# FKBP5 AND CARDIAC ARRHYTHMOGENESIS

> **NIH NIH R01** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $560,545

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia. Reduced mRNA expression of FK506-binding protein 5
(FKBP5) was recently discovered in a transcriptomic study with AF patient tissues. However, the functions of
FKBP5 in heart are unknown. Preliminary studies revealed that cardiac specific loss of FKBP5 promotes the AF
development. The long-term goal of this project is to elucidate the function of FKBP5 in the heart and the
underlying arrhythmogenic mechanisms associated with the FKBP5 deficiency, with a view toward developing
new therapeutic strategies to reduce AF risk. We will test the overarching hypothesis that the FKBP5 deficiency
can enhance atrial arrhythmogenesis via a ‘double-hit’ mechanism, i.e. enhancement of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1 -
mediated triggered activity in cardiomyocytes, and promotion of fibrotic remodeling due to altered fibroblast
function. We will elucidate the proarrhythmic mechanisms due to cardiomyocyte-specific or fibroblast-specific
loss of FKBP5, respectively. We will also evaluate the anti-AF potential of targeting the FKBP5 pathway. The
proposed studies will unveil the critical role of FKBP5 in regulating cardiac electrophysiology and provide new
insights to molecular mechanisms of AF.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10800954
- **Project number:** 1R01HL164838-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Na Li
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $560,545
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-12-20 → 2027-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10800954

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10800954, FKBP5 AND CARDIAC ARRHYTHMOGENESIS (1R01HL164838-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-02 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10800954. Licensed CC0.

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