Interleukin-6-Mediated-Ca²⁺ Handling Abnormalities Contributes to Atrial Fibrillation in Sterile Pericarditis Rats.

ABSTRACT: Pre-existing Ca²⁺ handling abnormalities constitute the arrhythmogenic substrate in patients developing postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF), a common complication after cardiac surgery. Postoperative interleukin (IL)-6 levels are associated with atrial fibrosis in several animal models of POAF, contributing to atrial arrhythmias. Here, we hypothesize that IL-6-mediated-Ca²⁺ handling abnormalities contribute to atrial fibrillation (AF) in sterile pericarditis (SP) rats, an animal model of POAF. SP was induced in rats by dusting atria with sterile talcum powder. Anti-rat-IL-6 antibody (16.7 μg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally at 30 min after the recovery of anesthesia. In vivo electrophysiology, ex vivo optical mapping, western blots, and immuno

SUBMITTER: Liao J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8716408 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature