scholarly journals The 4q25 variant rs13143308T links risk of atrial fibrillation to defective calcium homoeostasis

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 578-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adela Herraiz-Martínez ◽  
Anna Llach ◽  
Carmen Tarifa ◽  
Jorge Gandía ◽  
Verónica Jiménez-Sabado ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Single nucleotide polymorphisms on chromosome 4q25 have been associated with risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) but the exiguous knowledge of the mechanistic links between these risk variants and underlying electrophysiological alterations hampers their clinical utility. Here, we tested the hypothesis that 4q25 risk variants cause alterations in the intracellular calcium homoeostasis that predispose to spontaneous electrical activity. Methods and results Western blotting, confocal calcium imaging, and patch-clamp techniques were used to identify mechanisms linking the 4q25 risk variants rs2200733T and rs13143308T to defects in the calcium homoeostasis in human atrial myocytes. Our findings revealed that the rs13143308T variant was more frequent in patients with AF and that myocytes from carriers of this variant had a significantly higher density of calcium sparks (14.1 ± 4.5 vs. 3.1 ± 1.3 events/min, P = 0.02), frequency of transient inward currents (ITI) (1.33 ± 0.24 vs. 0.26 ± 0.09 events/min, P < 0.001) and incidence of spontaneous membrane depolarizations (1.22 ± 0.26 vs. 0.56 ± 0.17 events/min, P = 0.001) than myocytes from patients with the normal rs13143308G variant. These alterations were linked to higher sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium loading (10.2 ± 1.4 vs. 7.3 ± 0.5 amol/pF, P = 0.01), SERCA2 expression (1.37 ± 0.13 fold, P = 0.03), and RyR2 phosphorylation at ser2808 (0.67 ± 0.08 vs. 0.47 ± 0.03, P = 0.01) but not at ser2814 (0.28 ± 0.14 vs. 0.31 ± 0.14, P = 0.61) in patients carrying the rs13143308T risk variant. Furthermore, the presence of a risk variant or AF independently increased the ITI frequency and the increase in the ITI frequency observed in carriers of the risk variants was exacerbated in those with AF. By contrast, the presence of a risk variant did not affect the amplitude or properties of the L-type calcium current in patients with or without AF. Conclusions Here, we identify the 4q25 variant rs13143308T as a genetic risk marker for AF, specifically associated with excessive calcium release and spontaneous electrical activity linked to increased SERCA2 expression and RyR2 phosphorylation.

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
C Tarifa ◽  
A Herraiz-Martinez ◽  
A Llach ◽  
V Jimenez-Sabado ◽  
H Colino ◽  
...  

Abstract Background An increasing number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the chromosomal region 4q25 have been associated with risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and we have recently reported that carriers of the rs13143308 risk variant have an increased incidence of spontaneous calcium release-induce transient inward currents (ITI). However, it is not known if different 4q25 variants have similar effects. Purpose This study aimed to compare the effects of five SNPs at 4q25 on L-type calcium current (ICa) and ITI frequency, features that are altered in patients with AF. Methods To avoid confounding effects of AF on calcium homeostasis, atrial samples from 63 patients without AF were genotyped and divided into groups according to the genotype of the SNPs rs1448818, rs6817105, rs13143308, rs6843082, rs3853443 ordered according to their location and identified by the three last digits + an R for risk or N for normal variants. ICa density and ITI frequency were measured with perforated patch clamp technique in atrial myocytes from these patients. Results Three SNPs 818, 308 and 443 segregated independently of the genotype at the other loci. The 105 and 082 loci always co-segregated with 308 but never together. The ICa density was smaller in carriers of 818R and 443N variants (−1.6±0.3pA/pF, p=0.01) or 818N and 443R variants (−1.6±0.4pA/pF, p=0.02) than in patients with 818N and 443N variants (−3.2±0.4pA/pF), independently of the genotype at 105, 308 and 082 (these loci did not affect ICa). In contrast, to this, the ITI frequency was increased only in myocytes from patients carrying 105R, 308R and 082N (1.4±0.2events/min, p<0.001) or 105N, 308R and 082R (1.6±0.5events/min, p=0.002) when compared to patients with 105N, 308N and 082N (0.36±0.09events/min) independently of the genotypes at 818 and 443, or when compared to patients without risk at any of the five loci (0.55±0.30events/min). The table shows schematically the qualitative effects of the different risk variants. Risk variant rs1448818C rs6817105C rs13143308T rs6843082T rs3853445C ICa Decreased Unchanged Unchanged Unchanged Decreased ITI Unchanged Increased Increased Increased Unchanged Conclusion Different SNPs at the chromosomal region 4q25 are associated with differential pathological changes in intracellular calcium homeostasis. Risk variants at rs1448818 or rs3853445 cause loss of ICa without affecting ITI frequency while a risk variant at rs13143308 elevates the ITI frequency without affecting ICa. These findings afford a framework for stratification of pharmacological therapy based on the functional effects of the 4q25 risk variants Acknowledgement/Funding SAF2017-88019; Marato2015-20-30; SGR2017-1769; CIBERCV


