Antibodies against ADP-ATP carrier enhance Ca2+ current in isolated cardiac myocytes.

Antibodies previously described to inhibit specifically nucleotide transport (ADP-ATP carrier) of the inner mitochondrial membrane were found to bind specifically to the sarcolemma of the enzymatically isolated rat ventricular myocytes. In this communication, we report for the first time that a component of these antibodies enhanced the Ca2+ current in isolated cardiac myocytes and potentiated twitch tension in ventricular strips. Prolonged exposure of rat myocytes to large concentrations of antibodies caused spontaneous contractions, progressive cell deterioration, and death. Our results thus show that a component of antibodies against ADP-ATP carrier cross-reacts with cardiac sarcolemmal proteins enhancing the Ca2+ channel.