Engineered biological pacemakers

摘要

Biological pacemakers engineered to intrinsically generate rhythmic excitations are disclosed. In addition, methods of producing the biological pacemakers are disclosed. Methods of treating or preventing arrhythmia and heart disease associated with a defective pacemakers are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method of producing a biological pacemaker, comprising administering in vivo a viral vector comprising a nucleic acid that encodes an adenylyl cyclase into electrically excitable cardiomyocytes of the heart of a patient, wherein the administering comprises contacting the viral vector with one or more cardiomyocytes of the patient, wherein the administration of the nucleic acid provides for expression of the corresponding adenylyl cyclase protein in an amount sufficient to induce rhythmic local Ca2+ releases in said cells which results in a sustained rhythmic and regular beating of the cardiomyocyte expressing the adenylyl cyclase protein.