Remodeling of Ion Channel Expression in Patients with Chronic Atrial Fibrillation and Mitral Valvular Heart Disease

Patients and atrial tissue collection

A total of 17 patients (eight males and nine females; mean age, 57 ± 14 years [range, 19 to 77]) undergoing open heart surgery for coronary artery bypass, valve repair, or replacement were included in the study. Twelve patients had sinus rhythm (SR): coronary artery disease (n = 7, CAD-SR) and aortic stenosis/stenoinsufficiency (n = 5, AVD-SR). Five patients had permanent AF (longer than 6 months) and mitral stenosis (MVD-AF). Written informed consent was obtained from each patient before all procedures. Echocardiography was performed within 1 week, and cardiac catheterization was performed within 1 month prior to surgery. The clinical characteristics of each group are listed in Table 1. A piece of right atrial appendage tissue (0.5 g) was obtained during surgery. The excised samples were immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80℃ until use.

Table 1

Clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic parameters

Transthoracic echocardiography

A 2.5-MHz phased array transducer and standard echocardiographic system (Acuson Sequoia C256, Siemens, Washington, DC, USA)were used to measure cardiac structural and functional parameters. Three diameters within the left atrium (LA) were measured: height in the parasternal long-axis view (LA₁), width in the tilted parasternal short-axis view (LA₂), and height in the apical four-chamber view (LA₃). The left atrial volume was calculated as (π × LA₁ × LA₂ × LA₃)/8. The apical four-chamber view was obtained and recorded on videotape for subsequent off-line measurements. For the LA and right atrium (RA), the largest atrial area (AA_max) during ventricular systole and smallest area (AA_min) during ventricular diastole were measured. Atrial fractional area shortening (FAS) was calculated as (AA_max - AA_min)/AA_max × 100. In the AF group, the average of three consecutive cardiac cycles was used for each echocardiographic measurement. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was estimated from the trans-tricuspid pressure gradient by Doppler examination.

Cardiac catheterization

All cardiac catheterization procedures were performed as a preoperative evaluation. In cases of rheumatic valvular heart disease, right and left heart catheterization was performed to obtain hemodynamic profiles of each chamber and cardiac function. In cases of coronary artery disease, left heart catheterization was performed before coronary angiography. Pressure profiles were measured using a standard fluid-filled catheter manometer.

Semiquantitative RT-PCR

Total RNA was extracted from the harvested atrial tissues using the following procedure. Briefly, the frozen tissues were homogenized with Ultraspec-II (Biotecx, Houston, TX, USA), and the supernatant was collected from the mixture with chloroform by centrifugation. RNA was extracted using isopropanol, RNA Tack Resin (Biotecx), and ethanol precipitation. First-strand cDNA was synthesized from the RNA using the PolyATract cDNA Synthesis System (Promega, Madison, WI, USA). The sequences and sizes of the sense and antisense primers used for each molecule are listed in Table 2. cDNA amplification was performed in a thermal cycler (GeneAmp PCR System 9600, Perkin-Elmer Cetus, Waltham, MA, USA) using Taq polymerase (Promega). Following denaturation at 94℃ for 5 minutes, the samples were subjected to 30 cycles of denaturation at 94℃ for 30 seconds, annealing (see Table 2 for the temperature) for 30 seconds, and extension at 72℃ for 7 minutes. The amplified products were electrophoresed in 1.5% agarose gels containing ethidium bromide and examined under a UV transilluminator. The intensity of each band was quantified using image analysis software (TINA version 2.10, Raytest, Straubenhardt, Germany), and the expression levels were calculated by normalization against the intensity of β-actin.

Table 2

Primer sequences

Statistical analysis

All numerical values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. Statistical significance was determined using the Mann-Whitney U test for group-to-group mean comparisons. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant.

Clinical parameters of the enrolled patients

Parameters such as sex, underlying heart disease, atrial diameter, left atrial volume, and PASP were significantly different between the SR and AF groups (Table 1). Briefly, more female patients, more patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease, a larger atrium, lower FAS of the LA, and higher PASP were common among the patients in the AF group.

