Spontaneous, pro-arrhythmic calcium signals disrupt electrical pacing in mouse pulmonary vein sleeve cells.

The pulmonary vein, which returns oxygenated blood to the left atrium, is ensheathed by a population of unique, myocyte-like cells called pulmonary vein sleeve cells (PVCs). These cells autonomously generate action potentials that propagate into the left atrial chamber and cause arrhythmias resultin...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Katja Rietdorf, Martin D Bootman, Michael J Sanderson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0088649&type=printable
_version_ 1826588537617645568
author Katja Rietdorf
Martin D Bootman
Michael J Sanderson
author_facet Katja Rietdorf
Martin D Bootman
Michael J Sanderson
author_sort Katja Rietdorf
collection DOAJ
description The pulmonary vein, which returns oxygenated blood to the left atrium, is ensheathed by a population of unique, myocyte-like cells called pulmonary vein sleeve cells (PVCs). These cells autonomously generate action potentials that propagate into the left atrial chamber and cause arrhythmias resulting in atrial fibrillation; the most common, often sustained, form of cardiac arrhythmia. In mice, PVCs extend along the pulmonary vein into the lungs, and are accessible in a lung slice preparation. We exploited this model to study how aberrant Ca(2+) signaling alters the ability of PVC networks to follow electrical pacing. Cellular responses were investigated using real-time 2-photon imaging of lung slices loaded with a Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent indicator (Ca(2+) measurements) and phase contrast microscopy (contraction measurements). PVCs displayed global Ca(2+) signals and coordinated contraction in response to electrical field stimulation (EFS). The effects of EFS relied on both Ca(2+) influx and Ca(2+) release, and could be inhibited by nifedipine, ryanodine or caffeine. Moreover, PVCs had a high propensity to show spontaneous Ca(2+) signals that arose via stochastic activation of ryanodine receptors (RyRs). The ability of electrical pacing to entrain Ca(2+) signals and contractile responses was dramatically influenced by inherent spontaneous Ca(2+) activity. In PVCs with relatively low spontaneous Ca(2+) activity (<1 Hz), entrainment with electrical pacing was good. However, in PVCs with higher frequencies of spontaneous Ca(2+) activity (>1.5 Hz), electrical pacing was less effective; PVCs became unpaced, only partially-paced or displayed alternans. Because spontaneous Ca(2+) activity varied between cells, neighboring PVCs often had different responses to electrical pacing. Our data indicate that the ability of PVCs to respond to electrical stimulation depends on their intrinsic Ca(2+) cycling properties. Heterogeneous spontaneous Ca(2+) activity arising from stochastic RyR opening can disengage them from sinus rhythm and lead to autonomous, pro-arrhythmic activity.
first_indexed 2024-12-10T04:15:06Z
format Article
id doaj.art-487663a5191749fcb0dd178253ed1ad4
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2025-03-14T16:42:54Z
publishDate 2014-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-487663a5191749fcb0dd178253ed1ad42025-02-21T05:38:44ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0192e8864910.1371/journal.pone.0088649Spontaneous, pro-arrhythmic calcium signals disrupt electrical pacing in mouse pulmonary vein sleeve cells.Katja RietdorfMartin D BootmanMichael J SandersonThe pulmonary vein, which returns oxygenated blood to the left atrium, is ensheathed by a population of unique, myocyte-like cells called pulmonary vein sleeve cells (PVCs). These cells autonomously generate action potentials that propagate into the left atrial chamber and cause arrhythmias resulting in atrial fibrillation; the most common, often sustained, form of cardiac arrhythmia. In mice, PVCs extend along the pulmonary vein into the lungs, and are accessible in a lung slice preparation. We exploited this model to study how aberrant Ca(2+) signaling alters the ability of PVC networks to follow electrical pacing. Cellular responses were investigated using real-time 2-photon imaging of lung slices loaded with a Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent indicator (Ca(2+) measurements) and phase contrast microscopy (contraction measurements). PVCs displayed global Ca(2+) signals and coordinated contraction in response to electrical field stimulation (EFS). The effects of EFS relied on both Ca(2+) influx and Ca(2+) release, and could be inhibited by nifedipine, ryanodine or caffeine. Moreover, PVCs had a high propensity to show spontaneous Ca(2+) signals that arose via stochastic activation of ryanodine receptors (RyRs). The ability of electrical pacing to entrain Ca(2+) signals and contractile responses was dramatically influenced by inherent spontaneous Ca(2+) activity. In PVCs with relatively low spontaneous Ca(2+) activity (<1 Hz), entrainment with electrical pacing was good. However, in PVCs with higher frequencies of spontaneous Ca(2+) activity (>1.5 Hz), electrical pacing was less effective; PVCs became unpaced, only partially-paced or displayed alternans. Because spontaneous Ca(2+) activity varied between cells, neighboring PVCs often had different responses to electrical pacing. Our data indicate that the ability of PVCs to respond to electrical stimulation depends on their intrinsic Ca(2+) cycling properties. Heterogeneous spontaneous Ca(2+) activity arising from stochastic RyR opening can disengage them from sinus rhythm and lead to autonomous, pro-arrhythmic activity.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0088649&type=printable
spellingShingle Katja Rietdorf
Martin D Bootman
Michael J Sanderson
Spontaneous, pro-arrhythmic calcium signals disrupt electrical pacing in mouse pulmonary vein sleeve cells.
PLoS ONE
title Spontaneous, pro-arrhythmic calcium signals disrupt electrical pacing in mouse pulmonary vein sleeve cells.
title_full Spontaneous, pro-arrhythmic calcium signals disrupt electrical pacing in mouse pulmonary vein sleeve cells.
title_fullStr Spontaneous, pro-arrhythmic calcium signals disrupt electrical pacing in mouse pulmonary vein sleeve cells.
title_full_unstemmed Spontaneous, pro-arrhythmic calcium signals disrupt electrical pacing in mouse pulmonary vein sleeve cells.
title_short Spontaneous, pro-arrhythmic calcium signals disrupt electrical pacing in mouse pulmonary vein sleeve cells.
title_sort spontaneous pro arrhythmic calcium signals disrupt electrical pacing in mouse pulmonary vein sleeve cells
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0088649&type=printable
work_keys_str_mv AT katjarietdorf spontaneousproarrhythmiccalciumsignalsdisruptelectricalpacinginmousepulmonaryveinsleevecells
AT martindbootman spontaneousproarrhythmiccalciumsignalsdisruptelectricalpacinginmousepulmonaryveinsleevecells
AT michaeljsanderson spontaneousproarrhythmiccalciumsignalsdisruptelectricalpacinginmousepulmonaryveinsleevecells