Abstract P413: Stretch-induced Caveolae-mediated Disruption Of Cyclic AMP Microdomains Leads To Arrhythmogenic Ca 2+ Mishandling In Mouse Atrial Myocytes

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) often occurs during hypertension and is associated with an increase in cardiomyocyte stretch. Mechanism of ectopic beats, that trigger AF, has been linked to Ca 2+ mishandling and leaky hyperphosphorylated ryanodine receptors (RyRs), while the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Caveolae membrane structures are involved in cell mechanosensing processes and control the cAMP signaling pathway. We hypothesized that mechanical stretch disrupts caveolae, promoting cAMP production and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ leak via augmentation of RyRs phosphorylation. Methods and Results: Cell size analysis and Ca 2+ dynamics measurements were performed by confocal imaging of isolated mouse atrial myocytes. Cell stretch was modeled by hypoosmotic swelling (from 310 mOsM to 220 mOsM to flatten caveolae structures) resulting in a ~30% increase in cell width (p<0.05) with no changes in cell length. Swelling resulted in a biphasic effect on Ca 2+ spark activity: a fast (<10 min of exposure) ~50% increase (p<0.001) followed by a slow decrease to the level observed in isotonic conditions (>30 min of exposure). Similarly, caveolae disruption via cholesterol depletion by 10 mM methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) led to 2-fold increase in Ca 2+ sparks frequency (p<0.001). Swelling- and MβCD-induced increases in atrial Ca 2+ spark activity were prevented via inhibition of cAMP production by adenylyl cyclases by 0.1mM SQ22536 or cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) by 1μM H-89. Then, we tested if this mechanism is present in atrial myocytes from pressure-overloaded (4-weeks transaortic constriction, TAC) mice. Atrial myocytes from TAC mice showed a 1.6 times higher Ca 2+ sparks frequency than wild-type myocytes (p<0.01), which was significantly reduced (p<0.01) to wild-type level after incubation with SQ22536. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that cell stretch increases spontaneous Ca 2+ spark activity through the disruption of caveolae and cAMP-mediated augmentation of PKA activity. This mechanism could be involved in the Ca 2+ mishandling and AF in pressure overloaded hearts.