title: Connexins in the heart.
abstract: Connexins are essential in the propagation of electrical activity throughout the heart and are an important determinant of conduction velocity. Their dysfunction is an important factor in the genesis of abnormal cardiac rhythm and is relevant to the pathogenesis of a wide variety of cardiac pathologies. Here, we review the basic biology of connexins in the heart but particularly focus on their abnormal function in cardiac disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiovascular Science, Heart Hospital, UCL, 16-18 Westmoreland Street, London, W1G 8PH, UK, pier.lambiase@uclh.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Pier D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Lambiase
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tinker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D017630:Connexins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017629:Gap Junctions; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D017630:Connexins