hERG, the pore-forming subunit of the rapid component of the delayed rectifier K current, plays a key role in ventricular repolarization. Mutations in the gene encoding hERG are associated with several cardiac rhythmic disorders, mainly the Long QT syndrome (LQTS) characterized by prolonged ventricular repolarization, leading to ventricular tachyarrhythmias, sometimes progressing to ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. Over the past few years, the emergence of next-generation sequencing has revealed an increasing number of genetic variants including variants.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFlow (shear stress)-mediated dilation (FMD) of resistance arteries is a rapid endothelial response involved in tissue perfusion. FMD is reduced early in cardiovascular diseases, generating a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. As alteration of mitochondrial fusion reduces endothelial cells' (ECs) sprouting and angiogenesis, we investigated its role in ECs responses to flow.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEstrogen receptor alpha (ERα) activation by estrogens prevents atheroma through its nuclear action, whereas plasma membrane-located ERα accelerates endothelial healing. The genetic deficiency of ERα was associated with a reduction in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in one man. Here, we evaluated ex vivo the role of ERα on FMD of resistance arteries.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground The cardiovascular protective effects of estrogens in premenopausal women depend mainly on estrogen receptor α (ERα). ERα activates nuclear gene transcription regulation and membrane-initiated signaling. The latter plays a key role in estrogen-dependent activation of endothelial NO synthase.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF