mimary de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology (LGMC) - Heart Institute (Institute Coração, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Tan Chen Wu
- Arrhythmia Unit - Heart Institute (Institute Coração), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Denise Tessariol Hachul
- Arrhythmia Unit - Heart Institute (Institute Coração), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maurício Ibrahim Scanavacca
- Arrhythmia Unit - Heart Institute (Institute Coração), University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José Eduardo Krieger
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology (LGMC) - Heart Institute (Institute Coração, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Alexandre da Costa Pereira
- Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Cardiology (LGMC) - Heart Institute (Institute Coração, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Alexandre da Costa Pereira
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24
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Liu J, Liu M, Chen X. Identification of Potential Key Biomarkers of Atrial Fibrillation and Their Correlation with Immune Infiltration in Atrial Tissue. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:4029840. [PMID: 35273648 PMCID: PMC8904093 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4029840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Objective To identify potential key biomarkers and characterize immune infiltration in atrial tissue of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) through bioinformatics analysis. Methods Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by the LIMMA package in Bioconductor, and functional and pathway enrichment analyses were undertaken using GO and KEGG. The LASSO logistic regression and BORUTA algorithm were employed to screen for potential novel key markers of AF from all DEGs. Gene set variation analysis was also performed. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis was employed to quantify the infiltration levels for each immune cell type, and the correlation between hub genes and infiltrating immune cells was analyzed. Results A total of 52 DEGs were identified, including of 26 downregulated DEGs and 26 upregulated DEGs. DEGs were primarily enriched in the Major Histocompatibility Complex class II protein complex, glucose homeostasis, protein tetramerization, regulation of synapse organization, cytokine activity, heart morphogenesis, and blood circulation. Three downregulated genes and three upregulated genes were screened by LASSO logistic regression and the BORUTA algorithm. Finally, immune infiltration analysis indicated that the atrial tissue of AF patients contained significant infiltration of APC_co_inhibition, Mast_cell, neutrophils, pDCs, T_cell_costimulation, and Th1_cells compared with paired sinus rhythm (SR) atrial tissue, and the three downregulated genes were negatively correlated with the six kinds of immune cells mentioned above. Conclusion The hub genes identified in this study and the differences in immune infiltration of atrial tissue observed between AF and SR tissue might help to characterize the occurrence and progression of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China 100034
| | - Meilin Liu
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China 100034
| | - Xiahuan Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China 100034
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25
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Mubarak G, Zahir FR. Recent Major Transcriptomics and Epitranscriptomics Contributions toward Personalized and Precision Medicine. J Pers Med 2022; 12:199. [PMID: 35207687 PMCID: PMC8877836 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12020199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
With the advent of genome-wide screening methods-beginning with microarray technologies and moving onto next generation sequencing methods-the era of precision and personalized medicine was born. Genomics led the way, and its contributions are well recognized. However, "other-omics" fields have rapidly emerged and are becoming as important toward defining disease causes and exploring therapeutic benefits. In this review, we focus on the impacts of transcriptomics, and its extension-epitranscriptomics-on personalized and precision medicine efforts. There has been an explosion of transcriptomic studies particularly in the last decade, along with a growing number of recent epitranscriptomic studies in several disease areas. Here, we summarize and overview major efforts for cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodevelopmental disorders (including autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability) for transcriptomics/epitranscriptomics in precision and personalized medicine. We show that leading advances are being made in both diagnostics, and in investigative and landscaping disease pathophysiological studies. As transcriptomics/epitranscriptomics screens become more widespread, it is certain that they will yield vital and transformative precision and personalized medicine contributions in ways that will significantly further genomics gains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Farah R. Zahir
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1, Canada
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26
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Gauvrit S, Bossaer J, Lee J, Collins MM. Modeling Human Cardiac Arrhythmias: Insights from Zebrafish. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2022; 9:jcdd9010013. [PMID: 35050223 PMCID: PMC8779270 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd9010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm, is associated with morbidity and mortality and is described as one of the most important future public health challenges. Therefore, developing new models of cardiac arrhythmia is critical for understanding disease mechanisms, determining genetic underpinnings, and developing new therapeutic strategies. In the last few decades, the zebrafish has emerged as an attractive model to reproduce in vivo human cardiac pathologies, including arrhythmias. Here, we highlight the contribution of zebrafish to the field and discuss the available cardiac arrhythmia models. Further, we outline techniques to assess potential heart rhythm defects in larval and adult zebrafish. As genetic tools in zebrafish continue to bloom, this model will be crucial for functional genomics studies and to develop personalized anti-arrhythmic therapies.
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27
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Rubio-Alarcón M, Cámara-Checa A, Dago M, Crespo-García T, Nieto-Marín P, Marín M, Merino JL, Toquero J, Salguero-Bodes R, Tamargo J, Cebrián J, Delpón E, Caballero R. Zfhx3 Transcription Factor Represses the Expression of SCN5A Gene and Decreases Sodium Current Density (I Na). Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13031. [PMID: 34884836 PMCID: PMC8657907 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The ZFHX3 and SCN5A genes encode the zinc finger homeobox 3 (Zfhx3) transcription factor (TF) and the human cardiac Na+ channel (Nav1.5), respectively. The effects of Zfhx3 on the expression of the Nav1.5 channel, and in cardiac excitability, are currently unknown. Additionally, we identified three Zfhx3 variants in probands diagnosed with familial atrial fibrillation (p.M1260T) and Brugada Syndrome (p.V949I and p.Q2564R). Here, we analyzed the effects of native (WT) and mutated Zfhx3 on Na+ current (INa) recorded in HL-1 cardiomyocytes. ZFHX3 mRNA can be detected in human atrial and ventricular samples. In HL-1 cardiomyocytes, transfection of Zfhx3 strongly reduced peak INa density, while the silencing of endogenous expression augmented it (from -65.9 ± 8.9 to -104.6 ± 10.8 pA/pF; n ≥ 8, p < 0.05). Zfhx3 significantly reduced the transcriptional activity of human SCN5A, PITX2, TBX5, and NKX25 minimal promoters. Consequently, the mRNA and/or protein expression levels of Nav1.5 and Tbx5 were diminished (n ≥ 6, p < 0.05). Zfhx3 also increased the expression of Nedd4-2 ubiquitin-protein ligase, enhancing Nav1.5 proteasomal degradation. p.V949I, p.M1260T, and p.Q2564R Zfhx3 produced similar effects on INa density and time- and voltage-dependent properties in WT. WT Zfhx3 inhibits INa as a result of a direct repressor effect on the SCN5A promoter, the modulation of Tbx5 increasing on the INa, and the increased expression of Nedd4-2. We propose that this TF participates in the control of cardiac excitability in human adult cardiac tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Rubio-Alarcón
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Gregorio Marañón, CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-A.); (A.C.-C.);; (T.C.-G.); (P.N.-M.); (M.M.); (J.T.); (E.D.); (R.C.)
| | - Anabel Cámara-Checa
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Gregorio Marañón, CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-A.); (A.C.-C.);; (T.C.-G.); (P.N.-M.); (M.M.); (J.T.); (E.D.); (R.C.)
| | - María Dago
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Gregorio Marañón, CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-A.); (A.C.-C.);; (T.C.-G.); (P.N.-M.); (M.M.); (J.T.); (E.D.); (R.C.)
| | - Teresa Crespo-García
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Gregorio Marañón, CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-A.); (A.C.-C.);; (T.C.-G.); (P.N.-M.); (M.M.); (J.T.); (E.D.); (R.C.)
| | - Paloma Nieto-Marín
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Gregorio Marañón, CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-A.); (A.C.-C.);; (T.C.-G.); (P.N.-M.); (M.M.); (J.T.); (E.D.); (R.C.)
| | - María Marín
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Gregorio Marañón, CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-A.); (A.C.-C.);; (T.C.-G.); (P.N.-M.); (M.M.); (J.T.); (E.D.); (R.C.)
| | - José Luis Merino
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria la Paz, CIBERCV, 28046 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Jorge Toquero
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Puerta de Hierro-Segovia de Arana, CIBERCV, Majadahonda, 28222 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Rafael Salguero-Bodes
- Department of Cardiology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Instituto de Investigación Hospital 12 de Octubre, CIBERCV, 28041 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Juan Tamargo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Gregorio Marañón, CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-A.); (A.C.-C.);; (T.C.-G.); (P.N.-M.); (M.M.); (J.T.); (E.D.); (R.C.)
