Kvβ subunits belong to the aldo-keto reductase superfamily, which plays a significant role in ion channel regulation and modulates the physiological responses. However, the role of Kvβ2 in cardiac pathophysiology was not studied, and therefore, in the present study, we hypothesized that Kvβ2 plays a significant role in cardiovascular pathophysiology by modulating the cardiac excitability and gene responses. We utilized an isoproterenol-infused mouse model to investigate the role of Kvβ2 and the cardiac function, biochemical changes, and molecular responses. The deletion of Kvβ2 attenuated the QTc (corrected QT interval) prolongation at the electrocardiographic (ECG) level after a 14-day isoproterenol infusion, whereas the QTc was significantly prolonged in the littermate wildtype group. Monophasic action potentials verified the ECG changes, suggesting that cardiac changes and responses due to isoproterenol infusion are mediated similarly at both the in vivo and ex vivo levels. Moreover, the echocardiographic function showed no further decrease in the ejection fraction in the isoproterenol-stimulated Kvβ2 knockout (KO) group, whereas the wildtype mice showed significantly decreased function. These experiments revealed that Kvβ2 plays a significant role in cardiovascular pathophysiology. Furthermore, the present study revealed SLC41a3, a major solute carrier transporter affected with a significantly decreased expression in KO vs. wildtype hearts. The electrical function showed that the decreased expression of SLC41a3 in Kvβ2 KO hearts led to decreased Mg2+ responses, whereas, in the wildtype hearts, Mg2+ caused action potential duration (APD) shortening. Based on the in vivo, ex vivo, and molecular evaluations, we identified that the deletion of Kvβ2 altered the cardiac pathophysiology mediated by SLC41a3 and altered the NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)-dependent gene responses.
Keywords: Kvβ subunit; action potential; aldo-keto reductase; heart; magnesium; potassium channel; pyridine nucleotides; redox.