Figure 8. Atrial CM-selective knockdown of FKBP5 enhances AF susceptibility.

(A) Schematic diagram showed the designs to knockdown FKBP5 in an atrial CM-selective manner using AAV9-ANF-Cre virus injected Fkbp5^flox/flox mice (aKD). AAV9-ANF-Flag virus injected Fkbp5^flox/flox mice used as control (Ctl) (B) Relative mRNA levels of Fkbp5 and Slc8a1 in atria and ventricles of Ctl and mice. (C) Representative Western blots and (D) quantification of FKBP5 and NCX1 proteins in atria and ventricles of Ctl and aKD mice. (E) Representative Western blots and quantification of HIF-1α protein level in the atria of Ctl and aKD mice. (F) Representative recording and the incidence of pacing-induced AF in Ctl and aKD mice. p-values were determined with unpaired Student’s t-test in B, Mann-Whitney test in C, E, F, and G, and Fisher’s exact test in H.