Mechanism elusidation of atrial fibrillation caused by hyperactivated autonomic nervous system

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K19902
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 90:Biomedical engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Jimbo Yasuhiko 東京大学, 大学院工学系研究科(工学部), 教授 (20372401)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-06-29 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 脳神経疾患 / 細胞・組織 / シグナル伝達 / ナノバイオ

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To elucidate the mechanism of atrial fibrillation caused by hyperactivation of autonomic nervous system, we studied the excitation propagation in cultured cardiomyocytes, focusing on the spatial pattern. Results showed that re-entry-like propagation occurred depending on the purity and density of cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, we analyzed the propagation pattern of human cardiomyocytes using a high-density microelectrode array which has higher electrode density than conventional microelectrode arrays. The propagation velocity of cardiac activity varied depending on the direction of propagation even at the same position. These findings are important for elucidating the mechanism of arrhythmogenesis.

Free Research Field

神経工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で得られた成果は，培養環境でも不整脈の一種であるリエントリーに類似した活動伝播が発生すること，および興奮の伝播速度が伝播の方向に依存して変わることである．前者は疾患を培養皿の中でモデル化できる可能性を示した点で学術的・社会的に重要である．後者は，健常な心臓で起こっている興奮伝播が，伝導経路の微小な変化から不整脈へと変化していく機序となりえる点で重要である．