Rationale: ZO-1 (Zona occludens 1), encoded by the tight junction protein 1 () gene, is a regulator of paracellular permeability in epithelia and endothelia. ZO-1 interacts with the actin cytoskeleton, gap, and adherens junction proteins and localizes to intercalated discs in cardiomyocytes. However, the contribution of ZO-1 to cardiac physiology remains poorly defined.
Objective: We aim to determine the role of ZO-1 in cardiac function.
Methods And Results: Inducible cardiomyocyte-specific deletion mice (; ) were generated by crossing the floxed mice and transgenic mice. Tamoxifen-induced loss of ZO-1 led to atrioventricular (AV) block without changes in heart rate, as measured by ECG and ex vivo optical mapping. Mice with tamoxifen-induced conduction system-specific deletion of () developed AV block while tamoxifen-induced conduction system deletion of distal to the AV node () did not demonstrate conduction defects. Western blot and immunostaining analyses of AV nodes showed that ZO-1 loss decreased Cx (connexin) 40 expression and intercalated disc localization. Consistent with the mouse model study, immunohistochemical staining showed that ZO-1 is abundantly expressed in the human AV node and colocalizes with Cx40. Ventricular conduction was not altered despite decreased localization of ZO-1 and Cx43 at the ventricular intercalated disc and modestly decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, suggesting ZO-1 is differentially required for AV node and ventricular conduction.
Conclusions: ZO-1 is a key protein responsible for maintaining appropriate AV node conduction through maintaining gap junction protein localization.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.119.316415 | DOI Listing |
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