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Progressive Cardiac Arrhythmias and Ecg Abnormalities in the Huntington'S Disease Bachd Mouse Model
Human Molecular Genetics
  • Yujie Zhu, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Isaac Shamblin, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Efrain Rodriguez, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics
  • Grace E. Salzer, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Lita Araysi, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Katherine A. Margolies, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Ganesh V. Halade, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Silvio H. Litovsky, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Steven Pogwizd, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Michelle Gray, Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics
  • Sabine Huke, The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1-2020
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddz295
Abstract

Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease. There is accumulating evidence that HD patients have increased prevalence of conduction abnormalities and compromised sinoatrial node function which could lead to increased risk for arrhythmia. We used mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) expressing bacterial artificial chromosome Huntington's disease mice to determine if they exhibit electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities involving cardiac conduction that are known to increase risk of sudden arrhythmic death in humans. We obtained surface ECGs and analyzed arrhythmia susceptibility; we observed prolonged QRS duration, increases in PVCs as well as PACs. Abnormal histological and structural changes that could lead to cardiac conduction system dysfunction were seen. Finally, we observed decreases in desmosomal proteins, plakophilin-2 and desmoglein-2, which have been reported to cause cardiac arrhythmias and reduced conduction. Our study indicates that mHTT could cause progressive cardiac conduction system pathology that could increase the susceptibility to arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in HD patients.

Citation / Publisher Attribution
Human Molecular Genetics, v. 29, issue 3, p. 369-381
Citation Information
Yujie Zhu, Isaac Shamblin, Efrain Rodriguez, Grace E. Salzer, et al.. "Progressive Cardiac Arrhythmias and Ecg Abnormalities in the Huntington'S Disease Bachd Mouse Model" Human Molecular Genetics Vol. 29 Iss. 3 (2020) p. 369 - 381
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/ganesh-halade/70/