Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality with one in six Americans expected to develop AF during their lifetime. As a major cause of stroke, the public health implications of AF are profound. Ongoing research is therefore attempting to better define the mechanisms underlying AF, in order to improve upon current treatments and to develop new therapies for AF. An important mechanism thought to underlie AF is altered activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), with our recent work demonstrating extensive remodeling of autonomic nerves in the AF atrium. Unfortunately, the upstream molecular mechanisms responsible for this adverse neurological remodeling are not known. Another important mechanism thought to underlie the formation of a vulnerable substrate for AF is oxidative stress (OS), even thought the precise molecular mechanisms by which OS contributes to AF in the intact atrium are not known. Since OS directly or indirectly affects ANS signaling, our overall hypothesis for this proposal is that `OS contributes to electrical substrate for AF by causing structural and functional remodeling of the ANS.' We will test this hypothesis by using a combination of in-vivo and cellular electrophysiology techniques, by performing direct intra-cardiac nerve recordings and by using novel gene therapy approaches we have developed to target OS and ANS signaling in the intact atrium. We will perform these studies in a rapid atrial pacing (i.e. atrial tachycardia or ATR) canine model of AF.
Specific Aim 1 will test the hypothesis `Chronic OS generation in the atrium/GPs leads to parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve sprouting in the ATR atrium, which is integral to the creation of electrical remodeling (effective refractory period or ERP shortening) in ATR'. In this Aim, we will perform in an ATR model, long term NOX2 inhibition in both atria (by using NOX2 shRNA) and assess: i) ERP shortening/AF and ii) autonomic nerve growth. To determine if remodeled parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves are functional and mediate ERP shortening, we will perform targeted G?i/o G?s inhibition in both atria and assess ATR-induced ERP shortening and AF.
Specific Aim 2 will test the hypothesis `OS increases post-ganglionic nerve firing in the atrial GPs, leading to enhanced neurotransmitter release from remodeled/newly sprouted nerves; this helps perpetuate electrical remodeling in ATR'. In this aim, we will assess whether targeted OS inhibition in the GPs of dogs with established AF will attenuate spontaneous GP nerve firing, normalize autonomic responsiveness in the atria and reverse ERP shortening.
Specific Aim 3 will test the hypothesis `OS leads to the emergence of IKH (and/or increase in IK1) in atrial myocytes, which helps perpetuate electrical remodeling in ATR.' We will assess whether acute OS inhibition in ATR myocytes decreases IKH/IK1 density and reverses PKC signaling changes that underlie emergence of IKH. In addition, we will assess whether short term NOX2 inhibition in-vivo in atria (excluding the GPs) of ATR dogs with established AF will at least partially reverse ERP shortening/AF.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder and is a major cause of stroke; unfortunately, current treatments for AF have poor efficacy, in good part because the molecular mechanisms underlying AF are not well understood. We propose to determine the role of two mechanisms ? oxidative stress and the autonomic nervous system ? in causing AF, by using novel biological agents (genes) to target these mechanisms. This gene-based approach will not only shed much-needed light on the molecular basis of AF, but may also have significant therapeutic potential in AF.
| Yoo, Shin; Aistrup, Gary; Shiferaw, Yohannes et al. (2018) Oxidative stress creates a unique, CaMKII-mediated substrate for atrial fibrillation in heart failure. JCI Insight 3: |
| DeSantiago, Jaime; Bare, Dan J; Varma, Disha et al. (2018) Loss of p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) promotes atrial arrhythmic activity. Heart Rhythm 15:1233-1241 |
