Abstract 238: Loss of AKAP150 Promotes Pathological Remodeling and Heart Failure Propensity by Disrupting Calcium Homeostasis and Contractile Reserve

Impaired Ca2+cycling and myocyte contractility are a hallmark of heart failure triggered by pathological stress such as hemodynamic overload. The A-Kinase anchoring protein AKAP150 has been shown to coordinate key aspects of adrenergic regulation of Ca2+ cycling and excitation-contraction in cardiomyocytes. However, the role of the AKAP150 signaling complexes in the pathogenesis of heart failure is largely unknown. Here we investigate how AKAP150 signaling complexes impact Ca2+ cycling, myocyte contractility, and heart failure susceptibility following pathological stress. We detected a significant reduction of AKAP150 expression in the failing mouse heart induced by pressure overload. Importantly, cardiac-specific AKAP150 knockout mice were predisposed to develop dilated cardiomyopathy with severe cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis after pressure overload. Loss of AKAP150 also promoted pathological remodeling and heart failure progression following myocardial infarction. However, ablation of AKAP150 did not...