{
  "id": 5715156,
  "title": "TRPV1-cardiac afferent ablation after completed myocardial infarction prevents arrhythmogenic remodeling",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/trpv1-cardiac-afferent-ablation-after-completed-myocardial-infarction",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-04T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.31.748451v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Researchers have discovered that targeting cardiac TRPV1 afferents after a completed myocardial infarction (MI) can prevent dangerous ventricular arrhythmias. This subacute post-MI treatment appears to improve cardiac structure, function, and the neuro-cardiac axis remodeling, ultimately suppressing the risk of these life-threatening heart rhythms.\n\nIn a study involving Yorkshire pigs, researchers divided animals into two groups: one that underwent sham surgery or anterior MI creation, and another that received a percutaneous epicardial resiniferatoxin (RTX) treatment to deplete cardiac TRPV1 afferents. Four weeks after the MI, the researchers assessed the impact of RTX on cardiac health, arrhythmogenesis, and neuro-cardiac axis remodeling.\n\nThe results showed that animals treated with RTX had improved left ventricular function and reduced end-diastolic diameter compared to the control group. Furthermore, the treated animals were less likely to develop ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) inducibility.\n\nElectrophysiological mapping revealed that RTX-treated animals had fewer deceleration zones and late potentials, indicating a more stable heart rhythm. Multielectrode mapping also demonstrated reduced electrophysiological heterogeneity in the scar border zone. Real-time neurotransmitter sensing confirmed that adrenergic neurotransmitters, such as noradrenaline and neuropeptide Y, were normalized during sympathoexcitation in the RTX-treated group.\n\nHistological analysis revealed that RTX treatment reduced scar border zone myocardial fibrosis and sympathetic nerve sprouting, while suppressing T cell infiltration in cardiac sensory ganglia. Bulk RNA-sequencing of stellate ganglia showed downregulation of adrenergic genes, suggesting a decrease in the sympathetic nervous system's activity.\n\nIn conclusion, the researchers concluded that targeting cardiac TRPV1 afferents post-completed MI can alter the disease trajectory by mitigating structural, functional, and neuro-cardiac axis remodeling. This subacute treatment strategy represents a promising approach for managing ventricular arrhythmias and improving patient outcomes after a heart attack.",
  "summary": "Background Therapies to prevent ventricular arrhythmias after completed myocardial infarction (MI) remain limited. Although TRPV1 afferent ablation at acute MI improves cardiac remodeling, the effect of delayed subacute targeting remains unknown. Objective We investigated whether ablating cardiac TRPV1 afferents during the subacute post-MI window mitigates structural, electrophysiological, and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}