Atrial Fibrillation and Atrial Tissue Lesions: Dynamics of Functional and Structural Remodelling, and Their Reversibility (P16)

• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology ; Anatomy and Physiology
• Term: from 2020 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 422681845

This project characterises the time-course of functional and structural remodelling in a por¬cine model of AF, exploring cardiomyocyte and non-myocyte properties and interactions to evaluate whether AF-induced atrial remodelling can be inhibited or reversed. The porcine AF model has been established and validated in more than 100 AF animals, and will be used in P16 to compare findings between por¬cine and human atrial tissue. Investigations will relate changes in cellular structure, function and tissue composition to the arrhythmogenic potential of atrial myocardium. Atrial fibrosis will be tracked over time using in vivo PET/ CT with fibroblast tracers (targeting fibroblast activation protein). Infor¬mation about severity and type of atrial fibrosis will be linked to clinically relevant parameters to guide therapeutic decisions, including prediction of the likelihood of successful ablation therapy.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1425: Heterocellular Nature of Cardiac Lesions: Identities, Interactions, Implications
• Applicant Institution: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Constanze Schmidt