Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Permanent Ligation of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery in Mice: A Model of Post-myocardial Infarction Remodelling and Heart Failure
09:37

Permanent Ligation of the Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery in Mice: A Model of Post-myocardial Infarction Remodelling and Heart Failure

Published on: December 2, 2014

Arrhythmogenic remodelling of activation and repolarization in the failing human heart

Katherine M Holzem1, Igor R Efimov

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St Louis, One Brookings Drive, St Louis, MO 63130, USA.

Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology
|October 30, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Heart failure significantly increases sudden cardiac death risk due to ventricular arrhythmias. Studies on human heart tissue reveal crucial insights into electrophysiological remodeling, aiding the development of new therapies for heart failure patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Heart failure is a leading cause of death, with a high incidence of sudden cardiac death attributed to ventricular arrhythmias.
  • Patients with heart failure face a significantly elevated risk (6- to 9-fold) of sudden cardiac death compared to the general population.
  • Electrophysiological remodeling in heart failure is a primary driver of mortality, prompting extensive research using animal models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the critical need for human heart tissue studies to corroborate findings from animal models of heart failure.
  • To review current research on conduction and repolarization remodeling in human heart failure.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for preventing arrhythmias in heart failure.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of published human heart studies focusing on electrophysiological remodeling.
  • Investigation across multiple experimental scales, from isolated cells to whole-tissue preparations.
  • Examination of molecular mechanisms including protein expression, mRNA splicing, and cellular trafficking.

Main Results:

  • Human heart studies have illuminated significant, potentially arrhythmogenic changes in heart failure.
  • Research has provided insights into regulatory mechanisms like altered protein expression and ion channel gene regulation.
  • Defective cellular trafficking has been identified as a contributing factor to arrhythmogenesis.

Conclusions:

  • Further investigation of the human myocardium is essential for understanding heart failure pathophysiology.
  • Identifying therapeutic targets to prevent arrhythmias in heart failure is a key goal.
  • Translating basic research findings into clinical applications is crucial for patient care.

More Related Videos

Isolation and Functional Characterization of Human Ventricular Cardiomyocytes from Fresh Surgical Samples14:39

Isolation and Functional Characterization of Human Ventricular Cardiomyocytes from Fresh Surgical Samples

Published on: April 21, 2014

Preclinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Assessment by Dual Voltage and Calcium Optical Mapping of Human Organotypic Cardiac Slices09:35

Preclinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Assessment by Dual Voltage and Calcium Optical Mapping of Human Organotypic Cardiac Slices

Published on: June 16, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias01:28

Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms occurring when the heart's electrical impulses become abnormal. These disturbances can lead to various symptoms, depending on their severity and the underlying cause. Some common factors contributing to arrhythmias include hypoxia, ischemia, electrolyte imbalances, excessive catecholamine exposure, drug toxicity, and muscle overstretching. Arrhythmias can be classified into two main types based on the rate and site of origin of abnormal heart rhythms.
Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm01:19

Electrophysiology of Normal Cardiac Rhythm

The normal cardiac rhythm is a synchronized electrical activity that facilitates the regular and coordinated contraction of the heart muscle. This process is essential for efficient blood circulation throughout the body. The fundamental elements involved in establishing and maintaining this rhythm include the unique electrical properties of cardiac muscle cells, the sinoatrial (SA) node's pacemaker function, the specialized conducting system, and the ionic mechanisms underlying each phase of...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
Cardiac Action Potential01:30

Cardiac Action Potential

Cardiac action potentials are essential for proper heart function, enabling the rhythmic contractions needed for adequate blood circulation. Nodal cells and Purkinje fibers, specialized for electrical conduction, generate these action potentials.
The cardiac action potential process involves a series of phases characterized by the movement of ions across the cardiac cell membranes, leading to the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac myocytes.
Ionic Basis of Cardiac Action Potentials
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm01:29

Disturbances in Heart Rhythm

Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm caused by a defect in the heart's conduction system. It can cause the heart to beat irregularly, too quickly, or too slowly, leading to symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting. Factors such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, certain drugs, congenital defects, diseases, and electrolyte abnormalities can trigger arrhythmias.
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...