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Sex differences in cardiac mitochondrial respiration and reactive oxygen species production may predispose Scn1a−/+ mice to cardiac arrhythmias and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy
oleh: Jessa L. Aldridge, Emily Davis Alexander, Allison A. Franklin, Elizabeth Harrington, Farah Al-Ghzawi, Chad R. Frasier
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | Elsevier 2024-09-01 |
Deskripsi
Dravet Syndrome (DS) is a pediatric-onset epilepsy with an elevated risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). Most individuals with DS possess mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene Scn1a, expressed in both the brain and heart. Previously, mutations in Scn1a have been linked to arrhythmia. We used a Scn1a−/+ DS mouse model to investigate changes to cardiac mitochondrial function that may underlie arrhythmias and SUDEP. We detected significant alterations in mitochondrial bioenergetics that were sex-specific. Mitochondria from male Scn1a−/+ hearts had deficits in maximal (p = 0.02) and Complex II-linked respiration (p = 0.03). Male Scn1a−/+ mice were also more susceptible to cardiac arrhythmias under increased workload. When isolated cardiomyocytes were subjected to diamide, cardiomyocytes from male Scn1a−/+ hearts were less resistant to thiol oxidation. They had decreased survivability compared to Scn1a+/+ (p = 0.02) despite no whole-heart differences. Lastly, there were no changes in mitochondrial ROS production between DS and wild-type mitochondria at basal conditions, but Scn1a−/+ mitochondria accumulated more ROS during hypoxia/reperfusion. This study determines novel sex-linked differences in mitochondrial and antioxidant function in Scn1a-linked DS. Importantly, we found that male Scn1a−/+ mice are more susceptible to cardiac arrhythmias than female Scn1a−/+ mice. When developing new therapeutics to address SUDEP risk in DS, sex should be considered.