Tachycardia-induced silencing of subcellular Ca2+ signaling in atrial myocytes

J Clin Invest. 2014 Nov;124(11):4759-72. doi: 10.1172/JCI70102. Epub 2014 Oct 20.

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is characterized by sustained high atrial activation rates and arrhythmogenic cellular Ca2+ signaling instability; however, it is not clear how a high atrial rate and Ca2+ instability may be related. Here, we characterized subcellular Ca2+ signaling after 5 days of high atrial rates in a rabbit model. While some changes were similar to those in persistent AF, we identified a distinct pattern of stabilized subcellular Ca2+ signaling. Ca2+ sparks, arrhythmogenic Ca2+ waves, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ leak, and SR Ca2+ content were largely unaltered. Based on computational analysis, these findings were consistent with a higher Ca2+ leak due to PKA-dependent phosphorylation of SR Ca2+ channels (RyR2s), fewer RyR2s, and smaller RyR2 clusters in the SR. We determined that less Ca2+ release per [Ca2+]i transient, increased Ca2+ buffering strength, shortened action potentials, and reduced L-type Ca2+ current contribute to a stunning reduction of intracellular Na+ concentration following rapid atrial pacing. In both patients with AF and in our rabbit model, this silencing led to failed propagation of the [Ca2+]i signal to the myocyte center. We conclude that sustained high atrial rates alone silence Ca2+ signaling and do not produce Ca2+ signaling instability, consistent with an adaptive molecular and cellular response to atrial tachycardia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium Signaling*
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Heart Atria / pathology*
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Myocardial Contraction
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism*
  • Protein Transport
  • Rabbits
  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / metabolism
  • Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases / physiology
  • Sodium / metabolism
  • Tachycardia / metabolism*
  • Tachycardia / pathology

Substances

  • Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel
  • Sodium
  • Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2
  • Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases