Dr. Hu, Yu-Feng 's publons link picture

Dr. Hu, Yu-Feng

Joint Appointment Associate Research Fellow
  • 02-27899135 (Lab)
  • 02-26523500 (Office)

Specialty:

1. Cardiac arrhythmias

2. Electrophysiology

3. Biological pacemakers

4. Artificial intelligence


Education and Positions:
  • MD. National Cheng-Kung University

    Ph.D. National Yang-Ming University

    Post-doctor fellow, Heart Institute, Cedar Sinai Medical Center, USA

    Attending physician, Division of Cardiology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital.


Highlight Detail
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ALDH2 deficiency induces atrial fibrillation through dysregulated cardiac sodium channel and mitochondrial bioenergetics: A multi-omics analysis

Dr. Hu, Yu-Feng
Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2021 May 1;1867(5):166088. , May 01, 2021
 
 
Point mutation in alcohol dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), ALDH2*2 results in decreased catalytic enzyme activity and has been found to be associated with different human pathologies. Whether ALDH2*2 would induce cardiac remodeling and increase the attack of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains poorly understood. The present study evaluated the effect of ALDH2*2 mutation on AF susceptibility and unravelled the underlying mechanisms using a multi-omics approach including whole-genome gene expression and proteomics analysis. The in-vivo electrophysiological study showed an increase in the incidence and reduction in the threshold of AF for the mutant mice heterozygous for ALDH2*2 as compared to the wild type littermates. The microarray analysis revealed a reduction in the retinoic acid signals which was accompanied by a downstream reduction in the expression of voltage-gated Na+ channels (SCN5A). The treatment of an antagonist for retinoic acid receptor resulted in a decrease in SCN5A transcript levels. The integrated analysis of the transcriptome and proteome data showed a dysregulation of fatty acid β-oxidation, adenosine triphosphate synthesis via electron transport chain, and activated oxidative responses in the mitochondria. Oral administration of Coenzyme Q10, an essential co-factor known to meliorate mitochondrial oxidative stress and preserve bioenergetics, conferred a protection against AF attack in the mutant ALDH2*2 mice. The multi-omics approach showed the unique pathophysiology mechanisms of concurrent dysregulated SCN5A channel and mitochondrial bioenergetics in AF. This inspired the development of a personalized therapeutic agent, Coenzyme Q10, to protect against AF attack in humans characterized by ALDH2*2 genotype.