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Indoxyl sulfate reduces Ito,f by activating ROS/MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways
Jing Yang, Hongxia Li, Chi Zhang, Yafeng Zhou
Jing Yang, Hongxia Li, Chi Zhang, Yafeng Zhou
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Research Article Cardiology

Indoxyl sulfate reduces Ito,f by activating ROS/MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways

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Abstract

There is a high prevalence of ventricular arrhythmias related to sudden cardiac death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To explored the possible mechanism of CKD-related ventricular arrhythmias, a CKD rat model was created, and indoxyl sulfate (IS) was further used in vivo and in vitro. This project used the following methods: patch clamp, electrocardiogram, and some molecular biology experimental techniques. IS was found to be significantly elevated in the serum of CKD rats. Interestingly, the expression levels of the fast transient outward potassium current–related (Ito,f-related) proteins (Kv4.2, Kv4.3, and KChIP2) in the heart of CKD rats and rats treated with IS decreased. IS dose-dependently reduced Ito,f density, accompanied by the decreases in Kv4.2, Kv4.3, and KChIP2 proteins in vitro. IS also prolonged the action potential duration and QT interval, and paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia could be induced by IS. In-depth studies have shown that ROS/p38MAPK, ROS–p44/42 MAPK, and NF-κB signaling pathways play key roles in the reduction of Ito,f density and Ito,f-related proteins caused by IS. These data suggest that IS reduces Ito,f-related proteins and Ito,f density by activating ROS/MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, and the action potential duration and QT interval are subsequently prolonged, which contributes to increasing the susceptibility to arrhythmia in CKD.

Authors

Jing Yang, Hongxia Li, Chi Zhang, Yafeng Zhou

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Figure 2

IS reduced Ito,f-related protein expression levels and current densities in vitro.

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IS reduced Ito,f-related protein expression levels and current densities...
(A and B) Representative immunoblots (A) and average data (B) of Kv4.2, Kv4.3, and KChIP2 proteins in NRVMs treated with different concentrations of IS (n =3 per group). (C) Relative mRNA expressions for Kv4.2, Kv4.3, and KChIP2 in NRVMs treated with different concentrations of IS (n = 3 per group). (D and E) Representative immunofluorescence images of Kv4.2 (D) and KChIP2 (E) proteins in NRVMs. Scale bar: 50 μm. (F and G) Representative Ito,f traces (F) and average Ito,f densities (peak minus steady state) versus membrane potentials (G) in NRVMs treated with different concentrations of IS (n = 5 per group).The inset in F shows the voltage-clamp protocol. (H) Average time constants (τ) of decay of Ito,f at +60 mV in NRVMs (n = 5 per group). (I and J) Average values of constants (k) of activation (I) and half-maximal voltage of activation(V0.5, act) (J) in NRVMs (n = 5 per group). (K) Voltage-dependent activation curves of Ito,f in NRVMs (n = 5 per group). Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical analysis was performed using 1-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni post hoc test. *P < 0.05 versus control, **P < 0.01 versus control.

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