JNK in the heart and blood after open-heart surgery
Atrial and blood JNK in Postoperative AF
Researchers are looking at whether a stress protein called JNK in heart tissue and blood can signal who will develop atrial fibrillation after open-heart surgery and whether blocking it could prevent it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11264773 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are having open-heart surgery (for example CABG), researchers will measure JNK levels in your atrial tissue and blood around the time of surgery and follow you for postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF). They will compare people who do and do not develop POAF within about 10 days after surgery to see if higher JNK links to arrhythmia risk. In parallel, lab and preclinical work will test whether local blocking of JNK in the atria can stop the abnormal cell communication and calcium activity that lead to AF. The team aims to use those findings to develop a blood or tissue biomarker and a potential targeted therapy to lower POAF risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults undergoing open-heart procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), especially older adults or those with recent heavy alcohol use, are the expected candidates.
Not a fit: People with AF not related to recent surgery or those not having cardiac surgery are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help predict which patients will get POAF and lead to treatments that reduce atrial fibrillation after heart surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Early patient-sample and lab data link JNK activation to POAF, but applying JNK-blocking treatments in people is a novel and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Columbus, UNITED STATES
- Ohio State University — Columbus, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ai, Xun — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Ai, Xun
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.