Functional (Pharmaco) Genomics and Genetics in Atrial Fibrillation Associated with Sudden Cardiac Death Syndromes
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Genetics and Genomics".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 March 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: molecular genetics; sudden cardiac death; ion channels; arrhythmias; translation medicine; pharmacology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: G-protein coupled receptors; angiogenesis; cardiac remodeling; pregnancy; placentation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of sustained cardiac arrhythmia, characterized by disorganized electrical activity in the atria. AF is a growing global health concern, with an estimated 52.6 million people worldwide living with AF in 2021. The incidence of AF is rising due to aging populations and increasing prevalence of risk factors including hypertension, obesity, and alcohol use. The economic burden of AF is staggering, with the treatment of patients in the US and Europe costing up to USD 26 billion, depending on prevalence and treatment intensity, at an average cost per patient of >USD 53,000 (significantly higher than for non-AF patients).
Electrical chaos is largely driven by ion channel remodeling, which alters the heart’s electrophysiological properties. Changes in voltage-gated and non-voltage-gated ion channels have been reported in the pathogenesis of AF. These changes are part of electrical remodeling, which occurs alongside structural remodeling (e.g., fibrosis, cellular differentiation), which further sustains AF. Atrial fibrillation is not just an electrical glitch—it is a complex interplay of ion channel dysfunction, cellular remodeling, and systemic risk factors. Its rising global incidence and economic costs demand more targeted therapies, especially those that address its molecular underpinnings such as ion channel modulation.
This Special Issue will address genetics, genomics, 3D and AI-based structural analyses and molecular pathways regulating ion channel function in AF and the potential for future therapeutic opportunities regarding this debilitating disease
Dr. Hector Barajas-Martinez
Prof. Dr. Anthony Ashton
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- atrial fibrillation
- sudden cardiac death syndromes
- channelopathies
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