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Connexin40 abnormalities and atrial fibrillation in the human heart.

ABSTRACT: Normal atrial conduction requires similar abundances and homogeneous/overlapping distributions of two connexins (Cx40 and Cx43). The remodeling of myocyte connections and altered electrical conduction associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) likely involves perturbations of these connexins. We conducted a comprehensive series of experiments to examine the abundances and distributions of Cx40 and Cx43 in the atria of AF patients. Atrial appendage tissues were obtained from patients with lone AF (paroxysmal or chronic) or normal controls. Connexins were localized by double label immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, and their overlap was quantified. Connexin proteins and mRNAs were quantified by immunoblotting and qRT-PCR. PCR amplified genomic DNA was sequenced to screen for connexin gene mutations or polymorphisms. Immunoblotting showed reductions of Cx40 protein (to 77% or 49% of control values in samples from patients with paroxysmal and chronic AF, respectively), but no significant changes of Cx43 protein levels in samples from AF patients. The extent of Cx43 immunostaining and its distribution relative to N-cadherin were preserved in the AF patient samples. Although there was variability of Cx40 staining among paroxysmal AF patients, all had some fields with substantial Cx40 heterogeneity and reduced overlap with Cx43. Cx40 immunostaining was severely reduced in all chronic AF patients. qRT-PCR showed no change in Cx43 mRNA levels, but reductions in total Cx40 mRNA (to <50%) and Cx40 transcripts A (to ~50%) and B (to <25%) as compared to controls. No Cx40 coding region mutations were identified. The frequency of promoter polymorphisms did not differ between AF patient samples and controls. Our data suggest that reduced Cx40 levels and heterogeneity of its distribution (relative to Cx43) are common in AF. Multiple mechanisms likely lead to reductions of functional Cx40 in atrial gap junctions and contribute to the pathogenesis of AF in different patients.

SUBMITTER: Gemel J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4250516 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Connexin40 abnormalities and atrial fibrillation in the human heart.

Gemel Joanna J Levy Andrew E AE Simon Adria R AR Bennett Katherine B KB Ai Xun X Akhter Shahab S Beyer Eric C EC

Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology 20140906

Normal atrial conduction requires similar abundances and homogeneous/overlapping distributions of two connexins (Cx40 and Cx43). The remodeling of myocyte connections and altered electrical conduction associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) likely involves perturbations of these connexins. We conducted a comprehensive series of experiments to examine the abundances and distributions of Cx40 and Cx43 in the atria of AF patients. Atrial appendage tissues were obtained from patients with lone AF ( ...[more]

PMID: 25200600

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Project description:Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a progressive arrhythmia for which current therapy is inadequate. During AF, rapid stimulation causes atrial remodeling that promotes further AF. The cellular signals that trigger this process remain poorly understood, however, and elucidation of these factors would likely identify new therapeutic targets. We have previously shown that immortalized mouse atrial (HL-1) myocytes subjected to 24 hr of rapid stimulation in culture undergo remodeling similar to that seen in animal models of atrial tachycardia (AT) and human AF. This preparation is devoid of confounding in vivo variables that can modulate gene expression (e.g., hemodynamics). Therefore, we investigated the transcriptional profile associated with early atrial cell remodeling. RNA was harvested from HL-1 cells cultured for 24 hr in the absence and presence of rapid stimulation and subjected to microarray analysis. Data were normalized using Robust Multichip Analysis (RMA), and genes exhibiting significant differential expression were identified using the Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM) method. Using this approach, 919 genes were identified that were significantly altered with rapid stimulation (763 up-regulated and 156 down-regulated). For many individual transcripts, changes typical of AF/AT were observed, with marked up-regulation of genes encoding BNP and ANP precursors, heat shock proteins, and MAP kinases, while novel signaling pathways and molecules were also identified. Both stress and survival response were evident, as well as up-regulation of multiple transcription factors. Genes were also functionally classified based on cellular component, biologic process, and molecular function using the Gene Ontology database to permit direct comparison of our data with other gene sets regulated in human AF and experimental AT. For broad categories of genes grouped by functional classification, there was striking conservation between rapidly stimulated HL-1 cells and AF/AT. Results were confirmed using real-time quantitative RT-PCR on 13 genes selected by physiological relevance in AF/AT and regulation in the microarray analysis (up, down, and nonregulated). Rapidly-stimulated atrial myocytes provide a complementary experimental paradigm to explore the initial cellular signals in AT remodeling to identify novel targets in the treatment of AF. Experiment Overall Design: HL-1 cell expression profile in vitro with and without rapid electric stimulation

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Connexin40 abnormalities and atrial fibrillation in the human heart.

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Connexin40 abnormalities and atrial fibrillation in the human heart.

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