| | - Jorge Cebrián
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Gregorio Marañón, CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-A.); (A.C.-C.);; (T.C.-G.); (P.N.-M.); (M.M.); (J.T.); (E.D.); (R.C.)
| | - Eva Delpón
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Gregorio Marañón, CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-A.); (A.C.-C.);; (T.C.-G.); (P.N.-M.); (M.M.); (J.T.); (E.D.); (R.C.)
| | - Ricardo Caballero
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Gregorio Marañón, CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-A.); (A.C.-C.);; (T.C.-G.); (P.N.-M.); (M.M.); (J.T.); (E.D.); (R.C.)
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Wiesinger A, Boink GJJ, Christoffels VM, Devalla HD. Retinoic acid signaling in heart development: Application in the differentiation of cardiovascular lineages from human pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2589-2606. [PMID: 34653403 PMCID: PMC8581056 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) signaling plays an important role during heart development in establishing anteroposterior polarity, formation of inflow and outflow tract progenitors, and growth of the ventricular compact wall. RA is also utilized as a key ingredient in protocols designed for generating cardiac cell types from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). This review discusses the role of RA in cardiogenesis, currently available protocols that employ RA for differentiation of various cardiovascular lineages, and plausible transcriptional mechanisms underlying this fate specification. These insights will inform further development of desired cardiac cell types from human PSCs and their application in preclinical and clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Wiesinger
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gerard J J Boink
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Vincent M Christoffels
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Harsha D Devalla
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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29
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Zhang L, Wang X, Huang C. A narrative review of non-coding RNAs in atrial fibrillation: potential therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1486. [PMID: 34734038 PMCID: PMC8506732 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-4483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Objective This review summarizes the advances in the study of ncRNAs and atrial remodeling mechanisms to explore potential therapeutic targets and strategies for AF. Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias, and its morbidity and mortality rates are gradually increasing. Non-coding ribonucleic acid RNAs (ncRNAs) are transcribed from the genome and do not have the ability to be translated into proteins. A growing body of evidence has shown ncRNAs are extensively involved in the pathophysiological processes underlying AF. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of these associations have not been fully elucidated. Atrial remodeling plays a key role in the occurrence and development of AF, and includes electrical remodeling, structural remodeling, and autonomic nerve remodeling. Research has shown that ncRNA expression is altered in the plasma and tissues of AF patients that mediate cardiac excitation and arrhythmia, and is closely related to atrial remodeling. Methods Literatures about ncRNAs and atrial fibrillation were extensively reviewed to discuss and analyze. Conclusions The biology of ncRNAs represents a relatively new field of research and is still in an emerging stage. Recent studies have laid a foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms of AF, future studies aimed at identifying how ncRNAs act on atrial fibrillation to provide potentially promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan, China
| | - Congxin Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan, China
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Fu T, Chen M, Xu L, Gong J, Zheng J, Zhang F, Ji N. Association of the MYH6 Gene Polymorphism with the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation and Warfarin Anticoagulation Therapy. Genet Test Mol Biomarkers 2021; 25:590-599. [PMID: 34515533 DOI: 10.1089/gtmb.2021.0025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To study the associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the myosin heavy chain 6 (MYH6) gene with the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and warfarin anticoagulation therapy. Methods: Sanger sequencing was employed to analyze the genotypes of the MYH6 gene's rs28730771, rs365990, and rs2277473 loci in 243 AF patients and 243 non-AF patients (control group) selected according to the age and sex of AF patients at a 1:1 ratio. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors in AF. SHEsis was adopted to analyze the association between rs28730771, rs365990, rs2277473 haplotypes and susceptibility to AF. The average weekly doses of warfarin administered to AF patients with different genotypes were compared. Results: The T allele at rs28730771 of the MYH6 gene (odds ratio [OR] = 2.