Calsequestrin in Ventricular Arrhythmia and Sudden Death

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ABSTRACT Cardiac calsequestrin (CASQ2), and its binding partners junctin and triadin-1 (TRDN), are key regulators of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca storage and release. In humans, CASQ2 mutations cause the syndrome of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) and sudden cardiac death. During the previous funding period, we have generated and studied Casq2 null (Casq2-/-) mice to determine the mechanisms whereby CASQ2 mutations cause electrophysiological instability. We found that despite a lack of Casq2 protein, these mice maintain near normal SR Ca storage, Ca release and contractile function, likely as a result of an expansion of SR volume and drastic reductions in the Casq2 binding proteins triadin-1 and junctin. Casq2-/- mice exhibit the CPVT phenotype, i.e. they develop polymorphic ventricular tachycardia with catecholamine infusion or exercise. Our current concept is that the loss of Ca release refractoriness and premature SR Ca release under conditions of high SR Ca load, results in delayed after-depolarizations, triggered beats and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. However, if the trigger originates from ventricular myocytes or from specialized cells of the conduction system, the Purkinje cells, is unresolved. Experimental data from a RyR2 mutant mouse model and theoretical considerations favor the Purkinje network. Furthermore, biochemical, electron microscopy and confocal studies show that Casq2 is only found in the terminal cisternae of the junctional SR in close contact with RyR2 Ca release channels. Thus, we hypothesize that the reduced presence of Casq2 near the RyR2 in ventricular myocytes and/or Purkinje cells is a fundamental defect that causes premature SR Ca release and increases arrhythmia susceptibility. This is applicable to inherited syndromes (e.g., Casq2-linked CPVT; Aims 1+2) and potentially acquired heart disease due to defects in the trafficking to and/or retention of Casq2 near the RyR2 (Aim 3). Aim 1. To test the hypothesis that restoration of Casq2 rescues the CPVT phenotype of Casq2-/- mice. Aim 2. To test the hypothesis that loss of Casq2 in Purkinje cells is both necessary and sufficient to cause CPVT Aim 3. To test the hypothesis that Casq2 is reduced near RyR2 Ca release channels in cardiac muscle surviving after myocardial infarction