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nana Liu ◽  
Jeffrey Hsu ◽  
Gautam Mahajan ◽  
Han Sun ◽  
John Barnard ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTRationaleAtrial fibrillation (AF) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified significant associations for rs1152591 and linked variants in the SYNE2 gene encoding the nesprin-2 protein that connects the nuclear membrane with the cytoskeletonObjectiveDetermine the effects of the AF-associated rs1152591 and rs1152595, two linked intronic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), on SYNE2 expression and investigate the mechanisms for their association with AF.Methods and ResultsRNA sequencing of human left atrial appendage (LAA) tissues indicated that rs1152591 and rs1152595 were significantly associated with the expressions of SYNE2α1, a short mRNA isoform, without an effect on the expression of the full-length SYNE2 mRNA. SYNE2α1 mRNA uses an alternative transcription start site and encodes an N-terminal deleted 62 kDa nesprin-2α1 isoform, which can act as a dominant-negative on nuclear-cytoskeleton connectivity. Western blot and qPCR assays confirmed that AF risk alleles of both SNPs were associated with lower expression of nesprin-2α1 in human LAA tissues. Reporter gene transfections demonstrated that the risk vs. reference alleles of rs1152591 and rs1152595 had decreased enhancer activity. SYNE2 siRNA knockdown (KD) or nesprin-2α1 overexpression studies in human stem cell-derived induced cardiomyocytes (iCMs) resulted in ~12.5 % increases in the nuclear area compared to controls (p<0.001). Atomic force microscopy demonstrated that SYNE2 KD or nesprin-2α1 overexpression led to 57.5% or 33.2% decreases, respectively, in nuclear stiffness compared to controls (p< 0.0001).ConclusionsAF-associated SNPs rs1152591 and rs1152595 downregulate the expression of SYNE2α1, increasing nuclear-cytoskeletal connectivity and nuclear stiffness. The resulting increase in mechanical stress may play a role in the development of AF.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Jimenez-Sabado ◽  
T Lu ◽  
S Casabella ◽  
C Tarifa ◽  
A Herraiz-Martinez ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been associated with an increase in spontaneous calcium release induced electrical activity, which could potentially be reversed by carvedilol, a nonselective beta-blocker that also inhibits the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2). Interestingly the enantiomer R-carvedilol inhibits the RyR2 but not beta-adrenergic receptors, allowing it to effectively prevent calcium release-induced spontaneous electrical activity without inducing bradycardia and hypotension. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine how carvedilol treatment affects calcium release-induced transient inward currents (ITI) in human atrial myocytes from patients with AF; and to test the effects of R-carvedilol on spontaneous calcium release in order to assess its therapeutical utility. Methods Human atrial myocytes were isolated from patients undergoing cardiac surgery and subjected to patch-clamp technique (n=60) or confocal calcium imaging (n=6). Beta-2 adrenergic receptors were activated with the selective agonist fenoterol (3μM) and 1μM R-carvedilol was used to inhibit spontaneous calcium release events. Results Recordings of calcium release-induced transient inward currents (ITI) revealed that carvedilol treatment reduced the ITI frequency in patients with AF from 2.2±0.4 events/min in untreated patients to 0.59±0.35 events/min (p<0.01), which was even lower than the incidence in patients without AF (1.0±0.1 events/min; p<0.01). To assess the effects of R-carvedilol, myocytes were first simulated with fenoterol. This increased the calcium spark frequency from 23±15 to 960±336 events/s/1000μm2 in 16 cells from 6 patients (p<0.05). This was due to an increase in the spark site density (from 0.50±0.24 to 12.1±2.4 sites/1000μm2, p<0.001) rather than in the firing rate (0.068±0.14 vs. 0.035±0.012 sparks/s in control, p=0.14). Fenoterol also increased the spark duration from 50.9±5.4 to 77.3±4.1ms (p<0.001) without affecting the amplitude. Importantly, fenoterol also induced global calcium release events such as calcium waves and transients (2.8±1.1 vs. 0 events/min in control, p<0.05). When R-carvedilol was added, the effects of fenoterol were abolished, reducing the incidence of calcium sparks to 69±51 events/s/1000μm2 (p<0.05), the spark site density to 1.68±1.04 sites/1000μm2 (p<0.01), the spark duration to 63.4±4.3ms (p<0.05), and calcium waves and transients were reduced to 0.21±0.14 events/min (p<0.05). Conclusions Carvedilol treatment reduces the ITI frequency in patients with AF to levels below that observed at baseline in patients without AF. Furthermore, the non-beta-blocking R-carvedilol enantiomer abolishes spontaneous calcium release events induced by beta-2 adrenergic stimulation in human atrial myocytes, proposing a therapeutical utility for this compound in patients with AF linked to excessive spontaneous calcium release. Acknowledgement/Funding SAF2017-88019; Marato2015-20-30; SGR2017-1769; CIBERCV


