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El Harchi A, Brincourt O. Pharmacological activation of the hERG K + channel for the management of the long QT syndrome: A review. J Arrhythm 2022; 38:554-569. [PMID: 35936037 PMCID: PMC9347208 DOI: 10.1002/joa3.12741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In the human heart, the rapid delayed rectifier K+ current (I Kr) contributes significantly to ventricular action potential (AP) repolarization and to set the duration of the QT interval of the surface electrocardiogram (ECG). The pore-forming (α) subunit of the I Kr channel is encoded by KCNH2 or human ether-à-go-go-related gene 1 (hERG1). Impairment of hERG function through either gene mutation (congenital) or pharmacological blockade by diverse drugs in clinical use (acquired) can cause a prolongation of the AP duration (APD) reflected onto the surface ECG as a prolonged QT interval or Long QT Syndrome (LQTS). LQTS can increase the risk of triggered activity of ventricular cardiomyocytes and associated life-threatening arrhythmia. Current treatments all focus on reducing the incidence of arrhythmia or terminating it after its onset but there is to date no prophylactic treatment for the pharmacological management of LQTS. A new class of hERG modulators (agonists) have been suggested through direct interaction with the hERG channel to shorten the action potential duration (APD) and/or increase the postrepolarisation refractoriness period (PRRP) of ventricular cardiomyocytes protecting thereby against triggered activity and associated arrhythmia. Although promising drug candidates, there remain major obstacles to their clinical development. The aim of this review is to summarize the latest advances as well as the limitations of this proposed pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aziza El Harchi
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences BuildingUniversity of Bristol, University WalkBristolUK
| | - Oriane Brincourt
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Biomedical Sciences BuildingUniversity of Bristol, University WalkBristolUK
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Su S, Sun J, Wang Y, Xu Y. Cardiac hERG K + Channel as Safety and Pharmacological Target. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 267:139-166. [PMID: 33829343 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The human ether-á-go-go related gene (hERG, KCNH2) encodes the pore-forming subunit of the potassium channel responsible for a fast component of the cardiac delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr). Outward IKr is an important determinant of cardiac action potential (AP) repolarization and effectively controls the duration of the QT interval in humans. Dysfunction of hERG channel can cause severe ventricular arrhythmias and thus modulators of the channel, including hERG inhibitors and activators, continue to attract intense pharmacological interest. Certain inhibitors of hERG channel prolong the action potential duration (APD) and effective refractory period (ERP) to suppress premature ventricular contraction and are used as class III antiarrhythmic agents. However, a reduction of the hERG/IKr current has been recognized as a predominant mechanism responsible for the drug-induced delayed repolarization known as acquired long QT syndromes (LQTS), which is linked to an increased risk for "torsades de pointes" (TdP) ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Many drugs of different classes and structures have been identified to carry TdP risk. Hence, assessing hERG/IKr blockade of new drug candidates is mandatory in the drug development process according to the regulatory agencies. In contrast, several hERG channel activators have been shown to enhance IKr and shorten the APD and thus might have potential antiarrhythmic effects against pathological LQTS. However, these activators may also be proarrhythmic due to excessive shortening of APD and the ERP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Su
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei, China
| | - Jinglei Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei, China
| | - Yanfang Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hebei, China.
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O'Hare BJ, John Kim CS, Hamrick SK, Ye D, Tester DJ, Ackerman MJ. Promise and Potential Peril With Lumacaftor for the Trafficking Defective Type 2 Long-QT Syndrome-Causative Variants, p.G604S, p.N633S, and p.R685P, Using Patient-Specific Re-Engineered Cardiomyocytes. CIRCULATION-GENOMIC AND PRECISION MEDICINE 2020; 13:466-475. [PMID: 32940533 DOI: 10.1161/circgen.120.002950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The KCNH2-encoded Kv11.1 hERG (human ether-a-go-go related gene) potassium channel is a critical regulator of cardiomyocyte action potential duration (APD). The majority of type 2 long-QT syndrome (LQT2) stems from trafficking defective KCNH2 mutations. Recently, Food and Drug Administration-approved cystic fibrosis protein trafficking chaperone, lumacaftor, has been proposed as novel therapy for LQT2. Here, we test the efficacy of lumacaftor treatment in patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) derived from 2 patients with known LQT2 trafficking defective mutations and a patient with novel KCNH2 variant, p.R685P. METHODS Patient-specific iPSC-CM models of KCNH2-G604S, KCNH2-N633S, and KCNH2-R685P were generated from 3 unrelated patients diagnosed with severe LQT2 (rate-corrected QT>500 ms). Lumacaftor efficacy was also tested by ANEPPS, FluoVolt, and ArcLight voltage dye-based APD90 measurements. RESULTS All 3 mutations were hERG trafficking defective in iPSC-CMs. While lumacaftor treatment failed to rescue the hERG trafficking defect in TSA201 cells, lumacaftor rescued channel trafficking for all mutations in the iPSC-CM model. All 3 mutations conferred a prolonged APD90 compared with control. While lumacaftor treatment rescued the phenotype of KCNH2-N633S and KCNH2-R685P, lumacaftor paradoxically prolonged the APD90 in KCNH2-G604S iPSC-CMs. Lumacaftor-mediated APD90 rescue was affected by rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current blocker consistent with the increase of rapidly activating delayed rectifier K+ current by lumacaftor is the underlying mechanism of the LQT2 rescue. CONCLUSIONS While lumacaftor is an effective hERG channel trafficking chaperone and may be therapeutic for LQT2, we urge caution. Without understanding the functionality of the mutant channel to be rescued, lumacaftor therapy could be harmful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey J O'Hare
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory (B.J.O., C.S.J.K., S.K.H., D.Y., D.J.T., M.J.A.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - C S John Kim
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory (B.J.O., C.S.J.K., S.K.H., D.Y., D.J.T., M.J.A.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Samantha K Hamrick
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory (B.J.O., C.S.J.K., S.K.H., D.Y., D.J.T., M.J.A.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Dan Ye
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory (B.J.O., C.S.J.K., S.K.H., D.Y., D.J.T., M.J.A.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - David J Tester
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory (B.J.O., C.S.J.K., S.K.H., D.Y., D.J.T., M.J.A.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Michael J Ackerman
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory (B.J.O., C.S.J.K., S.K.H., D.Y., D.J.T., M.J.A.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.,Division of Heart Rhythm Services, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Windland Smith Rice Genetic Heart Rhythm Clinic (M.J.A.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.,Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine (M.J.A.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
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