Differential expression of antiviral factors in H9c2 cells overexpressing Cacnb4 of the Cav1.2 channel

L-type voltage gated Ca channels play a critical role in E-C coupling in cardiac muscle. alpha1C is associated with beta auxiliary subunits (b1-b4), which regulate cardiac Ca channel gating properties. Here we report a preliminary exploratory study suggesting a novel role of beta4 subunit in heart. We observed that overexpression of beta4 subunit increases the expression of a wide variety of endogenous genes related to antiviral activity. This includes genes in the downstream signalling of RIG-1 pathway such as RIG-1, Irf7 and Ifitm3. The increase expression of these factors may have an antiviral protective role against infection. Examination of an overall differential expression by the beta4 subunit