Mitochondrial and Contractile Function of Human Right Atrial Tissue in Response to Remote Ischemic Conditioning

BACKGROUND: Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) by repeated brief cycles of limb ischemia/reperfusion attenuates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. We aimed to identify a functional parameter reflecting the RIPC‐induced protection in human. Therefore, we measured mitochondrial function in right atrial tissue and contractile function of isolated right atrial trabeculae before and during hypoxia/reoxygenation from patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with RIPC or placebo, respectively. METHODS AND RESULTS: One hundred thirty‐seven patients under isoflurane anesthesia underwent RIPC (3×5 minutes blood pressure cuff inflation on the left upper arm/5 minutes deflation, n=67) or placebo (cuff uninflated, n=70), and right atrial appendages were harvested before ischemic cardioplegic arrest. Myocardial protection by RIPC was assessed from serum troponin I/T concentrations over 72 hours after surgery. Atrial tissue was obtained for isolation of mitochondria (RIPC/placebo: n=10/10). Trabeculae were dissected for contractile function measurements at baseline and after hypoxia/reoxygenation (60 min/30 min) and for western blot analysis after hypoxia/reoxygenation (RIPC/placebo, n=57/60). Associated with cardioprotection by RIPC (26% decrease in the area under the curve of troponin I/T), mitochondrial adenosine diphosphate–stimulated complex I respiration (+10%), adenosine triphosphate production (+46%), and calcium retention capacity (+37%) were greater, whereas reactive oxygen species production (−24%) was less with RIPC than placebo. Contractile function was improved by RIPC (baseline, +7%; reoxygenation, +24%). Expression and phosphorylation of proteins, which have previously been associated with cardioprotection, were not different between RIPC and placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Cardioprotection by RIPC goes along with improved mitochondrial and contractile function of human right atrial tissue. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01406678.