Catecholamine-Independent Heart Rate Increases Require Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II

Background-Catecholamines increase heart rate by augmenting the cAMP-responsive hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel 4 pacemaker current (I-f) and by promoting inward Na+/Ca2+ exchanger current (I-NCX) by a Ca2+ clock mechanism in sinoatrial nodal cells (SANCs). The importance, identity, and function of signals that connect I-f and Ca2+ clock mechanisms are uncertain and controversial, but the multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is required for physiological heart rate responses to beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) stimulation. The aim of this study was to measure the contribution of the Ca2+ clock and CaMKII to cardiac pacing independent of beta-AR agonist stimulation. Methods and Results-We used the L-type Ca2+ channel agonist Bay K8644 (BayK) to activate the SANC Ca2+ clock. BayK and isoproterenol were similarly effective in increasing rates in SANCs and Langendorff-perfused hearts from wild-type control mice. In contrast, SANCs and isolated hearts from mice with CaMKII inhibition by transgenic expression of an inhibitory peptide (AC3-I) were resistant to rate increases by BayK. BayK only activated CaMKII in control SANCs but increased L-type Ca2+ current (I-Ca) equally in all SANCs, indicating that increasing I-Ca was insufficient and suggesting that CaMKII activation was required for heart rate increases by BayK. BayK did not increase I-f or protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation of phospholamban (at Ser16), indicating that increased SANC Ca2+ by BayK did not augment cAMP/protein kinase A signaling at these targets. Late-diastolic intracellular Ca2+ release and INCX were significantly reduced in AC3-I SANCs, and the response to BayK was eliminated by ryanodine in all groups. Conclusions-The Ca2+ clock is capable of supporting physiological fight-or-flight responses, independent of beta-AR stimulation or If increases. Complete Ca2+ clock and beta-AR stimulation responses require CaMKII. (Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2011;4:379-387.)