Beta blockers alter gene expression

A new mechanism of action of beta blockers has been discovered

Anna Stavina, XX2 century, based on Medical Xpress: Popular class of drugs reverse potentially harmful genetic changes from heart disease

Beta-blockers are drugs used in the treatment of a number of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), for example, arrhythmias and heart failure. Doctors have known for decades that medicines of this group reduce the heart rate (HR) and their strength, thereby reducing the load on the heart as a whole. But a new study conducted at York University in Toronto has shown that beta blockers are also able to fight potentially dangerous genetic changes associated with CVD.

Using an experimental model of heart failure and a new generation of sequencing, scientists have obtained a "snapshot" of all the RNA of heart cells. It turned out that the expression of some genes changes in heart failure. Then the researchers decided to find out what happens to gene expression against the background of the use of beta blockers. The result was unexpected and quite promising from the point of view of developing new strategies for the treatment of CVD.

"We found that beta blockers largely "turn off" the pathological scenario of changes in gene expression," says one of the leaders of the work, Professor John McDermott (John McDermott). – In principle, this may mean that beta blockers have a cardioprotective mechanism of action, that is, that they are able to protect the heart from heart failure. However, more research will be needed to understand how individual genes work in the heart."

Interestingly, in the course of the work, violations of the regulation of some genes related to the work of the immune system were also found. This suggests that immune disorders and inflammation play a role in the development of CVD.

The genes identified in the course of the new work will be studied further – in terms of their use in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure.

Article by Tobin et al. Heart Failure and MEF2 Transcriptome Dynamics in Response to β-Blockers is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  04.07.2017