Sodium Channel Isoform Diversity Underlies Chamber-Specific Cardiac Excitability

Na_V (voltage-gated sodium) channels drive cardiac excitability. Although Na_V1.5 is the primary cardiac isoform, the composition and functional contributions of non-Na_V1.5 isoforms in the heart remain unclear.

Here, we developed a chemical-genetic mouse model (Na_V1.5^GX/GX) in which Na_V1.5 can be selectively and reversibly inhibited by acyl- and aryl-sulfonamide compounds (GX [acyl- and aryl-sulfonamide compounds typically denoted by the name GX-### and associated items] drugs). Cardiac activity was assessed by electrocardiograms in vivo, and optical mapping was used for imaging of ex vivo hearts. Whole-cell voltage-clamp in tandem with validated toxins and isoform-selective inhibitors were used to examine sodium current composition.

Na_V1.5^GX/GX mice exhibited normal cardiac function at baseline, but acute GX drug administration caused profound conduction defects and arrhythmias. Whole-heart optical mapping revealed dose-dependent chamber-specific sensitivity to Na_V1.5 inhibition, with the right ventricle being the most sensitive, followed by the left ventricle, left atrium, and right atrium. Patch-clamp recordings of isolated cardiomyocytes with application of Na_V isoform-selective inhibitors showed that Na_V1.5 contributed 93% of sodium current in the left ventricle, 79% in the right ventricle, and 78% in the atria. Non-Na_V1.5 isoforms were differentially enriched across chambers: Na_V1.8 in the left ventricle, Na_V1.1/1.3 in the right ventricle, and Na_V1.2/1.6/1.7 in the atria.

These results reveal a surprising chamber-specific isoform landscape of cardiac sodium currents, which may underlie the right ventricular predominant phenotype of Brugada syndrome. These data highlight non-Na_V1.5 isoforms as potential mediators of chamber-specific cardiac pathologies and as pharmacological targets.