Molecules related to Ca²⁺ homeostasis

Reduced L-type Ca²⁺ channel, RyR2, and SERCA2 expression was observed in the AF group (Fig. 1). Atrial samples obtained from patients in the MVD-AF group showed reduced RyR2 expression compared with the AVD-SR group; however, no significant difference in L-type Ca²⁺ channel and SERCA2 expression was noted between the AVD-SR and MVD-AF groups (Table 3). A significant reduction in SERCA2 expression and borderline significance in the differences in the expression of L-type Ca²⁺ channels and RyR2 were noted between the CAD-SR and AVD-SR groups (Table 3).

Figure 1

Molecular remodeling: mRNA expression levels in patients with sinus rhythm (SR; blank boxes) and atrial fibrillation (AF; filled boxes). Error bars indicate the standard deviation. ^ap < 0.05. L-type Ca²⁺ channel, voltage-gated L-type Ca²⁺ channel subunit α1c; RyR2, ryanodine receptor; SERCA2, sarcoplasmic reticular calcium adenosine triphosphatase; HERG, gene encoding the rapid component of the delayed rectifier I_Kr; Kv4.3, gene encoding calciumin-dependent transient outward current I_to1; Kv1.5, gene encoding the ultrarapid component of the delayed rectifier I_Kur; KChIP2, K⁺ channel-interacting protein 2; HCN2, hyperpolarization-activated cation channel 2 associated with the pacemaker current I_f; SCN5A, gene encoding Na⁺ channel.

Table 3

mRNA expression levels between the patient groups: coronary artery disease with SR vs. aortic valvular disease with SR vs. mitral valvular disease with AF

A positive correlation was found between the expression of L-type Ca²⁺ channels, RyR2, and SERCA2 (Fig. 2): L-type Ca²⁺ channels vs. RyR2 (p = 0.004, r² = 0.455) and RyR2 vs. SERCA2 (p = 0.004, r² = 0.467). L-type Ca²⁺ channel and SERCA2 expression (p = 0.096, r² = 0.185) did not exhibit a robust correlation.

Figure 2

Correlations among L-type Ca²⁺ channel, RyR2, and SERCA2 expression. L-type Ca²⁺ channel, voltage-gated L-type Ca²⁺ channel subunit α1c; RyR2, ryanodine receptor; SERCA2, sarcoplasmic reticular calcium adenosine triphosphatase.

Molecules encoding K⁺ and Na⁺ channels

The expression of Kv1.5 was reduced in AF, and borderline increased expression of HCN2 was observed in AF; however, the expression of HERG, Kv4.3, and SCN5A was unchanged (Fig. 1). Atrial samples obtained from patients in the AVD-SR group showed reduced SERCA2 and Kv1.5 expression compared with the CAD-SR group, and the MVD-AF group showed decreased RyR2 and Kv1.5 expression compared with the AVD-SR group (Table 3).

KChIP2 expression

The AF group showed significantly reduced KChIP2 expression (Fig. 1). In contrast, the expression of Kv4.3, which is responsible for I_to, was not decreased in the patients with AF enrolled in the present study (Fig. 1); moreover, KChIP2 expression was not correlated with that of Kv4.3 (p = 0.839, r² = 0.003).

Correlation between molecular remodeling and structural and functional parameters

Left atrial diameter was negatively correlated with RyR2 (p = 0.010, r² = 0.979) and KChIP2 expression (p = 0.018, r² = 0.965). A correlation between L-type Ca²⁺ channel expression and left atrial diameter showed borderline significance (p = 0.090, r² = 0.828). Left atrial volume was negatively correlated with KChIP2 expression, with borderline significance (p = 0.099, r² = 0.811). Left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) was negatively correlated with RyR2 (p = 0.007, r² = 0.985), Kv1.5 (p = 0.006, r² = 0.987), and KChIP2 expression (p = 0.049, r² = 0.904). Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) was negatively correlated with RyR2 (p = 0.014, r² = 0.973) and Kv1.5 (p = 0.002, r² = 0.997).