2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory A. Hawkins ◽  
David J. Friedman ◽  
Lingyi Lu ◽  
David R. McWilliams ◽  
Jeff W. Chou ◽  
...  

Background: In African Americans (AAs), APOL1 G1 and G2 nephropathy risk variants are associated with non-diabetic end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in an autosomal recessive pattern. Additional risk and protective genetic variants may be present near the APOL1 loci, since earlier age ESKD is observed in some AAs with one APOL1 renal-risk variant, and because the adjacent gene MYH9 is associated with nephropathy in populations lacking G1 and G2 variants. Methods: Re-sequencing was performed across a ∼275 kb region encompassing the APOL1-APOL4 and MYH9 genes in 154 AA cases with non-diabetic ESKD and 38 controls without nephropathy who were heterozygous for a single APOL1 G1 or G2 risk variant. Results: Sequencing identified 3,246 non-coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 55 coding SNPs, and 246 insertion/deletions. No new coding variations were identified. Eleven variants, including a rare APOL3 Gln58Ter null variant (rs11089781), were genotyped in a replication panel of 1,571 AA ESKD cases and 1,334 controls. After adjusting for APOL1 G1 and G2 risk effects, these variations were not significantly associated with ESKD. In subjects with <2 APOL1 G1 and/or G2 alleles (849 cases; 1,139 controls), the APOL3 null variant was nominally associated with ESKD (recessive model, OR 1.81; p = 0.026); however, analysis in 807 AA cases and 634 controls from the Family Investigation of Nephropathy and Diabetes did not replicate this association. Conclusion: Additional common variants in the APOL1-APOL4-MYH9 region do not contribute significantly to ESKD risk beyond the APOL1 G1 and G2 alleles.


