Fibroblast growth factor homologous factors in the heart: a potential locus for cardiac arrhythmias

Trends Cardiovasc Med. 2011 Oct;21(7):199-203. doi: 10.1016/j.tcm.2012.05.010.

Abstract

The four fibroblast growth factor homologous factors (FHFs; FGF11-FGF14) are intracellular proteins that bind and modulate voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs). Although FHFs have been well studied in neurons and implicated in neurologic disease, their role in cardiomyocytes was unclear until recently. This review discusses the expression profile and function of FHFs in mouse and rat ventricular cardiomyocytes. Recent data show that FGF13 is the predominant FHF in the murine heart, directly binds the cardiac VGSC α subunit, and is essential for normal cardiac conduction. FHF loss-of-function mutations may be unrecognized causes of cardiac arrhythmias, such as long QT and Brugada syndromes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / diagnosis
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / etiology
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / genetics
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / pathology*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / genetics*
  • Heart*
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • Rats
  • Risk Factors
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels / genetics*

Substances

  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors