PhD defence by Alisha Annikki Niskala
Inflammatory Signaling Pathways in Atrial Fibrillation: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Targets
Assessment Committee:
Professor Clare Hawkins, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen (Chairperson)
Professor Daniel F. J. Ketelhuth, University of Southern Denmark
Dr Maria Vistnes, Klyv Therapeutics
Supervisors:
Professor Thomas Jespersen
Associate Professor Bo Hjorth Bentzen
Assistant Professor Arnela Saljic,
Department:
Department of Biomedical Sciences
Graduate Programme:
Cardiovascular Research
Place:
The defence is conducted as a hybrid defence.
To attend the defence in persion:
16.6 Panum building, Room: Faculty Club, 16.6.16, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 København
To attend the defence online
Please follow the link to attend the defence online: https://ucph-ku.zoom.us/j/3386501320?pwd=Rk55cTRrWEYvUVJjSU9BaDlYSUVJdz09&omn=65037989338
Meeting ID, if relevant: 338 650 1320
Password, if relevant: 560700
Email address to gain access to the thesis: alisha.niskala@sund.ku.dk
You will either receive a copy of the thesis or be informed where you can read a physical copy.
Short description of the thesis:
This PhD thesis investigates the inflammatory–structural axis driving atrial fibrillat ion (AF), the most prevalent sustained arrhythmia worldwide, wherein the inflammatory mechanisms remain unclear. The work focuses on how fibroblast-specific NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and its crosstalk with infiltrating immune cells, contributes to atrial structural remodeling and AF progression. Combining a comprehensive literature review, a clinically translatable porcine tachypacing study, primary co-culture work in human fibroblasts and macrophages, and a fibrotic biomarker investigation, the thesis progresses from concept to mechanism to translational relevance. A central component is the identification and characterization of therapeutic targets within the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway, with specific focus on the anti-inflammatory agent colchicine and the S100A8/A9 alarmin proteins.