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.73-4.59, p < 0.01), the G allele at rs365990 (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.22-2.24, p < 0.01) and the T allele at rs2277473 (OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.25-2.91, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with an elevated risk of AF. The results of a logistic regression analysis demonstrated that hypertension, smoking, drinking, family history of stroke, as well as the genotypes at the rs28730771, rs365990, and rs2277473 loci were all risk factors in AF (p < 0.05). The CAG haplotype for the three SNPs was associated with a reduced risk of AF susceptibility (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.46-0.81, p < 0.01), and the CGG haplotype was related to an increased risk of AF (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.07-2.06, p = 0.02). The doses of warfarin used in AF patients with different genotypes at the MYH6 rs28730771, rs365990, and rs2277473 loci were significantly different (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The three SNPs (rs28730771, rs365990, and rs2277473) of the MYH6 gene loci were significantly associated with the risk of AF susceptibility and the dose of warfarin anticoagulant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Fu
- Department of Cardiology, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu, China
| | - Mengyan Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu, China
| | - Jianping Gong
- Department of Cardiology, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu, China
| | - Juanqing Zheng
- Department of Cardiology, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu, China
| | - Fen Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Jinhua People's Hospital, Jinhua, China
| | - Ningning Ji
- Department of Cardiology, Yiwu Central Hospital, Yiwu, China
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Dai W, Kesaraju S, Weber CR. Transcriptional factors in calcium mishandling and atrial fibrillation development. Pflugers Arch 2021; 473:1177-1197. [PMID: 34003377 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-021-02553-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Healthy cardiac conduction relies on the coordinated electrical activity of distinct populations of cardiomyocytes. Disruption of cell-cell conduction results in cardiac arrhythmias, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent genetic studies have highlighted a major heritable component and identified numerous loci associated with risk of atrial fibrillation, including transcription factor genes, particularly those important in cardiac development, microRNAs, and long noncoding RNAs. Identification of such genetic factors has prompted the search to understand the mechanisms that underlie the genetic component of AF. Recent studies have found several mechanisms by which genetic alterations can result in AF formation via disruption of calcium handling. Loss of developmental transcription factors in adult cardiomyocytes can result in disruption of SR calcium ATPase, sodium calcium exchanger, calcium channels, among other ion channels, which underlie action potential abnormalities and triggered activity that can contribute to AF. This review aims to summarize the complex network of transcription factors and their roles in calcium handling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Dai
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sneha Kesaraju
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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32
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Rienstra M, Siland JE, Ellinor PT. Role of genetics in atrial fibrillation management. Europace 2021; 23:ii4-ii8. [PMID: 33837754 PMCID: PMC8035706 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euaa366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) management has significantly improved during the career of professor Crijns. Research was implemented into guidelines and clinical practice. However, despite advances in AF management, large differences between individual treatment responses still exist and the mechanisms underlying initiation and perpetuation of AF are not completely understood. International collaborations have revealed the genetic contribution to AF and steps towards improving AF management are being made. In this short review, the most important paradigms shifts in the field of AF genetics are recognized and the future role of genetics in personalized management of AF is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel Rienstra
- Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joylene E Siland
- Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Patrick T Ellinor
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, largely associated to morbidity and mortality. Over the past decades, research in appearance and progression of this arrhythmia have turned into significant advances in its management. However, the incidence of AF continues to increase with the aging of the population and many important fundamental and translational underlaying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we review recent advances in molecular and cellular basis for AF initiation, maintenance and progression. We first provide an overview of the basic molecular and electrophysiological mechanisms that lead and characterize AF. Next, we discuss the upstream regulatory factors conducting the underlying mechanisms which drive electrical and structural AF-associated remodeling, including genetic factors (risk variants associated to AF as transcriptional regulators and genetic changes associated to AF), neurohormonal regulation (i.e., cAMP) and oxidative stress imbalance (cGMP and mitochondrial dysfunction). Finally, we discuss the potential therapeutic implications of those findings, the knowledge gaps and consider future approaches to improve clinical management.
