Xupei Huang
Florida Atlantic University, USA
Title: Diastolic dysfunction and heart failure: Mechanism and experimental treatment
Biography
Biography: Xupei Huang
Abstract
In the past, we have focused on heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Recently, we have begun to focus on heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), in which patients suffer from a diastolic dysfunction with a normal or near normal cardiac contraction. Patients with HFrEF typically have hypertension, diabetes, and various cardiomyopathies. They have a stiff ventricle that is non-compliant compared with patients with HFrEF. Diastolic dysfunction or diastolic heart failure is commonly observed in pediatric patients with hypertrophic or restrictive cardiomyopathy, primary hypertension and diabetes. We have generated a transgenic mouse line modeling human restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM). Using this animal model, we have demonstrated that myofibril hypersensitivity to calcium is a key that causes impaired relaxation, i.e. diastolic dysfunction in mice with RCM. Using a genetic way or desensitizing chemical molecules to reduce the myofibril hypersensitivity can correct the diastolic dysfunction and rescue the RCM mice. Calcium desensitization provides us with a promising option in the treatment of diastolic dysfunction and diastolic heart failure.