Author(s):  
R H. Selinfreund ◽  
A. H. Cornell-Bell

Cellular electrophysiological properties are normally monitored by standard patch clamp techniques . The combination of membrane potential dyes with time-lapse laser confocal microscopy provides a more direct, least destructive rapid method for monitoring changes in neuronal electrical activity. Using membrane potential dyes we found that spontaneous action potential firing can be detected using time-lapse confocal microscopy. Initially, patch clamp recording techniques were used to verify spontaneous electrical activity in GH4\C1 pituitary cells. It was found that serum depleted cells had reduced spontaneous electrical activity. Brief exposure to the serum derived growth factor, IGF-1, reconstituted electrical activity. We have examined the possibility of developing a rapid fluorescent assay to measure neuronal activity using membrane potential dyes. This neuronal regeneration assay has been adapted to run on a confocal microscope. Quantitative fluorescence is then used to measure a compounds ability to regenerate neuronal firing.The membrane potential dye di-8-ANEPPS was selected for these experiments. Di-8- ANEPPS is internalized slowly, has a high signal to noise ratio (40:1), has a linear fluorescent response to change in voltage.


1959 ◽  
Vol 197 (4) ◽  
pp. 829-834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana C. Brooks

The spontaneous electrical activity of the ventromedial nucleus was studied in the cat under pentobarbital anesthesia and in the unanesthetized, unrestrained state. Under light pentobarbital anesthesia the activity of the nucleus is characterized by a predominant 9–15 cps, 50–100 µv component which is uniform from second to second. With small additional doses of anesthesia there is a selective depression of this activity; with recovery from light anesthesia this activity is gradually replaced by irregular, large, slow waves characteristic of sleep. When the unanesthetized animal is aroused 20–35 cps activity having an amplitude of 40 µv or more appears in the nucleus. While the pattern of activity during sleep resembles that seen elsewhere in the hypothalamus, the activity seen during barbiturate anesthesia and during arousal is confined to the nucleus and not seen in other parts of the diencephalon.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Jimenez-Sabado ◽  
S Casabella ◽  
P Izquierdo ◽  
C Tarifa ◽  
A Llach ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation has been associated with an increase in ryanodine receptor (RyR2) phosphorylation and local calcium release (calcium sparks). Carvedilol, a nonselective beta-adrenergic receptor blocker also inhibits the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2), but it has been suggested that the enantiomer R-carvedilol only inhibits RyR2 activity and hence has the potential to inhibit calcium sparks without affecting RyR2 phosphorylation. Purpose This study aimed to determine the ability of the enantiomers R- and S-carvedilol to reverse RyR2 phosphorylation at s2808 and calcium sparks induced by the β2-adrenergic agonist fenoterol, in order to determine the relationship between RyR2 phosphorylation at s2808 and calcium spark frequency, and to assess the efficacy of R- and S-carvedilol. Methods Human right atrial myocytes were isolated and subjected to immunofluorescent labelling of total and s2808 phosphorylated RyR2, or loaded with fluo-4 and subjected to confocal calcium imaging. Beta-adrenergic receptors were first activated with 3μM fenoterol and then inhibited by different concentrations of carvedilol R- or S-enantiomers. Results Incubation of myocytes with fenoterol increased the s2808/RyR2 ratio from 0.32±0.03 to 0.66±0.05 (n=18, p&lt;0.001). Incubation with 0.1, 0.3, 1 or 3μM R-carvedilol in the presence of fenoterol changed the s2808/RyR2 ratio to 0.64±0.05, 0.44±0.04, 0.34±0.07 and 0.28±0.05 (p&lt;0.01) respectively. For comparison 3μM S-carvedilol reduced the s2808/RyR2 ratio to 0.23±0.06 in myocytes from 5 patients (p&lt;0.01). Confocal calcium imaging revealed that fenoterol increased the spark density from 0.28±0.04 to 1.24±0.25 events/s/1000μm2 (n=9, p&lt;0.01) and addition of 0.1, 0.3, or 1μM R-carvedilol changed the frequency to 1.32±0.52, 0.38±0.05, and 0.15±0.05 events/s/1000μm2 (p&lt;0.01) respectively. Analysis of atrial myocytes from patients without atrial fibrillation revealed that the s2808/RyR2 ratio was similar in 25 patients treated with beta-blockers (0.39±0.04) and 57 that did not receive beta-blockers (0.44±0.03, p=0.33) while the s2808/RyR2 ratio was significantly smaller in 16 patients with atrial fibrillation receiving beta-blockers (0.43±0.08) than in 5 patients that did not (0.80±0.19, p&lt;0.05). Conclusions R-carvedilol reverses the effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation on s2808 phosphorylation and calcium sparks in human atrial myocytes, and treatment with beta-blockers reduces excessive RyR2 phosphorylation at s2808 in patients with atrial fibrillation to levels observed in those without the arrhythmia, pointing to beta-adrenergic receptors as a target for controlling RyR2 phophorylation and activity in atrial fibrillation. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation & Spanish Ministry of Health and Consume


