Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences

Dr Antony Workman

  • Senior Lecturer (Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences)

telephone: 01413303451
email: Antony.Workman@glasgow.ac.uk


Tony Workman graduated in 1988 with a BSc in Animal Physiology from London University. Awarded PhD in Cardiovascular Pharmacology, De Montfort University, Leicester, 1996. Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Glasgow University, 1996, investigating effects of adenosine on atrioventricular nodal and atrial cellular electrophysiology. Awarded British Heart Foundation Basic Science Lectureship in 2001, investigating human atrial cellular electrophysiological remodelling in atrial fibrillation. Appointed non-clinical lecturer in 2001. Awarded Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, 2004. Co-ordinator of intercalated degree in Cardiovascular Studies, and PhD supervisor. Renewed BHF lectureship 2006, investigating human atrial pharmacological remodelling by beta-blockers. Secured tenured post at Glasgow University in 2006. Appointed Senior Lecturer in 2010.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a disorder of the rhythm of the heart’s upper chambers. This disease affects 1 in 20 people aged over 65, and decreases their life expectancy. My research aims to improve our understanding of the electrophysiological and molecular mechanisms of AF, in the hope that this will lead to more effective treatments. I have obtained external funding for this research through British Heart Foundation Basic Science Lectureship Awards and collaborative grants.

 I have demonstrated that electric currents and voltage signals generated by single heart cells obtained from patients with AF are disturbed in a way that may exacerbate the disease, by “electrical remodelling”. For example, the atrial cell’s refractory period is reduced (Fig), which may promote a rapid and chaotic rhythm. Circulating levels of catecholamines, serotonin and endothelin are elevated in patients with AF and heart failure. Endothelin inhibited voltage oscillations caused by catecholamines -a potentially beneficial influence in AF, and a potentially pro-arrhythmic action of serotonin was reduced in patients with AF. Beta-blockers prevent AF in some patients, although the mechanism is unclear. I have identified an adaptive response to chronic beta-blocker therapy in human atrial cells. This “pharmacological remodelling”, including prolongation of the refractory period, may contribute to anti-arrhythmic actions of these drugs. Current investigations focus on effects of beta-blockade, and of heart failure, on electric currents, calcium movements and the proteins which regulate these, in human atrial cells and tissues.

 

 

Research:

Member:

 

 

 

 

 

Jump to: 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2003 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997
Number of items: 28.

2013

Kettlewell, S., Burton, F.L., Smith, G.L., and Workman, A.J. (2013) Chronic myocardial infarction promotes atrial action potential alternans, afterdepolarisations and fibrillation. Cardiovascular Research . ISSN 0008-6363 (doi:10.1093/cvr/cvt087) (In Press)

2012

Grandi, E., Workman, A.J., and Pandit, S.V. (2012) Altered excitation-contraction coupling in human chronic atrial fibrillation. Journal of Atrial Fibrillation, 2 (10). pp. 1-17. ISSN 1941-6911

Marshall, G.E., Russell, J.A., Tellez, J.O., Jhund, P.S., Currie, S., Dempster, J., Boyett, M.R., Kane, K.A., Rankin, A.C., and Workman, A.J. (2012) Remodelling of human atrial K+ currents but not ion channel expression by chronic β-blockade. Pflügers Archiv: European Journal of Physiology, 463 (4). pp. 537-548. ISSN 0031-6768 (doi:10.1007/s00424-011-1061-z)

Workman, A.J., Marshall, G.E., Rankin, A.C., Smith, G.L., and Dempster, J. (2012) Transient outward K+ current (ITO) reduction prolongs action potentials and promotes afterdepolarisations: a dynamic-clamp study in human and rabbit cardiac atrial myocytes. Journal of Physiology (17). pp. 4289-4305. ISSN 0022-3751 (doi:10.1113/jphysiol.2012.235986)

2011

Pandit, S.V. et al. (2011) Targeting atrioventricular differences in ion channel properties for terminating acute atrial fibrillation in pigs. Cardiovascular Research, 89 (4). pp. 843-851. ISSN 0008-6363 (doi:10.1093/cvr/cvq359)

Grandi, E., Pandit, S.V., Voigt, N., Workman, A.J., Dobrev, D., Jalife, J., and Bers, D.M. (2011) Human atrial action potential and Ca2+ model: sinus rhythm and chronic atrial fibrillation. Circulation Research, 109 (9). pp. 1055-1066. ISSN 0009-7330 (doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.253955)

Workman, A.J., Smith, G.L., and Rankin, A.C. (2011) Mechanisms of termination and prevention of atrial fibrillation by drug therapy. Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 131 (2). pp. 221-241. ISSN 0163-7258 (doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2011.02.002)

2010

Workman, A.J., and Rankin, A.C. (2010) Do hypoxemia or hypercapnia predispose to atrial fibrillation in breathing disorders, and, if so, how? Heart Rhythm, 7 (9). pp. 1271-1272. ISSN 1547-5271 (doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2010.04.004)

Workman, A.J. (2010) Cardiac adrenergic control and atrial fibrillation. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 381 (3). pp. 235-249. ISSN 0028-1298 (doi:10.1007/s00210-009-0474-0)

2009

Rankin, A.C., and Workman, A.J. (2009) Duration of heart failure and the risk of atrial fibrillation: different mechanisms at different times? Cardiovascular Research, 84 (2). pp. 180-181. ISSN 0008-6363 (doi:10.1093/cvr/cvp299)

Workman, A.J. (2009) Mechanisms of postcardiac surgery atrial fibrillation: more pieces in a difficult puzzle. Heart Rhythm, 6 (10). pp. 1423-1424. ISSN 1547-5271 (doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2009.07.031)

Workman, A.J., Pau, D., Redpath, C., Marshall, G.E., Russell, J.A., Norrie, J., Kane, K.A., and Rankin, A.C. (2009) Atrial cellular electrophysiological changes in patients with ventricular dysfunction may predispose to AF. Heart Rhythm, 6 (4). pp. 445-451. ISSN 1547-5271 (doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2008.12.028 )

2008

Workman, A.J., Kane, KA., and Rankin, A.C. (2008) Cellular bases for human atrial fibrillation. Heart Rhythm, 5 (6, Sup). S1-S6. ISSN 1547-5271 (doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2008.01.016)

2007

Pau, D., Workman, A.J., Kane, K.A., and Rankin, A.C. (2007) Electrophysiological and arrhythmogenic effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on human atrial cells are reduced in atrial fibrillation. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 42 (1). pp. 54-62. ISSN 0022-2828 (doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2006.08.007)

2006

Workman, A.J., Pau, D., Redpath, C.J., Marshall, G.E., Russell, J.A., Kane, K.A., Norrie, J., and Rankin, A.C. (2006) Post-operative atrial fibrillation is influenced by beta-blocker therapy but not by pre-operative atrial cellular electrophysiology. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 17 (11). pp. 1230-1238. ISSN 1540-8167 (doi:10.1111/j.1540-8167.2006.00592.x)

Redpath, C., Rankin, A.C., Kane, K.A., and Workman, A.J. (2006) Anti-adrenergic effects of endothelin on human atrial action potentials are potentially anti-arrhythmic. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 40 (5). pp. 717-724. ISSN 0022-2828 (doi:10.1016/j.yjmcc.2006.01.012)

2005

Pau, D., Workman, A.J., Kane, K.A., and Rankin, A.C. (2005) Electrophysiological effects of prucalopride, a novel enterokinetic agent, on isolated atrial myocytes from patients treated with beta-adrenoceptor antagonists. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 313 . pp. 146-153. ISSN 0022-3565 (doi:10.1124/jpet.104.076869)

2003

Pau, D., Workman, A.J., Kane, K.A., and Rankin, A.C. (2003) Electrophysiological effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on isolated human atrial myocytes, and the influence of chronic beta-adrenoceptor blockade. British Journal of Pharmacology, 140 . pp. 1434-1441. ISSN 1476-5381 (doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0705553)

Workman, A.J., Kane, K.A., and Rankin, A.C. (2003) Characterisation of the Na, K pump current in atrial cells from patients with and without chronic atrial fibrillation. Cardiovascular Research, 59 (3). pp. 593-602. (doi:10.1016/S0008-6363(03)00466-8 )

Workman, A.J., Kane, K.A., Russell, J.A., Norrie, J., and Rankin, A.C. (2003) Chronic beta-adrenoceptor blockade and human atrial cell electrophysiology: evidence of pharmacological remodelling. Cardiovascular Research, 58 (3). pp. 518-525. ISSN 0008-6363 (doi:10.1016/S0008-6363(03)00263-3 )

2001

Workman, A.J., MacKenzie, I., and Northover, B.J. (2001) A KATP channel opener inhibited myocardial reperfusion action potential shortening and arrhythmias. European Journal of Pharmacology, 419 (1). pp. 73-83. ISSN 0014-2999 (doi:10.1016/S0014-2999(01)00972-4)

