This study provides the first evidence that the secretome from EAT promotes myocardial fibrosis through the secretion of adipo-fibrokines such as Activin A.

Rationale:The cardiac sodium channel Na v 1.5 plays a key role in excitability and conduction. The 3 last residues of Na v 1.5 (Ser-Ile-Val) constitute a PDZ-domain binding motif that interacts with the syntrophin-dystrophin complex. As dystrophin is absent at the intercalated discs, Na v 1.5 could potentially interact with other, yet unknown, proteins at this site.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether Na v 1.5 is part of distinct regulatory complexes at lateral membranes and intercalated discs. Methods and Results:Immunostaining experiments demonstrated that Na v 1.5 localizes at lateral membranes of cardiomyocytes with dystrophin and syntrophin. Optical measurements on isolated dystrophin-deficient mdx hearts revealed significantly reduced conduction velocity, accompanied by strong reduction of Na v 1.5 at lateral membranes of mdx cardiomyocytes. Pull-down experiments revealed that the MAGUK protein SAP97 also interacts with the SIV motif of Na v 1.5, an interaction specific for SAP97 as no pull-down could be detected with other cardiac MAGUK proteins (PSD95 or ZO-1). Furthermore, immunostainings showed that Na v 1.5 and SAP97 are both localized at intercalated discs. Silencing of SAP97 expression in HEK293 and rat cardiomyocytes resulted in reduced sodium current (I Na ) measured by patch-clamp. The I Na generated by Na v 1.5 channels lacking the SIV motif was also reduced. Finally, surface expression of Na v 1.5 was decreased in silenced cells, as well as in cells transfected with SIV-truncated channels. Conclusions:These data support a model with at least 2 coexisting pools of Na v 1.5 channels in cardiomyocytes: one targeted at lateral membranes by the syntrophin-dystrophin complex, and one at intercalated discs by SAP97. (Circ Res. 2011;108:294-304.) Key Words: sodium channel Ⅲ Na v 1.5 Ⅲ MAGUK proteins Ⅲ SAP97 Ⅲ dystrophin T he cardiac sodium channel Na v 1.5 initiates the cardiac action potential, thus playing a key role in cardiac excitability and impulse propagation. The physiological importance of this channel is illustrated by numerous cardiac pathologies caused by hundreds of mutations identified in SCN5A, the gene encoding Na v 1.5. 1 The Na v 1.5 channel is composed of one 220-kDa ␣-subunit that constitutes a functional channel, and 30-kDa ␤-subunits. In addition to these accessory ␤-subunits, several proteins have been shown to regulate and interact with Na v 1.5. 1,2 In most cases, the physiological relevance of these interactions is poorly understood, mainly because of a lack of appropriate animal models. Many of the interacting proteins bind to the C terminus of Na v 1.5, where several protein-protein interaction motifs are located. 1,2 We have shown that the ubiquitin-protein ligase Nedd4-2 binds the PY motif of Na v 1.5 and reduces the sodium current (I Na ) in HEK293 cells by promoting its internalization. 3 We have also demonstrated that Na v 1.5 associates with the dystrophin-syntrophin multiprotein complex (DMC) in cardiac cells. 4 In dystrophin-deficient mice (m...