Cardiac-targeted PIASy gene silencing mediates deSUMOylation of caveolin-3 and prevents ischemia/reperfusion-induced Nav1.5 downregulation and ventricular arrhythmias.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal myocardial Nav1.5 expression and function cause lethal ventricular arrhythmias during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). Protein inhibitor of activated STAT Y (PIASy)-mediated caveolin-3 (Cav-3) SUMO modification affects Cav-3 binding to the voltage-gated sodium channel 1.5 (Nav1.5). PIASy activity is increased after myocardial I/R, but it is unclear whether this is attributable to plasma membrane Nav1.5 downregulation and ventricular arrhythmias. METHODS: Using recombinant adeno-associated virus subtype 9 (AAV9), rat cardiac PIASy was silenced using intraventricular injection of PIASy short hairpin RNA (shRNA). After two weeks, rat hearts were subjected to I/R and electrocardiography was performed to assess malignant arrhythmias. Tissues from peri-infarct areas of the left ventricle were collected for molecular biological measurements. RESULTS: PIASy was upregulated by I/R (P < 0.01), with increased SUMO2/3 modification of Cav-3 and reduced membrane Nav1.5 density (P < 0.01). AAV9-PIASy shRNA intraventricular injection into the rat heart downregulated PIASy after I/R, at both mRNA and protein levels (P < 0.05 vs. Scramble-shRNA + I/R group), decreased SUMO-modified Cav-3 levels, enhanced Cav-3 binding to Nav1.5, and prevented I/R-induced decrease of Nav1.5 and Cav-3 co-localization in the intercalated disc and lateral membrane. PIASy silencing in rat hearts reduced I/R-induced fatal arrhythmias, which was reflected by a modest decrease in the duration of ventricular fibrillation (VF; P < 0.05 vs. Scramble-shRNA + I/R group) and a significantly reduced arrhythmia score (P < 0.01 vs. Scramble-shRNA + I/R group). The anti-arrhythmic effects of PIASy silencing were also evidenced by decreased episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT), sustained VT and VF, especially at the time 5-10 min after ischemia (P < 0.05 vs. Scramble-shRNA + IR group). Using in vitro human embryonic kidney 293 T (HEK293T) cells and isolated adult rat cardiomyocyte models exposed to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), we confirmed that increased PIASy promoted Cav-3 modification by SUMO2/3 and Nav1.5/Cav-3 dissociation after H/R. Mutation of SUMO consensus lysine sites in Cav-3 (K38R or K144R) altered the membrane expression levels of Nav1.5 and Cav-3 before and after H/R in HEK293T cells. CONCLUSIONS: I/R-induced cardiac PIASy activation increased Cav-3 SUMOylation by SUMO2/3 and dysregulated Nav1.5-related ventricular arrhythmias. Cardiac-targeted PIASy silencing mediated Cav-3 deSUMOylation and partially prevented I/R-induced Nav1.5 downregulation in the plasma membrane of cardiomyocytes, and subsequent ventricular arrhythmias in rats. PIASy was identified as a potential therapeutic target for life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with ischemic heart diseases.

Blocking of the human ether-à-go-go-related gene channel by imatinib mesylate.

Imatinib mesylate (IM), a widely prescribed powerful tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been associated with increased risk of heart failure and is known to induce cell apoptosis and death in isolated cardiomyocytes. In addition to acquired long QT syndrome, pharmacological inhibition of human ether-à-go-go-related gene (HERG) channel has been reported to involve in apoptosis. The present study was undertaken to characterize the biophysical properties of IM on HERG and the molecular determinants of HERG blockade using mutant channels (Y652A and F656A). Wild type (WT) and mutant HERG channels were expressed in HEK-293 cells and Xenopus oocytes and the currents (I(HERG)) were measured using patch-clamp and two-microelectrode voltage-clamp techniques. IM inhibited WT I(HERG) in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC(50) of 19.51±2.50 µmol/L and 44.76±1.54 µmol/L in HEK-293 cells and Xenopus oocytes, respectively. The IM-induced inhibition of WT I(HERG) followed a voltage- and time-dependent manner. The blockade was enhanced by further activation of currents, which were in accordance with an open-channel blockade. The V(1/2) for steady-state activation shifted from -15.48±1.21 to -26.66±2.98 mV (p<0.05, n=6). The inactivation kinetics and voltage dependence of steady-state inactivation of the WT HERG channel were not significantly altered by IM. Two S6 domain mutants, F652A and Y656A, attenuated IM-induced inhibition of WT I(HERG). Therefore, IM preferentially blocked the open HERG channel through F652 and Y656, providing a molecular mechanism for the cardiac side effects during the clinical administration of IM.

Hypoxia induces voltage-gated K+ (Kv) channel expression in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells through hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1).

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) regulates the expression of hypoxia-inducible genes by binding erythropoietin (EPO) enhancer fragments. Of these genes, HIF-1 upregulates voltage-gated K+1.2 channels (Kv1.2) in rat PC12 cells. Whether HIF-1 regulates hypoxia-induced Kv channel expression in cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), however, has not been determined. In this study, we investigated the effects of hypoxia on the expression of Kv1.2 Kv1.5, Kv2.1, and Kv9.3 channels in PASMCs and examined the direct role of HIF-1 by transfecting either wild type or mutant EPO enhancer fragments. Our results showed that 18 h exposure to hypoxia significantly increased the expression of Kv1.2, Kv1.5, Kv2.1, and Kv9.3; and this hypoxia-induced upregulation was completely inhibited after transfection with the wild type but not mutant EPO enhancer fragment. These results indicate that HIF-1 regulates hypoxia-stimulated induction of Kv1.2 Kv1.5, Kv2.1, and Kv9.3 channels in cultured PASMCs.

18ß-Glycyrrhetinic acid preferentially blocks late Na current generated by ΔKPQ Nav1.5 channels.

AIM: To compare the effects of two stereoisomeric forms of glycyrrhetinic acid on different components of Na(+) current, HERG and Kv1.5 channel currents. METHODS: Wild-type (WT) and long QT syndrome type 3 (LQT-3) mutant ΔKPQ Nav1.5 channels, as well as HERG and Kv1.5 channels were expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In addition, isolated human atrial myocytes were used. Two-microelectrode voltage-clamp technique was used to record the voltage-activated currents. RESULTS: Superfusion of 18ß-glycyrrhetinic acid (18ß-GA, 1-100 µmol/L) blocked both the peak current (I(Na,P)) and late current (I(Na,L)) generated by WT and ΔKPQ Nav1.5 channels in a concentration-dependent manner, while 18α-glycyrrhetinic acid (18α-GA) at the same concentrations had no effects. 18ß-GA preferentially blocked I(Na,L) (IC(50)=37.2 ± 14.4 µmol/L) to I(Na,P) (IC(50)=100.4 ± 11.2 µmol/L) generated by ΔKPQ Nav1.5 channels. In human atrial myocytes, 18ß-GA (30 µmol/L) inhibited 47% of I(Na,P) and 87% of I(Na,L) induced by Anemonia sulcata toxin (ATX-II, 30 nmol/L). Superfusion of 18ß-GA (100 µmol/L) had no effects on HERG and Kv1.5 channel currents. CONCLUSION: 18ß-GA preferentially blocked the late Na current without affecting HERG and Kv1.5 channels.