Intracellular Na+ Concentration ([Na+]i) Is Elevated in Diabetic Hearts Due to Enhanced Na+-Glucose Cotransport

Intracellular Na(+) concentration ([Na(+)]i) regulates Ca(2+) cycling, contractility, metabolism, and electrical stability of the heart. [Na(+)]i is elevated in heart failure, leading to arrhythmias and oxidative stress. We hypothesized that myocyte [Na(+)]i is also increased in type 2 diabetes (T2D) due to enhanced activity of the Na(+)-glucose cotransporter.

To test this hypothesis, we used myocardial tissue from humans with T2D and a rat model of late-onset T2D (HIP rat). Western blot analysis showed increased Na(+)-glucose cotransporter expression in failing hearts from T2D patients compared with nondiabetic persons (by 73±13%) and in HIP rat hearts versus wild-type (WT) littermates (by 61±8%). [Na(+)]i was elevated in HIP rat myocytes both at rest (14.7±0.9 versus 11.4±0.7 mmol/L in WT) and during electrical stimulation (17.3±0.8 versus 15.0±0.7 mmol/L); however, the Na(+)/K(+)-pump function was similar in HIP and WT cells, suggesting that higher [Na(+)]i is due to enhanced Na(+) entry in diabetic hearts. Indeed, Na(+) influx was significantly larger in myocytes from HIP versus WT rats (1.77±0.11 versus 1.29±0.06 mmol/L per minute). Na(+)-glucose cotransporter inhibition with phlorizin or glucose-free solution greatly reduced Na(+) influx in HIP myocytes (to 1.20±0.16 mmol/L per minute), whereas it had no effect in WT cells. Phlorizin also significantly decreased glucose uptake in HIP myocytes (by 33±9%) but not in WT, indicating an increased reliance on the Na(+)-glucose cotransporter for glucose uptake in T2D hearts.

Myocyte Na(+)-glucose cotransport is enhanced in T2D, which increases Na(+) influx and causes Na(+) overload. Higher [Na(+)]i may contribute to arrhythmogenesis and oxidative stress in diabetic hearts.