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Arrhythmias

Blocking p38γ/δ, a molecular cardiac defibrillator

Nature Cardiovascular Research volume 2, pages 1104–1106 (2023)Cite this article

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Ventricular arrhythmias are associated with aging and are a leading cause of sudden cardiac death. A new study shows that hyperactivation of p38γ/δ MAPKs is a key driver of stress-induced ventricular arrhythmias via increased phosphorylation of ryanodine receptor 2 at Ser2367 and impaired localization of potassium voltage-gated channel Kv4.3.

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Fig. 1: Mechanisms of p38γ/δ-mediated increase in ventricular arrhythmia.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Robert and Janice McNair foundation (J.A.K.), and NIH R01-HL089598, R01-HL147108, R01-HL153350 and R01-HL160992 (X.H.T.W.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Joshua A. Keefe & Xander H. T. Wehrens

  2. Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Joshua A. Keefe & Xander H. T. Wehrens

  3. Department of Medicine/Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Xander H. T. Wehrens

  4. Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Xander H. T. Wehrens

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Xander H. T. Wehrens

  6. Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA

    Xander H. T. Wehrens

Authors
  1. Joshua A. Keefe
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  2. Xander H. T. Wehrens
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Correspondence to Xander H. T. Wehrens.

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Competing interests

X.H.T.W. is a founding partner of Elex Biotech, a start-up company that develops drug molecules that target ryanodine receptors to treat cardiac arrhythmias. X.H.T.W. is also a consultant to Rocket Pharmaceuticals. J.A.K. declares no competing interests.

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Keefe, J.A., Wehrens, X.H.T. Blocking p38γ/δ, a molecular cardiac defibrillator. Nat Cardiovasc Res 2, 1104–1106 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44161-023-00363-2

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