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Localization of Na⁺ channel clusters in narrowed perinexi of gap junctions enhances cardiac impulse transmission via ephaptic coupling: a model study.

ABSTRACT: It has been proposed that when gap junctional coupling is reduced in cardiac tissue, action potential propagation can be supported via ephaptic coupling, a mechanism mediated by negative electric potentials occurring in narrow intercellular clefts of intercalated discs (IDs). Recent studies showed that sodium (Na⁺ ) channels form clusters near gap junction plaques in nanodomains called perinexi, where the ID cleft is even narrower. To examine the electrophysiological relevance of Na⁺ channel clusters being located in perinexi, we developed a 3D finite element model of two longitudinally abutting cardiomyocytes, with a central Na⁺ channel cluster on the ID membranes. When this cluster was located in the perinexus of a closely positioned gap junction plaque, varying perinexal width greatly modulated impulse transmission from one cell to the other, with narrow perinexi potentiating ephaptic coupling. This modulation occurred via the interplay of Na⁺ currents, extracellular potentials in the cleft and patterns of current flow within the cleft. In contrast, when the Na⁺ channel cluster was located remotely from the gap junction plaque, this modulation by perinexus width largely disappeared. Interestingly, the Na⁺ current in the ID membrane of the pre-junctional cell switched from inward to outward during excitation, thus contributing ions to the activating channels on the post-junctional ID membrane. In conclusion, these results indicate that the localization of Na⁺ channel clusters in the perinexi of gap junction plaques is crucial for ephaptic coupling, which is furthermore greatly modulated by perinexal width. These findings are relevant for a comprehensive understanding of cardiac excitation. KEY POINTS: Ephaptic coupling is a cardiac conduction mechanism involving nanoscale-level interactions between the sodium (Na⁺ ) current and the extracellular potential in narrow intercalated disc clefts. When gap junctional coupling is reduced, ephaptic coupling acts in conjunction with the classical cardiac conduction mechanism based on gap junctional current flow. In intercalated discs, Na⁺ channels form clusters that are preferentially located in the periphery of gap junction plaques, in nanodomains known as perinexi, but the electrophysiological role of these perinexi has never been examined. In our new 3D finite element model of two cardiac cells abutting each other with their intercalated discs, a Na⁺ channel cluster located inside a narrowed perinexus facilitated impulse transmission via ephaptic coupling. Our simulations demonstrate the role of narrowed perinexi as privileged sites for ephaptic coupling in pathological situations when gap junctional coupling is decreased.

SUBMITTER: Ivanovic E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9293295 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:The cardiac sodium (Na+)/calcium (Ca2+) exchanger (NCX1) is an electrogenic membrane transporter that regulates Ca2+ homeostasis in cardiomyocytes, serving mainly to extrude Ca2+ during diastole. The direction of Ca2+ transport reverses at membrane potentials near that of the action potential plateau, generating an influx of Ca2+ into the cell. Therefore, there has been great interest in the possible roles of NCX1 in cardiac Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR). Interest has been reinvigorated by a recent super-resolution optical imaging study suggesting that ~18% of NCX1 co-localize with ryanodine receptor (RyR2) clusters, and ~30% of additional NCX1 are localized to within ~120nm of the nearest RyR2. NCX1 may therefore occupy a privileged position in which to modulate CICR. To examine this question, we have developed a mechanistic biophysically-detailed model of NCX1 that describes both NCX1 transport kinetics and Ca2+-dependent allosteric regulation. This NCX1 model was incorporated into a previously developed super-resolution model of the Ca2+ spark as well as a computational model of the cardiac ventricular myocyte that includes a detailed description of CICR with stochastic gating of L-type Ca2+ channels and RyR2s, and that accounts for local Ca2+ gradients near the dyad via inclusion of a peri-dyadic (PD) compartment. Both models predict that increasing the fraction of NCX1 in the dyad and PD decreases spark frequency, fidelity, and diastolic Ca2+ levels. Spark amplitude and duration are less sensitive to NCX1 spatial redistribution. On the other hand, NCX1 plays an important role in promoting Ca2+ entry into the dyad, and hence contributing to the trigger for RyR2 release at depolarized membrane potentials and in the presence of elevated local Na+ concentration. Whole-cell simulation of NCX1 tail currents are consistent with the finding that a relatively high fraction of NCX1 (~45%) resides in the dyadic and PD spaces, with a dyad-to-PD ratio of roughly 1:2. Allosteric Ca2+ activation of NCX1 helps to "functionally localize" exchanger activity to the dyad and PD by reducing exchanger activity in the cytosol thereby protecting the cell from excessive loss of Ca2+ during diastole.

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Localization of Na⁺ channel clusters in narrowed perinexi of gap junctions enhances cardiac impulse transmission via ephaptic coupling: a model study.

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Localization of Na+ channel clusters in narrowed perinexi of gap junctions enhances cardiac impulse transmission via ephaptic coupling: a model study.

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OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

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Localization of Na⁺ channel clusters in narrowed perinexi of gap junctions enhances cardiac impulse transmission via ephaptic coupling: a model study.