FAS of the LA was positively correlated with RyR2 (p = 0.023, r² = 0.954) and KChIP2 expression (p = 0.013, r² = 0.975), and with Kv1.5 expression, with borderline significance (p = 0.062, r² = 0.879). FAS of the RA was positively correlated with RyR2 (p = 0.097, r² = 0.816) and Kv1.5 expression (p = 0.052, r² = 0.899), with borderline significance. LVEDP was negatively correlated with HERG expression, with borderline significance (p = 0.069, r² = 0.866).

Molecular remodeling

The decreased expression of L-type Ca²⁺ channels and SERCA2 found among the patients with AF in this study is similar to the findings of previous reports [9,19-22]. Decreased expression of RyR2 in AF was observed in this study; however, this finding is controversial in that unchanged [9] and decreased [19] expression have been reported previously. Further investigation is needed to resolve this issue. Kv4.3 expression has been shown to be unchanged in AF [8]. Decreased mRNA expression in AF has been reported [23]; however, that finding is not compatible with the data produced in this experiment. Therefore, the expression status of Kv4.3 in AF remains controversial. Kv1.5 expression was reduced in AF, and this finding is compatible with findings in a previous report [4].

AVD versus CAD in patients with SR

L-type Ca²⁺ channels, RyR2, SERCA2, and Kv1.5 all showed a tendency toward reduced expression in the AVD-SR group compared with the CAD-SR group. The two groups in this study showed no significant differences in structural and hemodynamic parameters, except for a higher PASP in the AVD-SR group. Of those molecules, L-type Ca²⁺ channel and SERCA2 expression was not different between the AVD-SR and MVD-AF groups; however, these groups showed significant differences in atrium size and FAS. Therefore, the expression status of L-type Ca²⁺ channels and SERCA2 might be related to underlying heart disease.

KChIP2 expression in AF

The precise meaning and mechanism of these findings are unclear. Kv4.3 is responsible for most human I_to current, and KChIP2 could be a physiological regulatory subunit of Kv4.3 [15]. Therefore, reduced KChIP2 expression may induce decreased Kv4.3 function. Although the expression status of Kv4.3 in AF is controversial, the decreased I_to current observed in AF4 may be related to decreased KChIP2 expression.

Clinical implications

Molecular remodeling may develop secondary to changes in the atrial environment, and expression changes in channel or channel-related molecules known to affect electrophysiological properties may favor the initiation and maintenance of atrial tachyarrhythmias, including AF. Classical therapeutic modalities for AF target the substrate or rhythm itself; however, recent progress in our understanding of the remodeling associated with AF may make "remodeling attenuation therapy" or "upstream therapy" possible. Some approaches, including the use of Ca²⁺ channel blockers, have been investigated without remarkable results. Remodeling attenuation therapy using blocking agents should target the molecules showing increased expression in AF. All of the molecules evaluated in this study except HCN2 showed reduced expression; therefore, they are not good therapeutic candidates. HCN2 may also not be a good candidate because its role in AF is unclear. In this respect, therapy based on structural remodeling is a reasonable substitute for channel blockade as a form of remodeling attenuation therapy. Recent trials targeting the reninangiotensin system have shown positive results for electrical remodeling [24] and prevention of the recurrence of AF [25].

Study limitations

We analyzed right appendage tissue in this study; however, the use of this tissue does not reveal changes occurring in the rest of the atrium. We cannot know a molecule's function based on its mRNA expression alone. Therefore, additional studies are required to evaluate ion channel function. In addition, the patient populations enrolled in this study were heterogeneous. Therefore, the comparisons made among the groups might have limitations.

Conclusions

Reduced L-type Ca²⁺ channel, RyR2, SERCA2, Kv1.5, and KChIP2 expression and borderline increased HCN2 expression were observed in all patients with AF and mitral valvular heart disease. RyR2, Kv1.5, and KChIP2 expression was correlated with structural/hemodynamic parameters. Alterations in ion channel expression and the anatomical substrate may favor the initiation and maintenance of AF in patients with mitral valvular heart disease.