Tobin SW, Hashemi S, Dadson K, Turdi S, Ebrahimian K, Zhao J, Sweeney G, Grigull J, McDermott JC. Heart Failure and MEF2 Transcriptome Dynamics in Response to β-Blockers. Sci Rep. 2017 Jun 30;7(1):4476. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-04762-x
Significance of the research:
"Popular class of heart drugs reverse genetic changes associated with heart failure.
Beta blockers are commonly used world-wide to treat a variety of cardiovascular conditions, such as arrhythmias and heart failure. Scientists have known for decades that the medications work by slowing the heart rate and reducing the force of contraction – lessening the burden of work carried out by the heart. However, new research out of York University has now shown that these drugs also reverse a number of genetic changes associated with heart disease.
Using an experimental model of heart failure and next generation sequencing to get a snapshot of all of the RNA in the heart cells, the researchers identified, for the first time, the global gene expression changes that occur in heart failure. Then they explored what happened to this pattern of gene expression when beta blocker treatment was implemented.
“We discovered that beta blockers largely reverse the pathological pattern of gene expression observed in heart failure,” said Faculty of Science Professor John McDermott, who co-led the research. “This could mean that the reversal of pathological gene expression by beta blockers is somehow protective against heart failure, but it’s something we would need to look into gene by gene to understand what they do.”
Interestingly, the study also found that some genes associated with the immune system were dysregulated in heart failure, supporting recent research that has suggested the immune system and inflammation are involved in heart disease.
About 600,000 Canadians are living with heart failure, and the disease is only expected to rise as more people survive heart attacks and other heart conditions and continue to live longer.
The research led by McDermott and his team has identified genes that will be further explored for their potential use in diagnosis and treatment in heart failure."