Pietro Mesirca

Validation of differentiated sinoatrial-like hiPSCs as a model of native sinus node myocytes

The paper validates a protocol to generate sinoatrial-like hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes that mimic native SAN myocytes in function and protein expression.

The expression level of CACNA1C-encoded CaV1.2 is a tipping point between promotion and inhibition of dendritic growth in neurons

The paper shows that CaV1.2 expression level determines whether calcium currents promote or inhibit dendritic growth in neurons, with implications for psychiatric disorders.

A new perspective on slow pacemaking in brain and heart

The paper identifies a conserved voltage-dependent pacemaker current essential for slow firing in neurons and cardiac cells, confirmed by models and experiments.

Animal-free recombinant nanobody rescues HCN4 channel deficit in sinus node dysfunction

This study identifies a recombinant nanobody that specifically activates HCN4 channels and rescues sinus node dysfunction in a patient with a loss-of-function mutation.