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KLF15 Loss-of-Function Mutation Underlying Atrial Fibrillation as well as Ventricular Arrhythmias and Cardiomyopathy. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12030408. [PMID: 33809104 PMCID: PMC8001991 DOI: 10.3390/genes12030408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) represents the most common type of clinical cardiac arrhythmia and substantially increases the risks of cerebral stroke, heart failure and death. Accumulating evidence has convincingly demonstrated the strong genetic basis of AF, and an increasing number of pathogenic variations in over 50 genes have been causally linked to AF. Nevertheless, AF is of pronounced genetic heterogeneity, and the genetic determinants underpinning AF in most patients remain obscure. In the current investigation, a Chinese pedigree with AF as well as ventricular arrhythmias and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was recruited. Whole exome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis of the available family members were conducted, and a novel heterozygous variation in the KLF15 gene (encoding Krüppel-like factor 15, a transcription factor critical for cardiac electrophysiology and structural remodeling), NM_014079.4: c.685A>T; p.(Lys229*), was identified. The variation was verified by Sanger sequencing and segregated with autosomal dominant AF in the family with complete penetrance. The variation was absent from 300 unrelated healthy subjects used as controls. In functional assays using a dual-luciferase assay system, mutant KLF15 showed neither transcriptional activation of the KChIP2 promoter nor transcriptional inhibition of the CTGF promoter, alone or in the presence of TGFB1, a key player in the pathogenesis of arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies. The findings indicate KLF15 as a new causative gene responsible for AF as well as ventricular arrhythmias and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and they provide novel insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac arrhythmias and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
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van Dongen LH, Harms PP, Hoogendoorn M, Zimmerman DS, Lodder EM, 't Hart LM, Herings R, van Weert HCPM, Nijpels G, Swart KMA, van der Heijden AA, Blom MT, Elders PJ, Tan HL. Discovery of predictors of sudden cardiac arrest in diabetes: rationale and outline of the RESCUED (REcognition of Sudden Cardiac arrest vUlnErability in Diabetes) project. Open Heart 2021; 8:openhrt-2020-001554. [PMID: 33547224 PMCID: PMC7871346 DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2020-001554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Early recognition of individuals with increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) remains challenging. SCA research so far has used data from cardiologist care, but missed most SCA victims, since they were only in general practitioner (GP) care prior to SCA. Studying individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in GP care may help solve this problem, as they have increased risk for SCA, and rich clinical datasets, since they regularly visit their GP for check-up measurements. This information can be further enriched with extensive genetic and metabolic information. Aim To describe the study protocol of the REcognition of Sudden Cardiac arrest vUlnErability in Diabetes (RESCUED) project, which aims at identifying clinical, genetic and metabolic factors contributing to SCA risk in individuals with T2D, and to develop a prognostic model for the risk of SCA. Methods The RESCUED project combines data from dedicated SCA and T2D cohorts, and GP data, from the same region in the Netherlands. Clinical data, genetic data (common and rare variant analysis) and metabolic data (metabolomics) will be analysed (using classical analysis techniques and machine learning methods) and combined into a prognostic model for risk of SCA. Conclusion The RESCUED project is designed to increase our ability at early recognition of elevated SCA risk through an innovative strategy of focusing on GP data and a multidimensional methodology including clinical, genetic and metabolic analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura H van Dongen
- Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC - Locatie AMC, Heart Centre, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Peter P Harms
- General Practice Medicine, Amsterdam UMC - Locatie VUmc, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Mark Hoogendoorn
- Computer Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dominic S Zimmerman
- Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC - Locatie AMC, Heart Centre, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth M Lodder
- Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC - Locatie AMC, Heart Centre, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Leen M 't Hart
- Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.,Biomedical Data Sciences, section Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands.,Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ron Herings
- PHARMO Institute, Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Henk C P M van Weert
- Department of General Practice, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam UMC Locatie AMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Giel Nijpels
- General Practice Medicine, Amsterdam UMC - Locatie VUmc, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Karin M A Swart
- General Practice Medicine, Amsterdam UMC - Locatie VUmc, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,PHARMO Institute, Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Amber A van der Heijden
- General Practice Medicine, Amsterdam UMC - Locatie VUmc, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marieke T Blom
- Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC - Locatie AMC, Heart Centre, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Petra J Elders
- General Practice Medicine, Amsterdam UMC - Locatie VUmc, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hanno L Tan
- Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC - Locatie AMC, Heart Centre, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands .,Netherlands Heart Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Bai J, Zhu Y, Lo A, Gao M, Lu Y, Zhao J, Zhang H. In Silico Assessment of Class I Antiarrhythmic Drug Effects on Pitx2-Induced Atrial Fibrillation: Insights from Populations of Electrophysiological Models of Human Atrial Cells and Tissues. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1265. [PMID: 33514068 PMCID: PMC7866025 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrical remodelling as a result of homeodomain transcription factor 2 (Pitx2)-dependent gene regulation was linked to atrial fibrillation (AF) and AF patients with single nucleotide polymorphisms at chromosome 4q25 responded favorably to class I antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs). The possible reasons behind this remain elusive. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of the AADs disopyramide, quinidine, and propafenone on human atrial arrhythmias mediated by Pitx2-induced remodelling, from a single cell to the tissue level, using drug binding models with multi-channel pharmacology. Experimentally calibrated populations of human atrial action po-tential (AP) models in both sinus rhythm (SR) and Pitx2-induced AF conditions were constructed by using two distinct models to represent morphological subtypes of AP. Multi-channel pharmaco-logical effects of disopyramide, quinidine, and propafenone on ionic currents were considered. Simulated results showed that Pitx2-induced remodelling increased maximum upstroke velocity (dVdtmax), and decreased AP duration (APD), conduction velocity (CV), and wavelength (WL). At the concentrations tested in this study, these AADs decreased dVdtmax and CV and prolonged APD in the setting of Pitx2-induced AF. Our findings of alterations in WL indicated that disopyramide may be more effective against Pitx2-induced AF than propafenone and quinidine by prolonging WL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieyun Bai
- Department of Electronic Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China;
| | - Yijie Zhu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China;
| | - Andy Lo
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; (A.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Meng Gao
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, College of Electrical Engineering and Information, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Yaosheng Lu
- Department of Electronic Engineering, College of Information Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China;
| | - Jichao Zhao
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; (A.L.); (J.Z.)
| | - Henggui Zhang
- Biological Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;
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Hall AW, Chaffin M, Roselli C, Lin H, Lubitz SA, Bianchi V, Geeven G, Bedi K, Margulies KB, de Laat W, Tucker NR, Ellinor PT. Epigenetic Analyses of Human Left Atrial Tissue Identifies Gene Networks Underlying Atrial Fibrillation. CIRCULATION. GENOMIC AND PRECISION MEDICINE 2020; 13:e003085. [PMID: 33155827 PMCID: PMC8240092 DOI: 10.1161/circgen.120.003085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) often arises from structural abnormalities in the left atria (LA). Annotation of the noncoding genome in human LA is limited, as are effects on gene expression and chromatin architecture. Many AF-associated genetic variants reside in noncoding regions; this knowledge gap impairs efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms of AF and cardiac conduction phenotypes. METHODS We generated a model of the LA noncoding genome by profiling 7 histone post-translational modifications (active: H3K4me3, H3K4me2, H3K4me1, H3K27ac, H3K36me3; repressive: H3K27me3, H3K9me3), CTCF binding, and gene expression in samples from 5 individuals without structural heart disease or AF. We used MACS2 to identify peak regions (P<0.01), applied a Markov model to classify regulatory elements, and annotated this model with matched gene expression data. We intersected chromatin states with expression quantitative trait locus, DNA methylation, and HiC chromatin interaction data from LA and left ventricle. Finally, we integrated genome-wide association data for AF and electrocardiographic traits to link disease-related variants to genes. RESULTS Our model identified 21 epigenetic states, encompassing regulatory motifs, such as promoters, enhancers, and repressed regions. Genes were regulated by proximal chromatin states; repressive states were associated with a significant reduction in gene expression (P<2×10-16). Chromatin states were differentially methylated, promoters were less methylated than repressed regions (P<2×10-16). We identified over 15 000 LA-specific enhancers, defined by homeobox family motifs, and annotated several cardiovascular disease susceptibility loci. Intersecting AF and PR genome-wide association studies loci with long-range chromatin conformation data identified a gene interaction network dominated by NKX2-5, TBX3, ZFHX3, and SYNPO2L. CONCLUSIONS Profiling the noncoding genome provides new insights into the gene expression and chromatin regulation in human LA tissue. These findings enabled identification of a gene network underlying AF; our experimental and analytic approach can be extended to identify molecular mechanisms for other cardiac diseases and traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Weber Hall
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Mark Chaffin
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Carolina Roselli
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Honghuang Lin
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Steven A. Lubitz
