I_KACh is constitutively active via PKC epsilon in aging mediated atrial fibrillation.

ABSTRACT: Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common abnormal heart rhythm, is a major cause for stroke. Aging is a significant risk factor for AF; however, specific ionic pathways that can elucidate how aging leads to AF remain elusive. We used young and old wild-type and PKC epsilon- (PKCϵ) knockout mice, whole animal, and cellular electrophysiology, as well as whole heart, and cellular imaging to investigate how aging leads to the aberrant functioning of a potassium current, and consequently to AF facilitation. Our experiments showed that knocking out PKCϵ abrogates the effects of aging on AF by preventing the development of a constitutively active acetylcholine sensitive inward rectifier potassium current (I_KACh). Moreover, blocking this abnormal current in the old heart reduces AF ind

SUBMITTER: Chang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9650037 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature