Scientists from the University of Amsterdam Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University have discovered a small gene, S10s, that can be inserted into the heart to prevent arrhythmias (An arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, is a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat). The results of the study were published in the European Heart Journal (EHJ).
According to cardiologist Gerard Boink, one of the study’s authors, the rapid transmission of impulses is necessary to maintain a stable heart rhythm. Disruptions in this conduction can lead to life-threatening arrhythmias, especially in people with a history of heart attacks, heart failure, or genetic disorders.
In the study, a team of scientists addressed the problem of conduction slowing by introducing a new gene into heart muscle cells. Until now, effective genes have been too large to be delivered into cells using a viral vector.
The experiment results showed that introducing this gene improves impulse conduction in the heart, potentially laying the foundation for a new approach to treating arrhythmia. The research team successfully demonstrated these effects in various animal models, human heart muscle cells, and a computational model of the human heart.
“Further research is needed to determine whether this approach can be applied in clinical practice. If successful, it could significantly reduce the incidence of arrhythmias and improve patient survival,” Boink said.
