Systematic in-silico evaluation of fibrosis effects on re-entrant wave dynamics in atrial tissue

Abstract Despite the key role of fibrosis in atrial fibrillation (AF), the effects of different spatial distributions and textures of fibrosis on wave propagation mechanisms in AF are not fully understood. To clarify these aspects, we performed a systematic computational study to assess fibrosis eff...

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Main Authors: Michela Masè, Alessandro Cristoforetti, Samuele Pelloni, Flavia Ravelli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62002-5
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author Michela Masè
Alessandro Cristoforetti
Samuele Pelloni
Flavia Ravelli
author_facet Michela Masè
Alessandro Cristoforetti
Samuele Pelloni
Flavia Ravelli
author_sort Michela Masè
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Despite the key role of fibrosis in atrial fibrillation (AF), the effects of different spatial distributions and textures of fibrosis on wave propagation mechanisms in AF are not fully understood. To clarify these aspects, we performed a systematic computational study to assess fibrosis effects on the characteristics and stability of re-entrant waves in electrically-remodelled atrial tissues. A stochastic algorithm, which generated fibrotic distributions with controlled overall amount, average size, and orientation of fibrosis elements, was implemented on a monolayer spheric atrial model. 245 simulations were run at changing fibrosis parameters. The emerging propagation patterns were quantified in terms of rate, regularity, and coupling by frequency-domain analysis of correspondent synthetic bipolar electrograms. At the increase of fibrosis amount, the rate of reentrant waves significantly decreased and higher levels of regularity and coupling were observed (p < 0.0001). Higher spatial variability and pattern stochasticity over repetitions was observed for larger amount of fibrosis, especially in the presence of patchy and compact fibrosis. Overall, propagation slowing and organization led to higher stability of re-entrant waves. These results strengthen the evidence that the amount and spatial distribution of fibrosis concur in dictating re-entry dynamics in remodeled tissue and represent key factors in AF maintenance.
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spelling doaj-art-bc0819ccfe2644ae881bdeb02befa77d2024-12-29T12:21:13ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-05-0114111410.1038/s41598-024-62002-5Systematic in-silico evaluation of fibrosis effects on re-entrant wave dynamics in atrial tissueMichela Masè0Alessandro Cristoforetti1Samuele Pelloni2Flavia Ravelli3Laboratory of Biophysics and Translational Cardiology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology—CIBIO, University of TrentoLaboratory of Biophysics and Translational Cardiology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology—CIBIO, University of TrentoLaboratory of Biophysics and Translational Cardiology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology—CIBIO, University of TrentoLaboratory of Biophysics and Translational Cardiology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology—CIBIO, University of TrentoAbstract Despite the key role of fibrosis in atrial fibrillation (AF), the effects of different spatial distributions and textures of fibrosis on wave propagation mechanisms in AF are not fully understood. To clarify these aspects, we performed a systematic computational study to assess fibrosis effects on the characteristics and stability of re-entrant waves in electrically-remodelled atrial tissues. A stochastic algorithm, which generated fibrotic distributions with controlled overall amount, average size, and orientation of fibrosis elements, was implemented on a monolayer spheric atrial model. 245 simulations were run at changing fibrosis parameters. The emerging propagation patterns were quantified in terms of rate, regularity, and coupling by frequency-domain analysis of correspondent synthetic bipolar electrograms. At the increase of fibrosis amount, the rate of reentrant waves significantly decreased and higher levels of regularity and coupling were observed (p < 0.0001). Higher spatial variability and pattern stochasticity over repetitions was observed for larger amount of fibrosis, especially in the presence of patchy and compact fibrosis. Overall, propagation slowing and organization led to higher stability of re-entrant waves. These results strengthen the evidence that the amount and spatial distribution of fibrosis concur in dictating re-entry dynamics in remodeled tissue and represent key factors in AF maintenance.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62002-5
spellingShingle Michela Masè
Alessandro Cristoforetti
Samuele Pelloni
Flavia Ravelli
Systematic in-silico evaluation of fibrosis effects on re-entrant wave dynamics in atrial tissue
Scientific Reports
title Systematic in-silico evaluation of fibrosis effects on re-entrant wave dynamics in atrial tissue
title_full Systematic in-silico evaluation of fibrosis effects on re-entrant wave dynamics in atrial tissue
title_fullStr Systematic in-silico evaluation of fibrosis effects on re-entrant wave dynamics in atrial tissue
title_full_unstemmed Systematic in-silico evaluation of fibrosis effects on re-entrant wave dynamics in atrial tissue
title_short Systematic in-silico evaluation of fibrosis effects on re-entrant wave dynamics in atrial tissue
title_sort systematic in silico evaluation of fibrosis effects on re entrant wave dynamics in atrial tissue
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62002-5
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AT alessandrocristoforetti systematicinsilicoevaluationoffibrosiseffectsonreentrantwavedynamicsinatrialtissue
AT samuelepelloni systematicinsilicoevaluationoffibrosiseffectsonreentrantwavedynamicsinatrialtissue
AT flaviaravelli systematicinsilicoevaluationoffibrosiseffectsonreentrantwavedynamicsinatrialtissue