The Basic Science Breakthroughs of AHA 2015
In November 2015, something extraordinary happened in Orlando, Florida. While the world went about its business, more than 18,000 scientists, physicians, and researchers from over 100 countries gathered at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions with a shared mission: to conquer cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide 1 .
Fundamental research uncovering how our bodies work at microscopic levels
Decoding the language of life that governs our heart health
Groundbreaking discoveries offering new approaches to heart disease
Amidst the flashy clinical trial announcements and high-profile pharmaceutical studies, a quieter but equally revolutionary transformation was unfolding in the realm of basic science—the fundamental research that uncovers how our bodies work at the most microscopic levels.
These researchers weren't just presenting new drugs or medical devices; they were decoding the very language of life that governs our cardiovascular system.
Key Concepts in Cardiovascular Science
Before we dive into the specific discoveries, it's helpful to understand what cardiovascular basic science actually entails. While clinical research typically involves studying patients and treatments, basic science investigates the fundamental biological, genetic, and chemical processes that underlie heart function and disease.
Understanding how specific genes and proteins influence heart disease development
Decoding how heart cells communicate with each other and respond to stress
Exploring how energy production and utilization affects cardiovascular health
Investigating how our body's internal clock influences heart function
These fields of study may sound abstract, but they provide the essential foundation upon which all future treatments are built. As AHA President Professor Mark A. Creager emphasized in the opening session, this fundamental research is critical to reducing the terrible toll of vascular diseases 1 .
Key Research Presented at AHA 2015
One of the most compelling presentations came from Dr. Lisa Cassis, whose research focused on the renin-angiotensin system in adipose (fat) tissue 5 . Traditionally, this system was studied primarily in relation to kidney function and blood pressure regulation. But Dr. Cassis's work revealed that our fat tissue has its own local renin-angiotensin system that actively contributes to high blood pressure in obesity.
In obesity, this communication goes awry, with fat tissue sending harmful signals that increase blood pressure. By understanding and potentially "targeting" this specific system in fat tissue, researchers hope to develop more effective treatments for obesity-related hypertension that avoid the side effects of broader blood pressure medications.
Another fascinating area of research was presented by Dr. Brian Delisle, who explored how circadian rhythms—the 24-hour biological cycles that govern our sleep-wake patterns—influence heart cell electrical activity 5 . His work examined the "Cardiomyocyte Clock and Electrophysiology," investigating how the timing of day affects the heart's vulnerability to arrhythmias.
This research helps explain why heart attacks and sudden cardiac death occur more frequently in the early morning hours. Our heart cells don't function the same way at 3 AM as they do at 3 PM—their electrical properties change throughout the day based on our internal clocks.
Higher incidence of heart attacks in early morning hours
Understanding these patterns could lead to smarter scheduling of heart medications or entirely new time-based treatments for irregular heart rhythms.
Dr. Jon Satin's presentation on "Cardiac calcium channel interacting proteins and heart remodeling" delved into the microscopic world of ion channels—the specialized proteins that control the electrical currents in heart cells 5 . These channels are crucial for maintaining normal heart rhythm, and when they malfunction, the results can be devastating.
Dr. Satin's research focused not just on the channels themselves, but on the intricate protein networks that support and regulate them. Think of ion channels as sophisticated electrical appliances—they don't work properly without the right wiring, support structures, and control systems.
By mapping these interacting proteins, researchers hope to develop targeted therapies that can fix specific problems in heart cell electrical function without disrupting other essential processes.
The AHA 2015 Sessions also introduced an ambitious new research initiative: the CV Genome-Phenome Studies 1 . This project represents a massive collaborative effort to analyze genetic data from thousands of individuals to identify specific gene variations that influence cardiovascular disease risk.
Dr. Brian Delisle was awarded a $160,000 grant as part of this initiative for his project entitled "Genotype Phenotype Correlations in KCNH2 variants from 31,000 Whole Exome Sequences Identified in a Biobank Cohort" 5 . This research aims to identify patients who might be at risk for sudden death based on genetic screening—potentially allowing doctors to prevent tragedies before they occur.
