Children and adults with Fontan circulation show signs of accelerated biological aging, telomere shortening, and less favorable circulation measurements, suggesting a link between cellular aging and specific heart function features.
Researchers identified a common signaling pathway activated by three adenosine receptor subtypes, leading to cardiac fibroblast activation and scarring. Blocking these receptors together produced a stronger antifibrotic effect, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for heart disease.
New models predict enhancer-gene interactions from single-cell data, enabling accurate mapping across cell types. The models use CRISPR experiments to train, performing well on datasets of varying sizes and sequencing depths. This breakthrough charts enhancer-gene regulation across thousands of cell types.
A team of Stanford investigators created a liquid biopsy using cell-free mRNA to diagnose ICI-related myocarditis, enabling tissue- and cell type-specific gene expression profiling. The study identifies a panel of genes associated with the immune response and heart tissue damage, allowing for early detection and treatment adjustment.
A recent study using human iPSC-heart cells found that fentanyl abuse can impair heart function, leading to rhythm defects. The research reveals changes in calcium signaling and a worsened effect when combined with stimulants like isoproterenol.