Sarcoplasmic reticulum adenosine triphosphatase overexpression in the L-type Ca2+ channel mouse results in cardiomyopathy and Ca2+ -induced arrhythmogenesis

• Published in: Journal of cardiovascular pharmacology and therapeutics Vol. 10; no. 4; p. 235
• Main Authors: Rubio, Marta, Bodi, Ilona, Fuller-Bicer, Geraldine A, Hahn, Harvey S, Periasamy, Muthu, Schwartz, Arnold
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-12-2005
• Subjects: Action Potentials; Animals; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - genetics; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - metabolism; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - physiopathology; Calcium - metabolism; Calcium Channels, L-Type - genetics; Calcium Channels, L-Type - metabolism; Calcium-Transporting ATPases - biosynthesis; Calcium-Transporting ATPases - genetics; Calcium-Transporting ATPases - metabolism; Cardiomyopathies - genetics; Cardiomyopathies - metabolism; Cardiomyopathies - physiopathology; Cell Size; Disease Models, Animal; Echocardiography; Heart Ventricles - metabolism; Heart Ventricles - physiopathology; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Myocardial Contraction; Myocytes, Cardiac - metabolism; Myocytes, Cardiac - pathology; Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases; Survival Analysis
• ISSN: 1074-2484
• DOI: 10.1177/107424840501000404

Overexpression of the L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel alpha(1C)-subunit (L-VDCC OE) in transgenic mice results in adaptive hypertrophy followed by a maladaptive phase associated with a decrease in sarcoplasmic reticulum adenosine triphosphatase (SERCA)2a expression at 8 to 10 months of age. Overexpressing SERCA to manipulate calcium (Ca(2+)) cycling and prevent pathologic phenotypes in some models of heart failure has been proven to be a promising genetic strategy.
In this study we investigated whether genetic manipulation that increases Ca(2+) uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum by overexpressing SERCA1a (skeletal muscle specific) into the L-VDCC OE background could restore or further deteriorate Ca(2+) cycling, contractile dysfunction, and electrical remodeling in the heart failure phenotype.
We found that the survival rate of L-VDCC OE/SERCA1a OE double transgenic mice decreased by 50%. L-VDCC OE/SERCA1a OE mice displayed an accelerated phenotype of severe dilation of both ventricles associated with deteriorated left ventricular function. Voltage clamp experiments revealed enhanced increased inward Ca(2+) current density and decreased the transient outward potassium current. Action potential duration in double transgenic ventricular myocytes was prolonged, and isoproterenol induced early after depolarization. These mice demonstrated a high incidence of spontaneous left ventricular arrhythmia. Expression of the proarrhythmic signaling protein Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) was increased while connexin43 expression was decreased, defining an important putative mechanism in the electrophysiologic disturbances and mortality.
Despite previous reports of improved cardiac function in heart failure models after SERCA intervention, our results advocate the need to elucidate the involvement of augmented Ca(2+) cycling in arrhythmogenesis.