Editorials
- Circulation Research Editorial 'Sarcomere-Directed Calcium Reporters in Cardiomyocytes'
- Meet the Author 'Alexander Sparrow'
Alexander Sparrow
BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
My research focuses on the changes in calcium handling and contractility that occur in inherited cardiomyopathies. I study mutations in thin filament proteins that cause hypertrophic (HCM) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathy. My work has developed myofilament specific genetically encoded calcium sensors for the study of subcellular calcium dynamics in cardiomyocytes expressing HCM and DCM mutations.
My current research is on the development of novel synthesised analogues of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which decrease calcium sensitivity in cardiomyocytes. The aim of which is to provide a safe and effective treatment for patients with HCM.
I also work on developing human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes as a cellular model when investigating inherited cardiomyopathies. Current induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes more closely resemble embryonic rather than adult cardiomyocytes. I am developing maturation protocols to produce an improved human cellular model to study inherited cardiomyopathies.
I completed my PhD at the University of Nottingham in developmental biology where I studied the role of LIM kinase and metanephric mesenchymal cell migration in the developing kidney.
Key publications
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Measurement of Myofilament-Localised Calcium Dynamics in Adult Cardiomyocytes and the Effect of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Mutations
Journal article
Sparrow AJ. et al, (2019), Circulation Research
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Mavacamten rescues increased myofilament calcium sensitivity and dysregulation of Ca2+ flux caused by thin filament hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations.
Journal article
Sparrow AJ. et al, (2020), American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology
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LIM kinase function and renal growth: Potential role for LIM kinases in fetal programming of kidney development.
Journal article
Sparrow AJ. et al, (2017), Life Sci, 186, 17 - 24
Recent publications
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Paracrine signalling by cardiac calcitonin controls atrial fibrogenesis and arrhythmia.
Journal article
Moreira LM. et al, (2020), Nature
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Dilated Cardiomyopathy Mutations in Thin Filament Regulatory Proteins Reduce Contractility, Suppress Systolic Ca2+ & Activate NFAT & AKT Signalling
Journal article
Robinson P. et al, (2020), American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology
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Mavacamten rescues increased myofilament calcium sensitivity and dysregulation of Ca2+ flux caused by thin filament hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations.
Journal article
Sparrow AJ. et al, (2020), American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology
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Measurement of Myofilament-Localised Calcium Dynamics in Adult Cardiomyocytes and the Effect of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Mutations
Journal article
Sparrow AJ. et al, (2019), Circulation Research
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Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations increase myofilament Ca2+ buffering, alter intracellular Ca2+ handling and stimulate Ca2+ dependent signalling
Journal article
(2018), Journal of Biological Chemistry