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Valerio Bianchi
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Geert Geeven
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Kenneth Bedi
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kenneth B. Margulies
- Penn Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Wouter de Laat
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Nathan R. Tucker
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, MA
- Masonic Medical Research Institute, Utica, NY
| | - Patrick T. Ellinor
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard, Cambridge, MA
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Haas Bueno R, Recamonde-Mendoza M. Meta-analysis of Transcriptomic Data Reveals Pathophysiological Modules Involved with Atrial Fibrillation. Mol Diagn Ther 2020; 24:737-751. [PMID: 33095430 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-020-00497-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a complex disease and affects millions of people around the world. The biological mechanisms that are involved with AF are complex and still need to be fully elucidated. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of transcriptome data related to AF to explore these mechanisms aiming at more sensitive and reliable results. METHODS Ten public transcriptomic datasets were downloaded, analyzed for quality control, and individually pre-processed. Differential expression analysis was carried out for each dataset, and the results were meta-analytically aggregated using the rth ordered p value method. We analyzed the final list of differentially expressed genes through network analysis, namely topological and modularity analysis, and functional enrichment analysis. RESULTS The meta-analysis of transcriptomes resulted in 1197 differentially expressed genes, whose protein-protein interaction network presented 39 hubs-bottlenecks and four main identified functional modules. These modules were enriched for 39, 20, 64, and 10 biological pathways involved with the pathophysiology of AF, especially with the disease's structural and electrical remodeling processes. The stress of the endoplasmic reticulum, protein catabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation are some of the enriched processes. Among hub-bottlenecks genes, which are highly connected and probably have a key role in regulating these processes, HSPA5, ANK2, CTNNB1, and MAPK1 were identified. CONCLUSION Our approach based on transcriptome meta-analysis revealed a set of key genes that demonstrated consistent overall changes in expression patterns associated with AF despite data heterogeneity related, among others, to type of tissue. Further experimental investigation of our findings may shed light on the pathophysiology of the disease and contribute to the identification of new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Haas Bueno
- Experimental and Molecular Cardiovascular Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
- Bioinformatics Core, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Mariana Recamonde-Mendoza
- Experimental and Molecular Cardiovascular Laboratory, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Bioinformatics Core, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
- Institute of Informatics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Reyat JS, Chua W, Cardoso VR, Witten A, Kastner PM, Kabir SN, Sinner MF, Wesselink R, Holmes AP, Pavlovic D, Stoll M, Kääb S, Gkoutos GV, de Groot JR, Kirchhof P, Fabritz L. Reduced left atrial cardiomyocyte PITX2 and elevated circulating BMP10 predict atrial fibrillation after ablation. JCI Insight 2020; 5:139179. [PMID: 32814717 PMCID: PMC7455124 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.139179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDGenomic and experimental studies suggest a role for PITX2 in atrial fibrillation (AF). To assess if this association is relevant for recurrent AF in patients, we tested whether left atrial PITX2 affects recurrent AF after AF ablation.METHODSmRNA concentrations of PITX2 and its cardiac isoform, PITX2c, were quantified in left atrial appendages (LAAs) from patients undergoing thoracoscopic AF ablation, either in whole LAA tissue (n = 83) or in LAA cardiomyocytes (n = 52), and combined with clinical parameters to predict AF recurrence. Literature suggests that BMP10 is a PITX2-repressed, atrial-specific, secreted protein. BMP10 plasma concentrations were combined with 11 cardiovascular biomarkers and clinical parameters to predict recurrent AF after catheter ablation in 359 patients.RESULTSReduced concentrations of cardiomyocyte PITX2, but not whole LAA tissue PITX2, were associated with AF recurrence after thoracoscopic AF ablation (16% decreased recurrence per 2-(ΔΔCt) increase in PITX2). RNA sequencing, quantitative PCR, and Western blotting confirmed that BMP10 is one of the most PITX2-repressed atrial genes. Left atrial size (HR per mm increase [95% CI], 1.055 [1.028, 1.082]); nonparoxysmal AF (HR 1.672 [1.206, 2.318]), and elevated BMP10 (HR 1.339 [CI 1.159, 1.546] per quartile increase) were predictive of recurrent AF. BMP10 outperformed 11 other cardiovascular biomarkers in predicting recurrent AF.CONCLUSIONSReduced left atrial cardiomyocyte PITX2 and elevated plasma concentrations of the PITX2-repressed, secreted atrial protein BMP10 identify patients at risk of recurrent AF after ablation.TRIAL REGISTRATIONClinicalTrials.gov NCT01091389, NL50069.018.14, Dutch National Registry of Clinical Research Projects EK494-16.FUNDINGBritish Heart Foundation, European Union (H2020), Leducq Foundation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Victor R. Cardoso
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and
- Institute of Cancer and Genomics Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Anika Witten
- Institute of Human Genetics, Genetic Epidemiology, WWU Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | | | - Moritz F. Sinner
