Enhancement of ?-catenin/T-cell factor 4 signaling causes susceptibility to cardiac arrhythmia by suppressing NaV1.5 expression in mice.
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:?-Catenin/T-cell factor 4 (TCF4) signaling is enhanced in ischemic heart disease in which ventricular tachycardia (VT)/ventricular fibrillation occurs frequently. How this signaling links to arrhythmogenesis remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of ?-catenin gain of function in the development of arrhythmia. METHODS:A mouse model with a conditional deletion of CTNNB1 exon 3 resulting in cardiac exon 3-deleted and stabilized ?-catenin (?-cat?E3) was used to determine the role of ?-catenin gain of function in the regulation of cardiac rhythm. RESULTS:Western blotting showed ?-cat?E3 expression and significantly decreased NaV1.5 protein in CTNNB1 E3-/- and CTNNB1 E3+/- mouse hearts. Real-time qRT-PCR revealed significantly decreased NaV1.5 messenger RNA with no changes in Na+ channel ?1 to ?4 expression in these hearts. Immunofluorescence revealed accumulation of ?-cat?E3 in the nuclei of CTNNB1 E3-/- cardiomyocytes. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated nuclear localization of ?-catenin in cardiomyocytes, which was associated with significantly decreased NaV1.5 messenger RNA in human ischemic hearts. Immunoprecipitation revealed that ?-cat?E3 interacted with TCF4 in CTNNB1 E3-/- cardiomyocytes. Whole-cell recordings showed that Na+ currents and depolarization and amplitude of action potentials were significantly decreased in CTNNB1 E3-/- ventricular myocytes. Electrocardiographic recordings demonstrated that in mice with cardiac CTNNB1 E3-/-, the QRS complex was prolonged and VT was induced by the Na+ channel blocker flecainide. However, cardiac function, as determined by echocardiography and heart/body weight ratios, remained unchanged. CONCLUSION:Enhancement of ?-catenin/TCF4 signaling led to the prolongation of the QRS complex and increase in susceptibility to VT by suppression of NaV1.5 expression and Na+ channel activity in mice.
SUBMITTER: Huo R
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7027965 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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