Research findings on drug research to prevent and treat heart rhythm or conduction problems

Copyright © iCell Bioscience Inc, Shanghai 2018-2019

The sinus node is an important part of the heart conduction system and is the normal pacemaker of the heart. The atrium is the two cavities on the inside of the heart. It is the blood reservoir and acts as an auxiliary pump. The left atrium is called the left atrium. On the right is called the "right atrium"; the ventricle is the two cavities below the heart, called "left ventricle" on the left and "right ventricle" on the right. After the blood is pressed into the ventricle by the atrium, it is pressed into the artery by the ventricle and transported to the lungs and other parts of the body.

A heart genome research involving more than 100 researchers from around the world has recently brought new results, revealing new knowledge of biological processes associated with cardiac electrical activity, and is expected to be a drug for the prevention and treatment of heart rhythm or conduction problems to provide new ideas.

In the latest study, researchers conducted genome-wide association studies on more than 92,000 people of European descent (a genome-wide association study is a project that examines DNA from different individuals to discover genetic variations that may be associated with a particular trait or disease). They detected millions of genetic markers throughout the genome to identify genetic variations associated with atrial conduction.

The researchers found 44 chromosomal regions associated with the P-R interval. Of these sites, 34 have not previously been identified. The genes in these 44 loci are overexpressed during heart disease, including cardiac obstruction, sick sinus syndrome, and atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a type of abnormal heart rhythm that increases the risk of heart failure and sudden death. It also increases the risk of clot formation in the heart and into the brain leading to stroke. Cardiac occlusion is a type of electrical wave that interferes with the movement of the heart. It and other conductive defects sometimes require a pacemaker.

Subsequently, using separate or combined methods, the researchers performed additional analyses on more than 105,000 people of African and European descent. This in turn produces six additional genetic loci associated with cardiac atrial or atrioventricular conduction.

In summary, the findings point to many different processes of atrial and atrioventricular conduction. The developmental pathways in the heart, especially the formation of the ventricles and the developmental systems that can conduct electrical signals throughout the heart, are all related to the origin of heart disease. Moreover, certain gene transcription factors, ion channel genes, cell junctions, or cell signaling proteins involved in cardiac wave conduction may also cause cardiac abnormalities.   

Finally, the researchers conducted an inter-racial analysis and found that most of the genetic associations found in the study's European population also existed in the study's African-American population.