Altered Repolarization Reserve in Failing Rabbit Ventricular Myocytes: Calcium and ?-Adrenergic Effects on Delayed- and Inward-Rectifier Potassium Currents.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Electrophysiological remodeling and increased susceptibility for cardiac arrhythmias are hallmarks of heart failure (HF). Ventricular action potential duration (APD) is typically prolonged in HF, with reduced repolarization reserve. However, underlying K+ current changes are often measured in nonphysiological conditions (voltage clamp, low pacing rates, cytosolic Ca2+ buffers). METHODS AND RESULTS:We measured the major K+ currents (IKr, IKs, and IK1) and their Ca2+- and ?-adrenergic dependence in rabbit ventricular myocytes in chronic pressure/volume overload-induced HF (versus age-matched controls). APD was significantly prolonged only at lower pacing rates (0.2-1 Hz) in HF under physiological ionic conditions and temperature. However, when cytosolic Ca2+ was buffered, APD prolongation in HF was also significant at higher pacing rates. Beat-to-beat variability of APD was also significantly increased in HF. Both IKr and IKs were significantly upregulated in HF under action potential clamp, but only when cytosolic Ca2+ was not buffered. CaMKII (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II) inhibition abolished IKs upregulation in HF, but it did not affect IKr. IKs response to ?-adrenergic stimulation was also significantly diminished in HF. IK1 was also decreased in HF regardless of Ca2+ buffering, CaMKII inhibition, or ?-adrenergic stimulation. CONCLUSIONS:At baseline Ca2+-dependent upregulation of IKr and IKs in HF counterbalances the reduced IK1, maintaining repolarization reserve (especially at higher heart rates) in physiological conditions, unlike conditions of strong cytosolic Ca2+ buffering. However, under ?-adrenergic stimulation, reduced IKs responsiveness severely limits integrated repolarizing K+ current and repolarization reserve in HF. This would increase arrhythmia propensity in HF, especially during adrenergic stress.
SUBMITTER: Hegyi B
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5813707 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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