Radiation therapy reprograms cardiomyocytes to a young state

A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St.

In this invasive procedure—catheter ablation—a catheter is inserted into the heart and the tissue that triggers the life-threatening irregular heart rhythm—ventricular tachycardia—is burned, creating scars and blocking false signals

The research was published in the September 24th issue of "Nature Communications"

Medical scientists at the University of Washington said in 2017 that radiation therapy, commonly used for cancer treatment, can target the heart to treat ventricular tachycardia

In theory, radiation therapy can replicate the scar tissue produced by catheter ablation, but it is a shorter, completely non-invasive process that allows more severe patients to receive this treatment

"Traditionally, catheter ablation produces scar tissue and blocks the circuit that causes ventricular tachycardia," said Dr.

Scientists have discovered that radiation therapy triggers cardiomyocytes to start expressing different genes

In adult cardiomyocytes, Notch is usually turned off

"Arrhythmias are related to slow electrical conduction velocity," Rentschler said

Researchers studied these effects on mice and donated human hearts

"Radiation does cause some kind of harm, but it is different from catheter ablation," said co-author Julie K.

The researchers also found that in surviving patients, the beneficial effects of radiation lasted for at least two years

First author David M.

Article title

Cardiac radiotherapy induces electrical conduction reprogramming in the absence of transmural fibrosis