25 years of basic and translational science in EP Europace: novel insights into arrhythmia mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

Abstract

In the last 25 years, EP Europace has published more than 300 basic and translational science articles covering different arrhythmia types (ranging from atrial fibrillation to ventricular tachyarrhythmias), different diseases predisposing to arrhythmia formation (such as genetic arrhythmia disorders and heart failure), and different interventional and pharmacological anti-arrhythmic treatment strategies (ranging from pacing and defibrillation to different ablation approaches and novel drug-therapies). These studies have been conducted in cellular models, small and large animal models, and in the last couple of years increasingly in silico using computational approaches. In sum, these articles have contributed substantially to our pathophysiological understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms and treatment options; many of which have made their way into clinical applications. This review discusses a representative selection of EP Europace manuscripts covering the topics of pacing and ablation, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and pro-arrhythmic ventricular remodelling, ion channel (dys)function and pharmacology, inherited arrhythmia syndromes, and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathies, highlighting some of the advances of the past 25 years. Given the increasingly recognized complexity and multidisciplinary nature of arrhythmogenesis and continued technological developments, basic and translational electrophysiological research is key advancing the field. EP Europace aims to further increase its contribution to the discovery of arrhythmia mechanisms and the implementation of mechanism-based precision therapy approaches in arrhythmia management.

Keywords: Atrial fibrillation; Basic electrophysiology; Genetics; Ion channels; Modelling; Pathophysiology; Sudden cardiac death; Translational electrophysiology; Ventricular arrhythmias.

Figure 1

Overview of the basic and translational cardiac electrophysiology topics that have been covered in EP Europace. In all topics, pathophysiological mechanism and novel therapy approaches are investigated. Generated with biorender.

Figure 2

Left panel: number of basic/translational science articles published per year in EP Europace. Years with supplemental issues dedicated to basic/translational science topics are indicated with a * for each supplemental issue. Right panel: Percentage distribution of the different topics within basic/translational science articles.

Figure 3

Overview of methods utilized in basic/translational cardiac electrophysiology articles in EP Europace. Preparations range from intact organism (animal-to-human), isolated heart, multicellular preparation (i.e. slice/wedge of papillary/trabeculae preparations), isolated cardiac cells (i.e. atrial, ventricular, nodal, or Purkinje cells), and ion channel expression systems (e.g. human embryonic kidney cells). The associated techniques for measuring cardiac function are shown on the right. Modified from Odening et al. EP Europace 2021.