title: Racing of the biological pacemaker.
abstract: Over the past decade, rapid progress in the molecular studies of cardiac ion channels and stem cells biology has led to efforts to create a biological pacemaker to supplement the widely-used electronic pacemaker. We will review the main concepts of cardiac pacemaker activities in different heart regions and the approaches to design a working biological pacemaker. We will focus on how to use the gene- and cell-based approaches to meet the requirements of a working biological pacemaker. Possible future development and precautions for creation of an effective biological pacemaker superior to the electronic counterpart are also discussed along with recent patents.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cardiovascular & Respiratory Sciences, Department of Physiology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. hyu@hsc.wvu.edu
authors.forename: Han-Gang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D010330:Patents as Topic
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels