Lysosomal signaling pathways influence heart rhythm, and regulate atrial function

AIMS: In the heart, endogenous nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) triggers lysosomal calcium (Ca2+) release to augment sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ sequestration, producing larger Ca2+ transients. However, the role of lysosomal Ca2+ signals in pacemaker activity, a distinct Ca2+-operated function of the sinoatrial node (SAN), or in the atrial myocardium has not been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pharmacological or genetic ablation of the NAADP pathway inhibits the spontaneous beating rate response to β-adrenergic stimulation in intact SAN. We found intracellular signaling microdomains between lysosomes and neighboring SR or mitochondria in mouse, and goat tissue. The spatial relationship between lysosomes and other Ca2+-handling organelles are altered in goat atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, we demonstrate atrial myocytes produce 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in response to lysosomal signaling, adding a novel trigger for cyclic nucleotide signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesis that lysosomal Ca2+ signaling contributes to regulation of cardiomyocyte cAMP levels and pacemaker activity.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cardiovascular Research
Published
2026-09-19
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/cvag207
Primary Topic
Calcium signaling and nucleotide metabolism
Type
article
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0.00
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article

Lysosomal signaling pathways influence heart rhythm, and regulate atrial function

Serena Calamaio, Ifan Jenkin, Jillian N. Simon, Julius Ryan D. Pronto et al.
Cardiovascular Research
Calcium signaling and nucleotide metabolism
article

Lysosomal signaling pathways influence heart rhythm, and regulate atrial function

Serena Calamaio, Ifan Jenkin, Jillian N. Simon, Julius Ryan D. Pronto, Román Fischer, Parveen Sharma, Pawel Swietach, Niels Voigt, Dario Melgari, Marie Held, Alexander D. Corbett, Florian Falter, Manuela Zaccolo, Franz Bracher, Ulrich Schotten, Andreas Koschinski, Derek A. Terrar, Sander Verheule, Ilaria Rivolta, Rachele Prevostini, Annika Winbo, Thamali Ayagama, Eva A. Rog‐Zielinska, Martin J. Booth, Rebecca A.B. Burton, Samuel J. Bose, Qianqian Song, Ming Lei, Matthew J. Read, Razik Bin Abdul Mu-U-Min, Aiswarya Dev, Svenja Hester, Marco Keller, Charlotte Melia, Rebecca A B Burton, Emily Akerman, Antony Galione, Thomas Waring, Frances M Platt, Funsho E Fakuade, Jingyu Wang, Daniel Aston
article en

Abstract

AIMS: In the heart, endogenous nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP) triggers lysosomal calcium (Ca2+) release to augment sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ sequestration, producing larger Ca2+ transients. However, the role of lysosomal Ca2+ signals in pacemaker activity, a distinct Ca2+-operated function of the sinoatrial node (SAN), or in the atrial myocardium has not been investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pharmacological or genetic ablation of the NAADP pathway inhibits the spontaneous beating rate response to β-adrenergic stimulation in intact SAN. We found intracellular signaling microdomains between lysosomes and neighboring SR or mitochondria in mouse, and goat tissue. The spatial relationship between lysosomes and other Ca2+-handling organelles are altered in goat atrial fibrillation. Furthermore, we demonstrate atrial myocytes produce 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in response to lysosomal signaling, adding a novel trigger for cyclic nucleotide signaling. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the hypothesis that lysosomal Ca2+ signaling contributes to regulation of cardiomyocyte cAMP levels and pacemaker activity.

Cardiovascular Research
University of Liverpool (GB), University of Auckland (NZ), University of Freiburg (DE), University of Exeter (GB), Maastricht University (NL), University of Oxford (GB), Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital (GB), IRCCS Policlinico San Donato (IT), Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GB), Universitätsmedizin Göttingen (DE), German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DE), Science Oxford (GB), Institute of Pharmacology (CZ), Liverpool John Moores University (GB), University of Milano-Bicocca (IT), University of Göttingen (DE), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE), Temple University (US)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 14%
Calcium signaling and nucleotide metabolism
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