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Robin Wesselink
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), University of Amsterdam, Heart Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Monika Stoll
- Institute of Human Genetics, Genetic Epidemiology, WWU Münster, Münster, Germany
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Genetic Epidemiology and Statistical Genetics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Stefan Kääb
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Munich, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU), Munich, Germany
- Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET), Münster, Germany
| | - Georgios V. Gkoutos
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and
- Institute of Cancer and Genomics Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Health Data Research Midlands, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Joris R. de Groot
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC), University of Amsterdam, Heart Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Paulus Kirchhof
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and
- Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET), Münster, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) and Sandwell and West Birmingham (SWBH) NHS Trusts, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- University Heart and Vascular Center, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Germany
| | - Larissa Fabritz
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and
- Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET), Münster, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) and Sandwell and West Birmingham (SWBH) NHS Trusts, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Nattel S, Heijman J, Zhou L, Dobrev D. Molecular Basis of Atrial Fibrillation Pathophysiology and Therapy: A Translational Perspective. Circ Res 2020; 127:51-72. [PMID: 32717172 PMCID: PMC7398486 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.120.316363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 227] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a highly prevalent arrhythmia, with substantial associated morbidity and mortality. There have been significant management advances over the past 2 decades, but the burden of the disease continues to increase and there is certainly plenty of room for improvement in treatment options. A potential key to therapeutic innovation is a better understanding of underlying fundamental mechanisms. This article reviews recent advances in understanding the molecular basis for AF, with a particular emphasis on relating these new insights to opportunities for clinical translation. We first review the evidence relating basic electrophysiological mechanisms to the characteristics of clinical AF. We then discuss the molecular control of factors leading to some of the principal determinants, including abnormalities in impulse conduction (such as tissue fibrosis and other extra-cardiomyocyte alterations, connexin dysregulation and Na+-channel dysfunction), electrical refractoriness, and impulse generation. We then consider the molecular drivers of AF progression, including a range of Ca2+-dependent intracellular processes, microRNA changes, and inflammatory signaling. The concept of key interactome-related nodal points is then evaluated, dealing with systems like those associated with CaMKII (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-II), NLRP3 (NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein-3), and transcription-factors like TBX5 and PitX2c. We conclude with a critical discussion of therapeutic implications, knowledge gaps and future directions, dealing with such aspects as drug repurposing, biologicals, multispecific drugs, the targeting of cardiomyocyte inflammatory signaling and potential considerations in intervening at the level of interactomes and gene-regulation. The area of molecular intervention for AF management presents exciting new opportunities, along with substantial challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley Nattel
- Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, Faculty of Medicine, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- IHU Liryc and Fondation Bordeaux Université, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jordi Heijman
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, Faculty of Medicine, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Liping Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, Faculty of Medicine, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
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Abstract
Atrial fibrillation is a common heart rhythm disorder that leads to an increased risk for stroke and heart failure. Atrial fibrillation is a complex disease with both environmental and genetic risk factors that contribute to the arrhythmia. Over the last decade, rapid progress has been made in identifying the genetic basis for this common condition. In this review, we provide an overview of the primary types of genetic analyses performed for atrial fibrillation, including linkage studies, genome-wide association studies, and studies of rare coding variation. With these results in mind, we aim to highlighting the existing knowledge gaps and future directions for atrial fibrillation genetics research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Roselli
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, MA, USA
- Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Michiel Rienstra
- Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Patrick T. Ellinor
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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42
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick T. Ellinor
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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