B01 - Atrial mechanical and secretory function in human HFpEF

Atrial remodeling is a hallmark feature of HFpEF, often associated with atrial fibrillation, and linked to increased mortality. Atrial secretory (dys-)function has been linked to a variety of processes associated with remodeling and might represent a driver of the HFpEF phenotype (e.g. via micro-RNAs). The consortium proposes an altered upstream pathway of atrial secretion during HFpEF linked to mechanical and electrical (i.e. atrial fibrillation) cardiac dysfunction. We specifically investigate the role of intercellular interaction and disease/trigger specific atrial secretory activity in human HFpEF using state of the art in-vivo and in-vitro methods to establish the atria as an important endocrine organ that reacts towards and might even mediate HFpEF-related systemic dysfunction.

Graphical Abstract: Differential triggers/downstream paracrine activators and secretome properties are studied in the context of atrial mechanical and secretory dysfunction as well as the occurrence of atrial fibrillation in HFpEF.