Patent ID: 7294333

Claim:
A method of modifying the electrophysiological function of a heart of an individual and treating atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia, the method comprising: (a) providing allogeneic or autogeneic fibroblasts expressing an exogenous voltage-gated or inward-rectifier potassium ion channel polypeptide forming a functional ion channel; and (b) implanting said allogeneic or autogeneic fibroblasts into the heart of the individual, such that each implanted cell of said allogeneic or autogeneic fibroblast forms: (i) gap junctions with at least one cell of the heart; and (ii) a functional ion channel; thereby modifying the electrophysiological function of the heart and treating atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia.