Abstract 323: Dronedarone Impairs Cardiac Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation in Dose-Dependent Manner

Abstract

Introduction: Dronedarone (DR), a new antiarrhythmic drug, was recently shown to worsen heart failure (HF) and mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation and left ventricular dysfunction. However, the mechanism underlying the adverse effect is not known. Since, myocardium depends on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), we hypothesized that DR impairs mitochondrial function, which could further compropmise energetic reserves predisposing to worsening of HF and death in patients with HF. Methods: Mitochondria isolated from rat heart (2 month old, SD) were treated with DR (1, 5, 10, 20, 50 μM), and the effect on oxygen consumption rate (OCR) in State 3 (St 3, ADP stimulated), State 4 (St 4o, oligomycin) and following FCCP addition were determined using Seahorse XF24 Analyzer in the presence of glutamate/malate (complex I substrates) and succinate/rotenone (complex II substrate). Results: DR dose dependently reduced St 3 respiration both in the presence of complex I (Fig). In the presence of glutamate/malate, DR inhibited OCR by 16%, 20%, 25%, 39% and 100% at 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 μM, respectively, when compared to untreated control. At 20 μM, DR uncoupled mitochondria and increased St 4o respiration. DR at 50 μM was toxic with complete inhibition of OCR and loss of membrane potential. Similar results were observed when succinate/rotenone were used to assess complex II activity. Conclusion: DR has dose-dependent inhibitory effect on mitochondrial respiration, inhibiting OXPHOS at low concentration (1-10 μM), uncoupling at higher (20 μM) and toxic effect at 50 μM. Impairment of mitochondrial energetics could explain DR results reported in HF patients in clinical trials.