Gq-activated fibroblasts induce cardiomyocyte action potential prolongation and automaticity in a three-dimensional microtissue environment

In conclusion, our data demonstrate that CF activation alone is capable of altering action potential and Ca2+ transient characteristics of CMs, leading to proarrhythmic electrical activity. Our results also emphasize the importance of a 3-D environment where cell-cell interactions are prevalent, underscoring that CF activation in 3-D tissue plays a significant role in modulating CM electrophysiology and arrhythmias.
NEW & NOTEWORTHY In a three-dimensional microtissue model, which lowers baseline activation of cardiac fibroblasts but enables cell-cell, paracrine, and cell-extracellular matrix interactions, we demonstrate that selective cardiac fibroblast activation by enhanced Gq signaling, a pathophysiological trigger in the diseased heart, modulates cardiomyocyte electrical activity, leading to proarrhythmogenic automaticity.

Source: AJP: Heart and Circulatory Physiology - October 11, 2017 Category: Cardiology Authors: Kofron, C. M., Kim, T. Y., King, M. E., Xie, A., Feng, F., Park, E., Qu, Z., Choi, B.- R., Mende, U. Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research