Mechanisms of triggered activity in lethal arrhythmias: in silico study

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K06776
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 48020:Physiology-related
• Research Institution: Kanazawa Medical University
• Principal Investigator: TSUMOTO Kunichika 金沢医科大学, 医学部, 准教授 (70353331)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 倉田 康孝 金沢医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (00267725)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 生理学 / 不整脈 / 細胞・組織 / 生物物理 / フィジオーム

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Early afterdepolarization (EAD), a repolarization abnormality of the action potential in ventricular myocytes, has been considered a trigger for lethal arrhythmias. Our purpose of this study was to clarify mechanisms of triggered activity formation, which is referred to as the phenomena that trigger ventricular arrhythmia onsets, and our goal was to establish a novel methodology based on the theoretical mechanisms to prevent sudden death. In the present study, we have shown that the triggered activity was created by forming local regions maintained at high potentials derived from the chained occurrence of EADs within the ventricle, and the specific shapes of the local region boundary. Furthermore, we found that the triggered activity has a directionality by stimulating the tissue from multiple directions and examining the dynamics of the excitation propagation. Our findings offer insights into a deeper understanding of the triggered activity for arrhythmia prevention.

Free Research Field

心臓電気生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

突然死の主要因である心室性不整脈（心室頻拍・心室細動）をもたらすきっかけとなる撃発活動が形成される電気生理学的メカニズムが明確になった。そして本研究で明らかとなった撃発活動の発生機序に基づいて、致死性不整脈発生の新たな予測法や予防法といった方法論の確立へと発展することが期待される。