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Kamino

Direct intracellular measurement of electrical events in the early embryonic heart is impossible because the cells are too small and frail to be impaled with microelectrodes; it is also not possible to apply conventional electrophysiological techniques to the early embryonic heart. For these reasons, complete understanding of the ontogeny of electrical activity and related physiological functions of the heart during early development has been hampered. Optical signals from voltage-sensitive dyes have provided a new powerful tool for monitoring changes in transmembrane voltage in a wide variety of living preparations. With this technique it is possible to make optical recordings from the cells that are inaccessible to microelectrodes. An additional advantage of the optical method for recording membrane potential activity is that electrical activity can be monitored simultaneously from many sites in a preparation. Thus, applying a multiple-site optical recording method with a 100- or 144-element photodiode array and voltage-sensitive dyes, we have been able to monitor, for the first time, spontaneous electrical activity in prefused cardiac primordia in the early chick embryos at the six- and the early seven-somite stages of development. We were able to determine that the time of initiation of the contraction is the middle period of the nine-somite stage. In the rat embryonic heart, the onset of spontaneous electrical activity and contraction occurs at the three-somite stage. In this review, a new view of the ontogenetic sequence of spontaneous electrical activity and related physiological functions such as ionic properties, pacemaker function, conduction, and characteristics of excitation-contraction coupling in the early embryonic heart are discussed.


2002 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 533-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guangju Ji ◽  
Robert J. Barsotti ◽  
Morris E. Feldman ◽  
Michael I. Kotlikoff

Smooth muscle cells undergo substantial increases in length, passively stretching during increases in intraluminal pressure in vessels and hollow organs. Active contractile responses to counteract increased transmural pressure were first described almost a century ago (Bayliss, 1902) and several mechanisms have been advanced to explain this phenomenon. We report here that elongation of smooth muscle cells results in ryanodine receptor–mediated Ca2+ release in individual myocytes. Mechanical elongation of isolated, single urinary bladder myocytes to ∼120% of slack length (ΔL = 20) evoked Ca2+ release from intracellular stores in the form of single Ca2+ sparks and propagated Ca2+ waves. Ca2+ release was not due to calcium-induced calcium release, as release was observed in Ca2+-free extracellular solution and when free Ca2+ ions in the cytosol were strongly buffered to prevent increases in [Ca2+]i. Stretch-induced calcium release (SICR) was not affected by inhibition of InsP3R-mediated Ca2+ release, but was completely blocked by ryanodine. Release occurred in the absence of previously reported stretch-activated currents; however, SICR evoked calcium-activated chloride currents in the form of transient inward currents, suggesting a regulatory mechanism for the generation of spontaneous currents in smooth muscle. SICR was also observed in individual myocytes during stretch of intact urinary bladder smooth muscle segments. Thus, longitudinal stretch of smooth muscle cells induces Ca2+ release through gating of RYR. SICR may be an important component of the physiological response to increases in luminal pressure in smooth muscle tissues.


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