Cardiovascular disease (CVD) are complex multi-factorial disorders that commonly co-exist and are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current pharmacotherapeutics have had only limited success in improving the long-term survival of patients. Therefore, novel approaches in deciphering key pathogenesis pathways in CVD are urgently needed to provide new strategies for intervention and clinical benefits for patients.
There is overwhelming and compelling evidence to demonstrate that the body’s intrinsic circadian (~24 hours) clock plays a fundamental role in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology in humans. The circadian system is orchestrated by a central molecular clock located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), which drives overt rhythmic physiological processes such as sleep/wake cycle, core body temperature, and hormone synthesis. The SCN can regulate daily rhythms in blood pressure and heart rate (and heart rate variability) via direct autonomic control. However, many fundamental aspects of cardiovascular physiology such as cardiac metabolism and contractility, endothelial cell biology, platelet aggregation, and thrombus formation are also influenced by the local intrinsic circadian clock. These circadian molecular clocks operate in most cells of the body including all cardiovascular cell types. It would be of interest to detangle the precise contribution of the behavioral state of the individual and the role of the central and peripheral circadian clocks in the regulation of cardiovascular physiology and disease.
The diurnal occurrence of many CVD and cardiac events such as acute heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac rhythm disorders, and sudden cardiac death, also exhibits a daily variation with prevalence in the early morning hours. The circadian system significantly affects the mechanisms of cardiac damage susceptibility and the recovery process (including the time of cardiac surgery) and the response to therapy in diverse diseases including ischemic heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and stroke. For example, selective genetic disruption of clock function in cardiomyocytes can alter cardiac electrical conductivity in animals. Circadian misalignment via the alteration of the environmental light-dark cycle leads to altered cardiac electrophysiology and the precipitation of a pre-diabetic state in humans. Shift work is associated with increased risk for diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease including cardiac conduction disorders.
In this Research Topic, a holistic approach will be used to survey the accumulating literature and connect molecular, cellular, and physiological pathways in circadian biology to clinical consequences in CVD and cardiac events such as cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, hypertension, and stroke. Accounting for the complex and multifactorial effects of circadian rhythm may improve translational opportunities for diagnostics and therapeutics in CVDs. We welcome articles focusing on the impact of the circadian system on cardiovascular biology and disease at both the basic/fundamental level and in a clinical setting. Articles can be in the form of Original Research articles and Reviews of related research advances.
The current project covers the following sub-topics, but is not limited to:
• The use of innovative model systems (e.g. different species, technical approaches) to examine and delineate the precise mechanisms of action of the circadian system in the regulation of the CV system e.g. human iPSC-cardiomyocyte cell models and molecular/cellular/animal disease model systems including bioinformatics modeling.
• Manipulation of the circadian system using existing and newly identified molecules as a novel strategy in disease intervention including the repurposing of current medicines and effective timing of treatment to maximize efficacy in treating cardiovascular disease (Chronotherapy).
• Identification and characterization of chronobiomarkers that have a strong association with specific cardiovascular disease states.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) are complex multi-factorial disorders that commonly co-exist and are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Current pharmacotherapeutics have had only limited success in improving the long-term survival of patients. Therefore, novel approaches in deciphering key pathogenesis pathways in CVD are urgently needed to provide new strategies for intervention and clinical benefits for patients.
There is overwhelming and compelling evidence to demonstrate that the body’s intrinsic circadian (~24 hours) clock plays a fundamental role in cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology in humans. The circadian system is orchestrated by a central molecular clock located in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), which drives overt rhythmic physiological processes such as sleep/wake cycle, core body temperature, and hormone synthesis. The SCN can regulate daily rhythms in blood pressure and heart rate (and heart rate variability) via direct autonomic control. However, many fundamental aspects of cardiovascular physiology such as cardiac metabolism and contractility, endothelial cell biology, platelet aggregation, and thrombus formation are also influenced by the local intrinsic circadian clock. These circadian molecular clocks operate in most cells of the body including all cardiovascular cell types. It would be of interest to detangle the precise contribution of the behavioral state of the individual and the role of the central and peripheral circadian clocks in the regulation of cardiovascular physiology and disease.
The diurnal occurrence of many CVD and cardiac events such as acute heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiac rhythm disorders, and sudden cardiac death, also exhibits a daily variation with prevalence in the early morning hours. The circadian system significantly affects the mechanisms of cardiac damage susceptibility and the recovery process (including the time of cardiac surgery) and the response to therapy in diverse diseases including ischemic heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and stroke. For example, selective genetic disruption of clock function in cardiomyocytes can alter cardiac electrical conductivity in animals. Circadian misalignment via the alteration of the environmental light-dark cycle leads to altered cardiac electrophysiology and the precipitation of a pre-diabetic state in humans. Shift work is associated with increased risk for diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease including cardiac conduction disorders.
In this Research Topic, a holistic approach will be used to survey the accumulating literature and connect molecular, cellular, and physiological pathways in circadian biology to clinical consequences in CVD and cardiac events such as cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, hypertension, and stroke. Accounting for the complex and multifactorial effects of circadian rhythm may improve translational opportunities for diagnostics and therapeutics in CVDs. We welcome articles focusing on the impact of the circadian system on cardiovascular biology and disease at both the basic/fundamental level and in a clinical setting. Articles can be in the form of Original Research articles and Reviews of related research advances.
The current project covers the following sub-topics, but is not limited to:
• The use of innovative model systems (e.g. different species, technical approaches) to examine and delineate the precise mechanisms of action of the circadian system in the regulation of the CV system e.g. human iPSC-cardiomyocyte cell models and molecular/cellular/animal disease model systems including bioinformatics modeling.
• Manipulation of the circadian system using existing and newly identified molecules as a novel strategy in disease intervention including the repurposing of current medicines and effective timing of treatment to maximize efficacy in treating cardiovascular disease (Chronotherapy).
• Identification and characterization of chronobiomarkers that have a strong association with specific cardiovascular disease states.
