EPAC1 and 2 inhibit K+ currents via PLC/PKC and NOS/PKG pathways in rat ventricular cardiomyocytes

The exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (EPAC) has been implicated in cardiac proarrhythmic signaling pathways including spontaneous diastolic Ca 2+ leak from sarcoplasmic reticulum and increased action potential duration (APD) in isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes. The action potential (AP) lengthening following acute EPAC activation is mainly due to a decrease of repolarizing steady-state K + current (IK SS ) but the mechanisms involved remain unknown. This study aimed to assess the role of EPAC1 and EPAC2 in the decrease of IK SS and to investigate the underlying signaling pathways. AP and K + currents were recorded with the whole cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique in freshly isolated rat ventricular myocytes. EPAC1 and EPAC2 were pharmacologically activated with 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-2′- O-methyl-cAMP acetoxymethyl ester (8-CPTAM, 10 µmol/L) and inhibited with R-Ce3F4 and ESI-05, respectively. Inhibition of EPAC1 and EPAC2 significantly decreased the effect of 8-CPTAM on APD and IK SS showing that both EPAC isoforms are involved in these effects. Unexpectedly, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) inhibition by AIP or KN-93, and Ca 2+ chelation by intracellular BAPTA, did not impact the response to 8-CPTAM. However, inhibition of PLC/PKC and nitric oxide synthase (NOS)/PKG pathways partially prevents the 8-CPTAM-dependent decrease of IK SS . Finally, the cumulative inhibition of PKC and PKG blocked the 8-CPTAM effect, suggesting that these two actors work along parallel pathways to regulate IK SS upon EPAC activation. On the basis of such findings, we propose that EPAC1 and EPAC2 are involved in APD lengthening by inhibiting a K + current via both PLC/PKC and NOS/PKG pathways. This may have pathological implications since EPAC is upregulated in diseases such as cardiac hypertrophy. NEW & NOTEWORHTY Exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (EPAC) proteins modulate ventricular electrophysiology at the cellular level. Both EPAC1 and EPAC2 isoforms participate in this effect. Mechanistically, PLC/PKC and nitric oxide synthase (NO)/PKG pathways are involved in regulating K + repolarizing current whereas the well-known downstream effector of EPAC, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), does not participate. This may have pathological implications since EPAC is upregulated in diseases such as cardiac hypertrophy. Thus, EPAC inhibition may be a new approach to prevent arrhythmias under pathological conditions.