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[This article belongs to Volume - 70, Issue - 5]
Published on : 2025-05-21 14:35:22
Article Code: AMJ-21-05-2025-12319
Title : Optogenetic Modulation of Cardiac Autonomic Ganglia: A Closed-Loop Intervention for Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias
Author(s) : Dr. Yuki Tanaka, Dr. Rajesh Pate
Abstract :
Pharmacological management of refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) remains inadequate. We present a
translational study employing optogenetic stimulation of intrinsic cardiac ganglia via channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)
expression delivered through cardiotropic AAV6 vectors. In a porcine ischemic cardiomyopathy model, light-emitting
diode (LED) arrays integrated into a bioabsorbable epicardial patch enabled real-time, closed-loop vagomimetic
stimulation triggered by arrhythmia detection algorithms. Optogenetic neuromodulation reduced VT inducibility by
82% and prevented sudden cardiac death in 90% of treated animals versus 30% in controls. Histological analysis
confirmed selective ChR2 expression in cholinergic neurons without off-target myocardial effects. This
neuromodulatory strategy circumvents systemic autonomic side effects of conventional therapies.