Cardiac Inflammasome and Arrhythmia

Excerpt

Cardiac arrhythmias affect the quality of life and are often life threatening. The conventional anti-arrhythmic drugs targeting cardiac ion channels are associated with severe adverse effects including drug-induced cardiac toxicity and are often arrhythmogenic. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms contributing to the fundamental events that promote arrhythmias is a prerequisite for the development of novel and effective therapeutics, as well as better patient care in the different patient populations. Enhanced inflammatory response has been associated with the development of several major forms of cardiovascular diseases including cardiac arrhythmia. Recent studies point to a critical role of the cardiac inflammasome signaling in the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias, especially in the context of atrial fibrillation. In this chapter, we discuss the current understanding of the inflammasome biology, the causative involvement of inflammasome in the development of atrial fibrillation, and the therapeutic potential of targeting the inflammasome pathway in patients at risk for or in atrial fibrillation.