The problem in sick sinus syndrome is that the SA node is not functioning properly and is causing an irregular heartbeat.
Tbx18 expression in atrial myocytes was shown to convert them into functional SA nodal cells in an experiment done in rodents.
[citation needed] Adenoviral TBX18 gene transfer could create biological pacemaker activity in vivo in a large-animal model of complete heart block.
Relative to controls transduced with a reporter gene, TBX18-transduced animals exhibited enhanced autonomic responses and physiologically superior chronotropic support of physical activity.
Induced sinoatrial node cells could be identified by their distinctive morphology at the site of injection in TBX18-transduced animals, but not in controls.
[6] The currently used electronic pacemakers have drawbacks such as equipment malfunction, limited battery life, lack of nervous system regulation, and risks associated with implantation of the device in one’s chest.