Arrhythmogenic effects of beta2-adrenergic stimulation in the failing heart are attributable to enhanced sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca load.

Abstract

Ventricular tachycardia in heart failure (HF) can initiate by nonreentrant mechanisms such as delayed afterdepolarizations. In an arrhythmogenic rabbit model of HF, we have shown that isoproterenol induces ventricular tachycardia in vivo and aftercontractions and transient inward currents in HF myocytes. To determine whether beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)-AR) stimulation contributes, we performed in vivo drug infusion, in vitro myocyte and biochemical studies. Intravenous zinterol (2.5 microg/kg) led to ventricular arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia up to 13 beats long in 4 of 6 HF rabbits (versus 0 of 5 controls, P<0.01), an effect blocked by beta(2)-AR antagonist ICI-118,551 (0.2 mg/kg). In field-stimulated myocytes (0.5 to 4 Hz, 37 degrees C), beta(2)-AR stimulation (1 micromol/L zinterol+300 nmol/L beta(1)-AR antagonist CGP-29712A) induced aftercontractions and Ca aftertransients in 88% of HF versus 0% of control myocytes (P<0.01). beta(2)-AR stimulation in HF (but not control) myocytes increased Ca transient amplitude (by 29%), sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca load (by 28%), the rate of [Ca](i) decline (by 28%; n=12, all P<0.05), and phospholamban phosphorylation at Ser16, but Ca current was unchanged. All of these effects in HF myocytes were blocked by ICI-118,551 (100 nmol/L). Although total beta-AR expression was reduced by 47% in HF rabbit left ventricle, beta(2)-AR number was unchanged, indicating more potent beta(2)-AR-dependent SR Ca uptake and arrhythmogenesis in HF. Human HF myocytes showed similar beta(2)-AR-induced aftercontractions, aftertransients, and enhanced Ca transient amplitude, SR Ca load and twitch [Ca](i) decline rate. Thus, beta(2)-AR stimulation is arrhythmogenic in HF, mediated by SR Ca overload-induced spontaneous SR Ca release and aftercontractions.

• Authors: Jaime Desantiago, Xun Ai, Mohammed Islam, Georgia Acuna, Mark T Ziolo, Donald M Bers, Steven M Pogwizd
• Journal: Circulation research (Circ Res) Vol. 102 Issue 11 Pg. 1389-97 (Jun 06 2008) ISSN: 1524-4571 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18467626 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic beta-Agonists
• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
• Ethanolamines
• Propanolamines
• Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2
• ICI 118551
• zinterol
• Calcium

Topics

• Adrenergic beta-Agonists (pharmacology)
• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists (pharmacology)
• Animals
• Arrhythmias, Cardiac (chemically induced, metabolism, physiopathology)
• Calcium (metabolism)
• Cells, Cultured
• Disease Models, Animal
• Ethanolamines (pharmacology)
• Female
• Heart Failure (physiopathology)
• Heart Ventricles (cytology)
• Humans
• Male
• Myocytes, Cardiac (drug effects, metabolism)
• Patch-Clamp Techniques
• Phosphorylation (drug effects)
• Propanolamines (pharmacology)
• Rabbits
• Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 (drug effects, metabolism)
• Sarcoplasmic Reticulum (drug effects, metabolism)