Exchange Protein directly activated by cAMP -1 inhibition to prevent Atrial Fibrillation – ELECTRO

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia occurring in 1% of the general population, associated with significant morbidity and mortality and has become an important public health problem worldwide. Current treatments based on anti-arrhythmic drugs and ablation procedures are not fully efficient. Therefore, there is a urge need to identify novel therapeutic targets. Among all known mechanisms involved in AF, the cAMP-binding protein Epac1 has recently emerged as a promising candidate. Members of the consortium have developed a novel inhibitor of Epac1 with in vivo application. Based on solid preliminary data and using a multidisciplinary and complementary approach that combines molecular biology, cardiac rhythmology and electrophysiology, the main goal of this project is to determine the therapeutic potential of Epac1 pharmacological inhibition in relevant models of AF. We will demonstrate by which mechanisms Epac1 inhibition blocks AF.