基本信息
浏览量:14
职业迁徙
个人简介
R e s e a r c h I n t e r e s t
Studying the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for cellular pacemaking behaviour and that underlie the function and expression of “pacemaker” channels.
Research Relevance
The research aims to develop a better understanding of pacemaking electrical activity in cells, which may effect the treatment of conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias and epilepsy.
Understanding the Body’s Natural Pacemakers
Normal functioning of the heart and the brain depends upon specialized cells that act as pacemakers. In the heart, the pacemaker cells in the sinoatrial node set the heart’s beating frequency. The cells also generate rhythmic, spontaneous electrical impulses that can control muscle activity, certain automatic functions such as breathing, and behavioural states including arousal from sleep. Inappropriate pacemaker activity may lead to both inherited and acquired cardiac arrhythmias, and may also be involved in various neurological disorders such as epilepsy.
Canada Research Chair Dr. Eric Accili is the only scientist in Canada, and one of few in the world who focuses on “pacemaker” channels – the special membrane proteins found in the pacemaker cells of the heart and brain. Normally, positive ions flow through these channels and into the pacemaker cells, leading to repetitive activity.
In the heart, the pacemaker channels are the targets for hormones such as adrenalin. Adrenalin released during anxiety or exercise causes more ions to flow through the channels, thus increasing the heart’s beating frequency. In the brain, these channels are modified by neurotransmitters released by nerves, resulting in the modification of cellular pacemaker activity.
People with rapid heart rate are often treated with drugs known as beta blockers. These drugs, in addition to reducing heart rate, however, often compromise the strength of the heartbeat, which under certain conditions can be dangerous. What are needed are drugs that specifically block the pacemaker channels and reduce heart rate without compromising the strength of the heart. Understanding the basic mechanisms of pacemaker channel modulation, therefore, is a necessary first step in the design of therapeutic drugs.
Studying the molecular mechanisms that are responsible for cellular pacemaking behaviour and that underlie the function and expression of “pacemaker” channels.
Research Relevance
The research aims to develop a better understanding of pacemaking electrical activity in cells, which may effect the treatment of conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias and epilepsy.
Understanding the Body’s Natural Pacemakers
Normal functioning of the heart and the brain depends upon specialized cells that act as pacemakers. In the heart, the pacemaker cells in the sinoatrial node set the heart’s beating frequency. The cells also generate rhythmic, spontaneous electrical impulses that can control muscle activity, certain automatic functions such as breathing, and behavioural states including arousal from sleep. Inappropriate pacemaker activity may lead to both inherited and acquired cardiac arrhythmias, and may also be involved in various neurological disorders such as epilepsy.
Canada Research Chair Dr. Eric Accili is the only scientist in Canada, and one of few in the world who focuses on “pacemaker” channels – the special membrane proteins found in the pacemaker cells of the heart and brain. Normally, positive ions flow through these channels and into the pacemaker cells, leading to repetitive activity.
In the heart, the pacemaker channels are the targets for hormones such as adrenalin. Adrenalin released during anxiety or exercise causes more ions to flow through the channels, thus increasing the heart’s beating frequency. In the brain, these channels are modified by neurotransmitters released by nerves, resulting in the modification of cellular pacemaker activity.
People with rapid heart rate are often treated with drugs known as beta blockers. These drugs, in addition to reducing heart rate, however, often compromise the strength of the heartbeat, which under certain conditions can be dangerous. What are needed are drugs that specifically block the pacemaker channels and reduce heart rate without compromising the strength of the heart. Understanding the basic mechanisms of pacemaker channel modulation, therefore, is a necessary first step in the design of therapeutic drugs.
研究兴趣
论文共 68 篇作者统计合作学者相似作者
按年份排序按引用量排序主题筛选期刊级别筛选合作者筛选合作机构筛选
时间
引用量
主题
期刊级别
合作者
合作机构
Functionno. 6 (2022): zqac052-zqac052
加载更多
作者统计
合作学者
合作机构
D-Core
- 合作者
- 学生
- 导师
数据免责声明
页面数据均来自互联网公开来源、合作出版商和通过AI技术自动分析结果,我们不对页面数据的有效性、准确性、正确性、可靠性、完整性和及时性做出任何承诺和保证。若有疑问,可以通过电子邮件方式联系我们:report@aminer.cn