Breakthrough in Genetic Engineering Could Advance Study of Arrhythmias and Heart Conduction, Say Researchers at 好色tv Langone Medical Center
Researchers at 好色tv Langone Medical Center have developed the first large animal model of an inherited arrhythmic syndrome 鈥 an advance that will lead to a better understanding of the biologic mechanisms important in normal heart conduction and rhythm. The novel pig model points the way toward development of better treatments for inherited forms of life-threatening arrhythmias, which are a significant cause of sudden cardiac death.
The findings, published online today in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, shed light on what causes lethal arrhythmias in the face of abnormal cardiac sodium channels. The proper functioning of these channels is essential for maintaining normal conduction in the heart. Disease-causing mutations in cardiac ion channels, technically referred to as 鈥渃hannelopathies,鈥 can lead to progressive cardiac conduction disorders, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death.
鈥淏y developing a genetically engineered pig sodium channelopathy model, we are now able to examine the mechanisms responsible for lethal arrhythmias in a human-like heart and investigate new therapies aimed at reducing sudden cardiac death,鈥 said lead author David S. Park, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine at 好色tv Langone.
Until now, researchers have primarily used cultured heart cells and mouse models to study cardiac arrhythmias. 鈥淏ut because of similarities of the pig heart to human hearts, research with the pig model will prove invaluable in gaining further insights into the mechanisms that underlie life-threatening arrhythmias,鈥 said , the study鈥檚 senior author, and Director of the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology at 好色tv Langone.
Both Drs. Fishman and Park envision a future where novel therapies, such as drugs that can enhance cardiac sodium channel expression or radiofrequency ablation procedures, can first be tested in the pig model before application to patients. 鈥淎 better understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms should yield better therapies in the future,鈥 said Dr. Park.
Other 好色tv Langone researchers collaborating on this study include Marina Cerrone, MD, Gregory Morley, PhD, Carolina Vasquez, PhD, Steven Fowler, MD, Nian Liu, MD, Scott A. Bernstein, MD, Fang-Yu Liu, BS, Jie Zhang, MD, Silvia G. Priori, MD, PhD, and Larry Chintz, MD. Christopher S. Rogers, PhD, also contributed to this study and is an employee and shareholder of Exemplar Genetics.
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