Workman, A.J., Kane, K.A., and Rankin, A.C. (2001) The contribution of ionic currents to changes in refractoriness of human atrial myocytes associated with chronic atrial fibrillation. Cardiovascular Research, 52 (2). pp. 226-235. ISSN 0008-6363 (doi:10.1016/S0008-6363(01)00380-7)

Workman, A.J., MacKenzie, I., and Northover, B.J. (2001) A K ATP channel opener inhibited myocardial reperfusion action potential shortening and arrhythmias. European Journal of Pharmacology, 419 (1). pp. 73-78. ISSN 0014-2999 (doi:10.1016/S0014-2999(01)00972-4)

2000

Workman, A.J., Kane, K.A., and Rankin, A.C. (2000) Rate-dependency of action potential duration and refractoriness in isolated myocytes from the rabbit AV node and atrium. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 32 (8). pp. 1525-1537. ISSN 0022-2828 (doi:10.1006/jmcc.2000.1186)

Workman, A.J., MacKenzie, I., and Northover, B.J. (2000) Do KATP channels open as a prominent and early feature during ischaemia in the Langendorff-perfused rat heart? Basic Research in Cardiology, 95 (3). pp. 250-260. ISSN 0300-8428 (doi:10.1007/s003950050188)

1999

Workman, A.J., Kane, K.A., and Rankin, A.C. (1999) Ionic basis of a differential effect of adenosine on refractoriness in rabbit AV nodal and atrial isolated myocytes. Cardiovascular Research , 43 (4). pp. 974-984. ISSN 0008-6363 (doi:10.1016/S0008-6363(99)00166-2 )

1998

Workman, A.J., and Rankin, A.C. (1998) Serotonin, If and human atrial arrhythmia. Cardiovascular Research, 40 (3). p. 436. ISSN 0008-6363 (doi:10.1016/S0008-6363(98)00258-2)

1997

Rankin, A.C., Martynyuk,, A.E., Workman, A.J., and Kane, K.A. (1997) Ionic mechanisms of the effect of adenosine on single rabbit atrioventricular node myocytes. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 13 (12). pp. 1183-1187. ISSN 0828-282X

This list was generated on Thu May 2 06:27:52 2013 BST.

Grants and Awards listed are those received whilst working with the University of Glasgow.

  • Atrial remodelling of calcium handling and electrophysiology in heart failure.
    British Heart Foundation
    2009 - 2013
     
  • Atrial myocardial adaptation to prolonged beta-adrenoceptor antagonism in normal and failing hearts
    British Heart Foundation
    2006 - 2011
     
  • Human atrial cellular calcium handling, arrhythmogenic mechanisms of 5-hydroxytryptamine, and their modulation by atrial fibrillation
    British Heart Foundation
    2004 - 2007
     
  • Atrial fibrillation-induced ion currents and mRNA levels in the human atrium
    British Heart Foundation
    2001 - 2006
     

Invited International Presentations

  • 2012: Birmingham, UK - Heart Rhythm UK - "Atrial cellular remodelling by heart disease, arrhythmias and drugs"
  • 2012: Manchester, UK - Physiological Society - "Mechanisms of human atrial fibrillation: insights from cellular electrophysiology studies"
  • 2010: Atlanta, GA, USA - American College of Cardiology - "Remodelling of the action potential in atrial fibrillation"
  • 2010: Santa Monica, CA, USA - California Heart Rhythm Symposium - "Cellular basis of atrial fibrillation"
  • 2009: London, UK - Recent Developments in Interventional Cardiology, associated with Br J Hosp Med - "Causes and mechanisms of atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias"
  • 2009: Orlando, FL, USA - American College of Cardiology - "Electrical Remodeling in Atrial Fibrillation"
  • 2009: Dresden, Germany - British Pharmacological Society & German Societies for Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology - "Cardiac adrenergic control and atrial fibrillation"
  • 2007: Santa Monica, CA, USA - California Heart Rhythm Symposium - "Cellular bases for human atrial fibrillation"
  • 2005: Prague, Czech Republic - Europace - "Remodelling the potassium sodium pump during atrial fibrillation"
  • 2003: Vienna, Austria - Vascular Biology Working Group - "Chronic beta-adrenoceptor blockade and human atrial cell electrophysiology: Evidence of pharmacological remodeling"