Whole exome sequences analyzed
Research grant awarded
Genetic variants identified
Let's examine more closely the groundbreaking research on adipose tissue and blood pressure that Dr. Cassis presented. While the specific methodological details weren't fully elaborated in the available sources, we can understand the general approach based on standard practices in the field and the description of her work "targeting the adipose renin-angiotensin system to treat obesity-associated hypertension" 5 .
Using specially bred laboratory mice that allow researchers to study obesity and hypertension in a controlled manner.
Employing advanced techniques to selectively modify components of the renin-angiotensin system specifically in fat tissue.
Measuring changes in blood pressure using specialized equipment capable of tracking subtle variations.
Examining the fat tissue at the microscopic level to identify changes in gene expression and protein production.
Evaluating how alterations in the fat tissue system affected overall metabolism.
The research revealed that the renin-angiotensin system in adipose tissue plays a significant role in regulating blood pressure, particularly in the context of obesity. When this system becomes overactive in fat cells, it contributes to the development of hypertension.
What makes this finding so significant is its potential for targeted therapeutic interventions. Current blood pressure medications that affect the renin-angiotensin system work throughout the body, which can lead to side effects.
If drugs could be developed that specifically target the fat tissue component of this system, we might achieve better blood pressure control with fewer side effects.
| Research Aspect | Discovery | Potential Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Fat tissue signaling | Adipose tissue has its own functional renin-angiotensin system | Explains obesity-blood pressure connection |
| Disease mechanism | This system becomes overactive in obesity | Identifies new therapeutic target |
| Treatment approach | Targeting this system specifically in fat tissue | Fewer side effects than current drugs |
Essential Research Reagent Solutions
The breakthroughs presented at AHA 2015 didn't happen in a vacuum—they relied on sophisticated tools and techniques that allow researchers to probe the deepest mysteries of cardiovascular biology. Here are some of the key "research reagents" and methodologies that power this vital work:
| Tool/Technique | Function | Example from AHA 2015 Research |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic sequencing | Reading the DNA code to identify variations linked to disease | CV Genome-Phenome Study analyzing 31,000 whole exome sequences 5 |
| Animal models | Studying disease processes in living organisms | Mouse models of obesity used in adipose tissue research 5 |
| Cell culture systems | Growing specific cell types in laboratory conditions | Studying cardiomyocyte (heart cell) electrophysiology 5 |
| Molecular probes | Identifying and measuring specific proteins or genes | Investigating core serpin in angiotensinogen functions 5 |
| Protein analysis | Studying structure and function of cellular proteins | Research on cardiac calcium channel interacting proteins 5 |
| Specialized microscopy | Visualizing biological processes at microscopic level | Examining bone marrow mononuclear cell retention in heart tissue 5 |
These tools form the foundation of modern cardiovascular basic science, allowing researchers to ask—and answer—questions that were unimaginable just a generation ago.
The late-breaking basic science presented at the AHA 2015 Sessions may not have garnered the same immediate headlines as some clinical trial announcements, but its long-term significance cannot be overstated. These fundamental discoveries about how fat tissue communicates with our blood vessels, how our internal clock affects heart rhythm, and how ion channels function at the molecular level represent the critical building blocks for tomorrow's medical breakthroughs.
As the AHA's tagline for the 2015 Sessions declared, "Life Is Why" 1 —and preserving life is precisely what this fundamental research aims to do.
The basic science abstracts of AHA 2015 remind us that behind every new medication, every surgical advance, and every clinical guideline, there are researchers working at the most fundamental levels to understand the intricate workings of the human heart and circulatory system.
Thanks to their efforts, we're not just developing incremental improvements to existing treatments—we're building the knowledge base that will lead to entirely new ways of preventing, diagnosing, and treating cardiovascular disease. The basic science of today is the clinical practice of tomorrow, and what we witnessed in 2015 will undoubtedly shape cardiovascular medicine for decades to come.