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Rebecchi M, Fanisio F, Rizzi F, Politano A, De Ruvo E, Crescenzi C, Panattoni G, Squeglia M, Martino A, Sasso S, Golia P, Pugliese G, Del Gigante S, Giamundo D, Desimone P, Grieco D, De Luca L, Giordano I, Barillà F, Perrone MA, Calò L, Iellamo F. The Autonomic Coumel Triangle: A New Way to Define the Fascinating Relationship between Atrial Fibrillation and the Autonomic Nervous System. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13051139. [PMID: 37240784 DOI: 10.3390/life13051139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Arrhythmogenic substrate, modulating factors, and triggering factors (the so-called Coumel's triangle concept) play a primary role in atrial fibrillation (AF) pathophysiology. Several years have elapsed since Coumel and co-workers advanced the concept of the relevance of autonomic nervous system (ANS) influences on atrial cells' electrophysiological characteristics. The ANS is not only associated with cardiac rhythm regulation but also exerts an important role in the triggering and maintenance of atrial fibrillation. This review aims to describe in detail the autonomic mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation (AF), starting from the hypothesis of an "Autonomic Coumel Triangle" that stems from the condition of the fundamental role played by the ANS in all phases of the pathophysiology of AF. In this article, we provide updated information on the biomolecular mechanisms of the ANS role in Coumel's triangle, with the molecular pathways of cardiac autonomic neurotransmission, both adrenergic and cholinergic, and the interplay between the ANS and cardiomyocytes' action potential. The heterogeneity of the clinical spectrum of the ANS and AF, with the ANS playing a relevant role in situations that may promote the initiation and maintenance of AF, is highlighted. We also report on drug, biological, and gene therapy as well as interventional therapy. On the basis of the evidence reviewed, we propose that one should speak of an "Autonomic Coumel's Triangle" instead of simply "Coumel's Triangle".
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Rebecchi
- Division of Cardiology, PoliclinicoCasilino, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Rizzi
- Division of Cardiology, PoliclinicoCasilino, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Stefano Sasso
- Department of Systems Medicine, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Golia
- Division of Cardiology, PoliclinicoCasilino, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Pugliese
- Department of Systems Medicine, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Sofia Del Gigante
- Department of Systems Medicine, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Giamundo
- Department of Systems Medicine, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Pietro Desimone
- Department of Systems Medicine, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Domenico Grieco
- Division of Cardiology, PoliclinicoCasilino, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia De Luca
- Division of Cardiology, PoliclinicoCasilino, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | - Ignazio Giordano
- Department of Systems Medicine, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Barillà
- Department of Systems Medicine, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Alfonso Perrone
- Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Leonardo Calò
- Division of Cardiology, PoliclinicoCasilino, 00169 Rome, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Iellamo
- Department of Clinical Science and Translational Medicine, University Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
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