Implications for neutrophils in cardiac arrhythmias
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Updated: Jul 8, 2025
Impact of Intracardiac Neurons on Cardiac Electrophysiology and Arrhythmogenesis in an Ex Vivo Langendorff System
Published on: May 22, 2018
Niklas Hegemann1,2,3, Lukas Barth1,2,3, Yannic Döring4,5
1Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), Berlin, Germany.
Insights
Neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, are increasingly recognized for their role in causing cardiac arrhythmias. This study highlights their expansion during heart conditions and their direct impact on heart rhythm disturbances.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Immunology
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Cardiac arrhythmias stem from abnormal electrical activity in the heart.
- Common triggers include heart disease, electrolyte issues, and genetic factors.
- Innate immune cells, like leukocytes, are increasingly linked to arrhythmias.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the role of neutrophils in cardiac arrhythmia development.
- To explore neutrophil expansion in myocardial ischemia and infection.
- To elucidate mechanisms of neutrophil activation and their direct pro-arrhythmic effects.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on neutrophils and cardiac arrhythmias.
- Analysis of studies correlating leukocyte infiltration with arrhythmia burden.
- Exploration of molecular pathways of neutrophil activation.
Main Results:
- Neutrophil expansion in the myocardium is associated with increased arrhythmia incidence.
- Neutrophils are implicated in arrhythmogenesis during myocardial ischemia and infection.
- Specific molecular mechanisms link neutrophil activation to direct mediation of arrhythmias.
Conclusions:
- Neutrophils are significant contributors to cardiac arrhythmia pathogenesis.
- Understanding neutrophil involvement offers new therapeutic targets for arrhythmias.
- Further research into neutrophil-cardiac interactions is warranted.
Abstract:
Cardiac arrhythmias commonly occur as a result of aberrant electrical impulse formation or conduction in the myocardium. Frequently discussed triggers include underlying heart diseases such as myocardial ischemia, electrolyte imbalances, or genetic anomalies of ion channels involved in the tightly regulated cardiac action potential. Recently, the role of innate immune cells in the onset of arrhythmic events has been highlighted in numerous studies, correlating leukocyte expansion in the myocardium to increased arrhythmic burden. Here, we aim to call attention to the role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias and their expansion during myocardial ischemia and infectious disease manifestation. In addition, we will elucidate molecular mechanisms associated with neutrophil activation and discuss their involvement as direct mediators of arrhythmogenicity.
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