Vascular Endothelial Barrier Protection Prevents Atrial Fibrillation by Preserving Cardiac Nanostructure

Abstract

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, affecting [~]3% of the US population. It is widely associated with inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and elevated levels of the vascular leak-inducing cytokine, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The mechanism underlying AF is not well understood and current treatments are limited to managing this progressive disease, rather than arresting the underlying pathology. We previously identified edema-induced disruption of sodium channel (NaV1.5) -rich intercalated disk (ID) nanodomains as a novel mechanism for AF initiation secondary to acute inflammation. Therefore, we hypothesized that protecting the vascular barrier can prevent vascular leak-induced atrial arrhythmias. We identified two molecular targets for vascular barrier protection, connexin43 (Cx43) hemichannels and pannexin-1 (Panx1) channels, which have been implicated in cytokine-induced vascular leak. AF incidence was increased in untreated mice exposed to VEGF relative to vehicle controls. VEGF also increased the average number of AF episodes. VEGF shifted NaV1.5 signal to longer distances from Cx43 gap junctions (GJs), measured by a distance transformation-based spatial analysis of 3D confocal images of IDs. Similar effects were observed with NaV1.5 localized near mechanical junctions (MJs) composed of N-cad. Blocking connexin43 hemichannels (CT11 peptide) or Panx1 channels (PxIL2P peptide) significantly reduced the duration of AF episodes compared to VEGF alone with no treatment. Concurrently, both peptide therapies preserved NaV1.5 distance from GJs to control levels and reduced MJ-adjacent intermembrane distance in these hearts. Notably, similar antiarrhythmic efficacy was also achieved with clinically-relevant small molecule inhibitors of Cx43 and Panx1.