Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 23, 2025

Viral Transgene Expression in Rodent Hearts and the Assessment of Cardiac Arrhythmia Risk
Published on: July 27, 2022
Gene therapy for inherited arrhythmias
Vassilios J Bezzerides1, Maksymilian Prondzynski1, Lucie Carrier2,3
1Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Insights
Gene therapy offers a promising new avenue for treating inherited arrhythmias, which carry a lifelong risk of sudden death. Research is exploring these targeted treatments for conditions like catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Inherited arrhythmias are genetic disorders increasing sudden death risk.
- Current therapies are insufficient and do not halt disease progression.
- Gene mutations can affect electrophysiology, cardiac structure, or both.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of gene therapy strategies for inherited arrhythmias.
- To review recent gene therapy studies for specific conditions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of gene therapy approaches.
- Focus on studies for catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and MYBPC3-related hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Main Results:
- Gene therapies show potential for molecularly targeted treatment of inherited arrhythmias.
- Specific examples include catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Conclusions:
- Gene therapy presents a potent, targeted option for managing inherited arrhythmias.
- Further research is crucial for developing effective gene-based treatments.
Abstract:
Inherited arrhythmias are disorders caused by one or more genetic mutations that increase the risk of arrhythmia, which result in life-long risk of sudden death. These mutations either primarily perturb electrophysiological homeostasis (e.g. long QT syndrome and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia), cause structural disease that is closely associated with severe arrhythmias (e.g. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), or cause a high propensity for arrhythmia in combination with altered myocardial structure and function (e.g. arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy). Currently available therapies offer incomplete protection from arrhythmia and fail to alter disease progression. Recent studies suggest that gene therapies may provide potent, molecularly targeted options for at least a subset of inherited arrhythmias. Here, we provide an overview of gene therapy strategies, and review recent studies on gene therapies for catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by MYBPC3 mutations.
Related Concept Videos
Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Heart Failure Drugs: Inotropic Agents
Dysrhythmias VI: Management of Dysrhythmias
Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
Gene Therapy

