Role of Indoxyl Sulfate as a Predisposing Factor for Atrial Fibrillation in Renal Dysfunction

BACKGROUND: Renal dysfunction is a major risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). The uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate may contribute to the progression of cardiac fibrosis and AF substrate in renal dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned randomly to the following groups: 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6Nx) with vehicle, 5/6Nx with AST‐120, sham procedure with vehicle, and sham procedure with AST‐120. Vehicle and AST‐120 were administered for 4 weeks. Serum levels of IS were significantly increased in 5/6Nx groups. Expression of malondialdehyde, an indicator of oxidative stress, was upregulated in the left atrium of 5/6Nx groups and was accompanied by an increase in expression of NADPH oxidase 2 and 4. Monocyte‐mediated inflammatory signals such as CD68, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 were also upregulated in 5/6Nx groups. Interstitial fibrosis was promoted heterogeneously, and expression of profibrotic indicators such as transforming growth factor β1, α‐smooth muscle actin, and collagen type 1 was upregulated in left atrium tissue of 5/6Nx groups. In cultured atrial fibroblasts, incubation with IS upregulated expression of the markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and profibrotic factors. These results suggest the direct effects of IS on the progression of AF substrate. AF was consistently and invariably induced by atrial extrastimuli in 5/6Nx groups in electrophysiological experiments. AST‐120 treatment significantly alleviated renal dysfunction–induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and atrial fibrosis and, consequently, attenuated AF inducibility. CONCLUSIONS: Indoxyl sulfate facilitates atrial fibrosis and AF and thus is a novel therapeutic target for prevention of renal dysfunction–induced AF.