Go to The Journal of Clinical Investigation
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • By specialty
    • COVID-19
    • Cardiology
    • Immunology
    • Metabolism
    • Nephrology
    • Oncology
    • Pulmonology
    • All ...
  • Videos
  • Collections
    • In-Press Preview
    • Resource and Technical Advances
    • Clinical Research and Public Health
    • Research Letters
    • Editorials
    • Perspectives
    • Physician-Scientist Development
    • Reviews
    • Top read articles

  • Current issue
  • Past issues
  • Specialties
  • In-Press Preview
  • Resource and Technical Advances
  • Clinical Research and Public Health
  • Research Letters
  • Editorials
  • Perspectives
  • Physician-Scientist Development
  • Reviews
  • Top read articles
  • About
  • Editors
  • Consulting Editors
  • For authors
  • Publication ethics
  • Publication alerts by email
  • Transfers
  • Advertising
  • Job board
  • Contact
Macrophage IL-1β mediates atrial fibrillation risk in diabetic mice
Xiaoxu Zhou, Hong Liu, Feng Feng, Gyeoung-Jin Kang, Man Liu, Yugene Guo, Samuel C. Dudley Jr.
Xiaoxu Zhou, Hong Liu, Feng Feng, Gyeoung-Jin Kang, Man Liu, Yugene Guo, Samuel C. Dudley Jr.
View: Text | PDF
Research Article Cardiology Inflammation

Macrophage IL-1β mediates atrial fibrillation risk in diabetic mice

  • Text
  • PDF
Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). The mechanisms underlying DM-associated AF are unclear. AF and DM are both related to inflammation. We investigated whether DM-associated inflammation contributed to AF risk. Mice were fed with high-fat diet to induce type II DM and were subjected to IL-1β antibodies, macrophage depletion by clodronate liposomes, a mitochondrial antioxidant (mitoTEMPO), or a cardiac ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) stabilizer (S107). All tests were performed at 36–38 weeks of age. DM mice presented with increased AF inducibility, enhanced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS) generation, and activated innate immunity in the atria, as evidenced by enhanced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression, macrophage infiltration, and IL-1β levels. Signs of aberrant RyR2 Ca2+ leak were observed in the atria of DM mice. IL-1β neutralization, macrophage depletion, and exposure to mitoTEMPO and S107 significantly ameliorated the AF vulnerability in DM mice. Atrial overexpression of MCP-1 increased AF occurrence in normal mice through the same mechanistic signaling cascade as observed in DM mice. In conclusion, macrophage-mediated IL-1β contributed to DM-associated AF risk through mitoROS modulation of RyR2 Ca2+ leak.

Authors

Xiaoxu Zhou, Hong Liu, Feng Feng, Gyeoung-Jin Kang, Man Liu, Yugene Guo, Samuel C. Dudley Jr.

×

Figure 6

Atrial MCP-1 overexpression increased AF risk in normal mice.

Options: View larger image (or click on image) Download as PowerPoint
Atrial MCP-1 overexpression increased AF risk in normal mice.
(A) Repres...
(A) Representative immunoblotting images of MCP-1 expression in mouse atria and ventricles 1 month after AAV9 vector injection. (B) Atrial but not (C) ventricular MCP-1 levels were elevated in the mice receiving AAV9-ANF-MCP-1 vector injection. (D) Atrial Ccr2 mRNA level was increased in the MCP-1–overexpressing mice. N = 7–8 mice per group. (E) MCP-1 atrial overexpressing mice exhibited high AF inducibility. N is indicated within the bars. Data are shown as the mean ± SEM. Unpaired t test (B–D) or Fisher’s exact test (E) were used. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. AAV9, adeno-associated virus serotype 9; AF, atrial fibrillation; ANF, atrial natriuretic factor; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.

Copyright © 2026 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN 2379-3708

Sign up for email alerts