Cellular Regeneration as a Potential Strategy To Treat Cardiac Conduction Disorders

Authors

Satadru K Lahiri
Mohit M Hulsurkar
Xander Ht Wehrens

Publication Date

10-1-2021

Journal

Journal of Clinical Investigation

DOI

10.1172/JCI152185

PMID

34596049

PMCID

PMC8483745

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

10-1-2021

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Published Open-Access

yes

Keywords

Animals, Mice, Regeneration

Abstract

Loss of atrioventricular conduction system (AVCS) cells due to either inherited or acquired deficits leads to conduction diseases, which can deteriorate into fatal cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. In this issue of the JCI, Wang et al. constructed a mouse model of atrioventricular block (AVB) by inducing AVCS cell-specific injury using the Cx30.2 enhancer to drive expression of diphtheria toxin fragment A. AVCS cell ablation in adult mice led to irreversible AVB. jkjkIn contrast, AVCS cell injury in neonatal mice was followed by spontaneous recovery in a subset of mice, revealing a limited postnatal time window during which the regeneration of AVCS cells can occur as a result of cellular plasticity. This exciting study paves the way for future research into biological or cellular treatment approaches for cardiac conduction diseases by exploiting the regenerative potential of AVCS cells.