How lamin A/C gene changes cause heart electrical problems
Mechanisms of Lamin A/C-mediated Cardiac Conduction Disorders
This work looks at how a specific change in the lamin A/C (LMNA) gene leads to slow heart rhythms and heart block that can require pacemakers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11197579 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research studies how an inherited LMNA gene mutation damages the heart's electrical wiring that controls heartbeat timing. Scientists use mice engineered with the same LMNA mutation and analyze heart cells, electrical signals, and gene activity (including ATAC-seq) to find which molecular pathways go wrong. The team aims to pinpoint targets that could be turned into new treatments to prevent or repair conduction system failure. While this project is lab- and animal-based, its findings could guide future patient therapies and clinical trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with a known LMNA mutation or a family history of early-onset sick sinus syndrome, atrioventricular block, or unexplained conduction disease would be most relevant to this work.
Not a fit: Patients whose conduction problems come from non-genetic causes or unrelated structural heart disease may not benefit directly from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could reveal drug or gene-therapy targets that reduce the need for pacemakers in people with LMNA-related conduction disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked LMNA mutations to cardiomyopathy and conduction problems in patients and mouse models, but using genomic mapping of conduction-system cells to define mechanisms is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chelu, Mihail Gabriel — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Chelu, Mihail Gabriel
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.