Author:
Kwek Xiu-Yi,Hall Andrew R.,Lim Wei-Wen,Katwadi Khairunnisa,Soong Poh Loong,Grishina Elina,Lin Kun-Han,Crespo-Avilan Gustavo,Yap En Ping,Ismail Nur Izzah,Chinda Kroekkiat,Chung Ying Ying,Wei Heming,Shim Winston,Montaigne David,Tinker Andrew,Ong Sang-Bing,Hausenloy Derek J.
Abstract
AbstractMitochondrial dysfunction induced by acute cardiac ischemia–reperfusion (IR), may increase susceptibility to arrhythmias by perturbing energetics, oxidative stress production and calcium homeostasis. Although changes in mitochondrial morphology are known to impact on mitochondrial function, their role in cardiac arrhythmogenesis is not known. To assess action potential duration (APD) in cardiomyocytes from the Mitofusins-1/2 (Mfn1/Mfn2)-double-knockout (Mfn-DKO) compared to wild-type (WT) mice, optical-electrophysiology was conducted. To measure conduction velocity (CV) in atrial and ventricular tissue from the Mfn-DKO and WT mice, at both baseline and following simulated acute IR, multi-electrode array (MEA) was employed. Intracellular localization of connexin-43 (Cx43) at baseline was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, while Cx-43 phosphorylation was assessed by Western-blotting. Mfn-DKO cardiomyocytes demonstrated an increased APD. At baseline, CV was significantly lower in the left ventricle of the Mfn-DKO mice. CV decreased with simulated-ischemia and returned to baseline levels during simulated-reperfusion in WT but not in atria of Mfn-DKO mice. Mfn-DKO hearts displayed increased Cx43 lateralization, although phosphorylation of Cx43 at Ser-368 did not differ. In summary, Mfn-DKO mice have increased APD and reduced CV at baseline and impaired alterations in CV following cardiac IR. These findings were associated with increased Cx43 lateralization, suggesting that the mitofusins may impact on post-MI cardiac-arrhythmogenesis.
Funder
Medical Research Council
Agence Nationale de la Recherche
British Heart Foundation
NIHR Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Centre at Barts
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Lui Che Woo Foundation
Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee
Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council
Ministry of Education - Singapore
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC