A carvedilol analogue, VK‐II‐86, prevents hypokalaemia‐induced ventricular arrhythmia through novel multi‐channel effects

QT prolongation and intracellular Ca2+ loading with diastolic Ca2+ release via ryanodine receptors (RyR2) are the predominant mechanisms underlying hypokalaemia-induced ventricular arrhythmia. We investigated the antiarrhythmic actions of two RyR2 inhibitors: dantrolene and VK-II-86, a carvedilol analogue lacking antagonist activity at β-adrenoceptors, in hypokalaemia.Surface ECG and ventricular action potentials (APs) were recorded from whole-heart murine Langendorff preparations. Ventricular arrhythmia incidence was compared in hearts perfused with low [K+ ], and those pretreated with dantrolene or VK-II-86. Whole-cell patch clamping was used in murine and canine ventricular cardiomyocytes to study effects of dantrolene and VK-II-86 on AP parameters in low [K+ ] and effects of VK-II-86 on the inward rectifier current (IK1 ), late sodium current (INa_L ) and the L-type Ca2+ current (ICa ). Effects of VK-II-86 on IKr were investigated in transfected HEK-293 cells. A fluorogenic probe quantified the effects of VK-II-86 on oxidative stress in hypokalaemia.Dantrolene reduced the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias induced by low [K+ ] in explanted murine hearts by 94%, whereas VK-II-86 prevented all arrhythmias. VK-II-86 prevented hypokalaemia-induced AP prolongation and depolarization but did not alter AP parameters in normokalaemia. Hypokalaemia was associated with decreased IK1 and IKr , and increased INa-L , and ICa . VK-II-86 prevented all hypokalaemia-induced changes in ion channel activity and oxidative stress.VK-II-86 prevents hypokalaemia-induced arrhythmogenesis by normalizing calcium homeostasis and repolarization reserve. VK-II-86 may provide an effective treatment in hypokalaemia and other arrhythmias caused by delayed repolarization or Ca2+ overload.