Severe systemic inflammation in COVID-19 patients can lead to dysfunction of multiple organs, including the heart. Using an ex vivo cardiac organoid system, Mills et al discovered that inhibitors of the chromatin reader protein, bromodomain-containing protein 4, protect cardiomyocytes from COVID-associated "cytokine storm". We briefly review these important findings and highlight the translational significance of the work.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; bromodomain-containing protein 4; cytokine storm; diastolic dysfunction.