The Role of Connexin40 in the Pathogenesis of Atrial Fibrillation Probed by Targeted In Vivo Gene Transfer

心房颤动（AF）是一种快速和不规则的心律，可使患者易患心力衰竭和中风。心房颤动是由于上心室的电传导异常而发生的。我们发现一种叫做Cx40的蛋白质在培养过程中会导致心脏细胞传导异常。本研究的目的是观察AF动物模型中Cx40升高时是否发生AF， Cx40降低时是否预防AF，从而有可能将Cx40定义为新的治疗靶点。

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a fast and irregular heart rhythm that can predispose sufferers to heart failure and stroke. AF occurs as the result of abnormal electrical conduction in the upper heart chambers. We have found that a protein called Cx40 causes abnormal conduction in heart cells when grown in culture. The aim of this research is to see if AF occurs when Cx40 is increased and prevented when Cx40 is decreased in an AF animal model, potentially defining Cx40 as new therapeutic target.