The RyR2-P2328S mutation downregulates Na(v)1.5 producing arrhythmic substrate in murine ventricles

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) predisposes to ventricular arrhythmia due to altered Ca(2+) homeostasis and can arise from ryanodine receptor (RyR2) mutations including RyR2-P2328S. Previous reports established that homozygotic murine RyR2-P2328S (RyR2(S/S)) hearts show an atrial arrhythmic phenotype associated with reduced action potential (AP) conduction velocity and sodium channel (Na(v)1.5) expression. We now relate ventricular arrhythmogenicity and slowed AP conduction in RyR2(S/S) hearts to connexin-43 (Cx43) and Na(v)1.5 expression and Na(+) current (I(Na)). Stimulation protocols applying extrasystolic S2 stimulation following 8 Hz S1 pacing at progressively decremented S1S2 intervals confirmed an arrhythmic tendency despite unchanged ventricular effective refractory periods (VERPs) in Langendorff-perfused RyR2(S/S) hearts. Dynamic pacing imposing S1 stimuli then demonstrated that progressive reductions of basic cycle lengths (BCLs) produced greater reductions in conduction velocity at equivalent BCLs and diastolic intervals in RyR2(S/S) than WT, but comparable changes in AP durations (APD(90)) and their alternans. Western blot analyses demonstrated that Cx43 protein expression in whole ventricles was similar, but Na(v)1.5 expression in both whole tissue and membrane fractions were significantly reduced in RyR2(S/S) compared to wild-type (WT). Loose patch-clamp studies similarly demonstrated reduced I(Na) in RyR2(S/S) ventricles. We thus attribute arrhythmogenesis in RyR2(S/S) ventricles resulting from arrhythmic substrate produced by reduced conduction velocity to downregulated Na(v)1.5 reducing I(Na), despite normal determinants of repolarization and passive conduction. The measured changes were quantitatively compatible with earlier predictions of linear relationships between conduction velocity and the peak I(Na) of the AP but nonlinear relationships between peak I(Na) and maximum Na(+) permeability.