Irregular ventricular activation - a novel mechanism impairing Ca2+-homeostasis and excitability in the transition to heart failure (A11*)

• Subject Area: Anatomy and Physiology
• Term: from 2016 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 193793266

This project aims at elucidating effects of atrial fibrillation (AF) on ventricular excitation contraction coupling. We hypothesize that the irregular heart beat in AF accelerates the transition to heart failure (HF). Ventricular myocardium of patients with cardiac hypertrophy (Hy) (aortic stenosis) in sinus rhythm (SR) vs. AF will be phenotyped as to the expression of regulatory kinases and phosphatases, Ca2+-cycling properties and ion fluxes and compared to end-stage heart failure. Alterations detected in AF vs. SR may serve as therapeutic toeholds and fortify the intention of rhythm control in clinical practice. Furthermore, the role of cardiac phosphatases in the disruption of ion homeostasis will be evaluated in the transition from Hy to HF.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1002: Modulatory Units in Heart Failure
• Applicant Institution: Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
• Project Head: Privatdozent Dr. Thomas Fischer, until 12/2018