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Verkerk L, Verkerk AO, Wilders R. Zebrafish as a Model System for Brugada Syndrome. Rev Cardiovasc Med 2024; 25:313. [PMID: 39355588 PMCID: PMC11440409 DOI: 10.31083/j.rcm2509313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inheritable cardiac arrhythmogenic disease, associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. It is most common in males around the age of 40 and the prevalence is higher in Asia than in Europe and the United States. The pathophysiology underlying BrS is not completely understood, but several hypotheses have been proposed. So far, the best effective treatment is the implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), but device-related complications are not uncommon. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve diagnosis and risk stratification and to find new treatment options. To this end, research should further elucidate the genetic basis and pathophysiological mechanisms of BrS. Several experimental models are being used to gain insight into these aspects. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a widely used animal model for the study of cardiac arrhythmias, as its cardiac electrophysiology shows interesting similarities to humans. However, zebrafish have only been used in a limited number of studies on BrS, and the potential role of zebrafish in studying the mechanisms of BrS has not been reviewed. Therefore, the present review aims to evaluate zebrafish as an animal model for BrS. We conclude that zebrafish can be considered as a valuable experimental model for BrS research, not only for gene editing technologies, but also for screening potential BrS drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Verkerk
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arie O Verkerk
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Heart Center, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald Wilders
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Genge CE, Muralidharan P, Kemp J, Hull CM, Yip M, Simpson K, Hunter DV, Claydon TW. Zebrafish cardiac repolarization does not functionally depend on the expression of the hERG1b-like transcript. Pflugers Arch 2024; 476:87-99. [PMID: 37934265 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02875-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish provide a translational model of human cardiac function. Their similar cardiac electrophysiology enables screening of human cardiac repolarization disorders, drug arrhythmogenicity, and novel antiarrhythmic therapeutics. However, while zebrafish cardiac repolarization is driven by delayed rectifier potassium channel current (IKr), the relative role of alternate channel transcripts is uncertain. While human ether-a-go-go-related-gene-1a (hERG1a) is the dominant transcript in humans, expression of the functionally distinct alternate transcript, hERG1b, modifies the electrophysiological and pharmacologic IKr phenotype. Studies of zebrafish IKr are frequently translated without consideration for the presence and impact of hERG1b in humans. Here, we performed phylogenetic analyses of all available KCNH genes from Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes). Our findings confirmed zebrafish cardiac zkcnh6a as the paralog of human hERG1a (hKCNH2a), but also revealed evidence of a hERG1b (hKCNH2b)-like N-terminally truncated gene, zkcnh6b, in zebrafish. zkcnh6b is a teleost-specific variant that resulted from the 3R genome duplication. qRT-PCR showed dominant expression of zkcnh6a in zebrafish atrial and ventricular tissue, with low levels of zkcnh6b. Functional evaluation of zkcnh6b in a heterologous system showed no discernable function under the conditions tested, and no influence on zkcnh6a function during the zebrafish ventricular action potential. Our findings provide the first descriptions of the zkcnh6b gene, and show that, unlike in humans, zebrafish cardiac repolarization does not rely upon co-assembly of zERG1a/zERG1b. Given that hERG1b modifies IKr function and drug binding in humans, our findings highlight the need for consideration when translating hERG variant effects and toxicological screens in zebrafish, which lack a functional hERG1b-equivalent gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Genge
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, B.C, Canada
| | - Padmapriya Muralidharan
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, B.C, Canada
| | - Jake Kemp
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, B.C, Canada
| | - Christina M Hull
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, B.C, Canada
| | - Mandy Yip
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, B.C, Canada
| | - Kyle Simpson
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, B.C, Canada
| | - Diana V Hunter
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, B.C, Canada
| | - Thomas W Claydon
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, V5A 1S6, Burnaby, B.C, Canada.
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Lee H, Liu Z, Dong L, Cheong SH, Lee DS. Lycopus maackianus Makino MeOH Extract Exhibits Antioxidant and Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects in Neuronal Cells and Zebrafish Model. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11040690. [PMID: 35453375 PMCID: PMC9025111 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11040690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lycopus maackianus Makino belongs to the Labiatae family and is used in traditional medicine to manage postpartum edema and boils. However, few studies on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects have been conducted. Here, the compounds in L. maackianus methanol (MeOH) extract were profiled using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–time-of-flight high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis. The antioxidant activity of L. maackianus MeOH extract was shown to increase in a concentration-dependent manner by investigating the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity. Next, in lipopolysaccharide-treated BV2 cells, L. maackianus extract inactivated the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway, inhibiting nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α production and inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression. Furthermore, L. maackianus extract protected against oxidative stress-induced cellular damage in glutamate-stimulated HT22 cells. L. maackianus MeOH extract induced heme oxygenase-1 expression and increased the translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 in the nucleus, thus exhibiting antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, the in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the extract were demonstrated in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model treated with hydrogen peroxide and lipopolysaccharide. MeOH L. maackianus extract showed antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory effects by increasing the expression of heme oxygenase-1, establishing its therapeutic potential for neuroinflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwan Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea; (H.L.); (Z.L.); (L.D.)
| | - Zhiming Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea; (H.L.); (Z.L.); (L.D.)
| | - Linsha Dong
- College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea; (H.L.); (Z.L.); (L.D.)
| | - Sun Hee Cheong
- Department of Marine Bio-Food Sciences, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Korea;
| | - Dong-Sung Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Dong-gu, Gwangju 61452, Korea; (H.L.); (Z.L.); (L.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-63-230-6386
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Gauvrit S, Bossaer J, Lee J, Collins MM. Modeling Human Cardiac Arrhythmias: Insights from Zebrafish. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2022; 9:jcdd9010013. [PMID: 35050223 PMCID: PMC8779270 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd9010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 12/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm, is associated with morbidity and mortality and is described as one of the most important future public health challenges. Therefore, developing new models of cardiac arrhythmia is critical for understanding disease mechanisms, determining genetic underpinnings, and developing new therapeutic strategies. In the last few decades, the zebrafish has emerged as an attractive model to reproduce in vivo human cardiac pathologies, including arrhythmias. Here, we highlight the contribution of zebrafish to the field and discuss the available cardiac arrhythmia models. Further, we outline techniques to assess potential heart rhythm defects in larval and adult zebrafish. As genetic tools in zebrafish continue to bloom, this model will be crucial for functional genomics studies and to develop personalized anti-arrhythmic therapies.
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Boonruangkan J, Farrokhi H, Rohith TM, Kwok S, Carney TJ, Su PC, Kim YJ. Label-free quantitative measurement of cardiovascular dynamics in a zebrafish embryo using frequency-comb-referenced-quantitative phase imaging. JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL OPTICS 2021; 26:JBO-210182RR. [PMID: 34773396 PMCID: PMC8589177 DOI: 10.1117/1.jbo.26.11.116004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Real-time monitoring of the heart rate and blood flow is crucial for studying cardiovascular dysfunction, which leads to cardiovascular diseases. AIM This study aims at in-depth understanding of high-speed cardiovascular dynamics in a zebrafish embryo model for various biomedical applications via frequency-comb-referenced quantitative phase imaging (FCR-QPI). APPROACH Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) has emerged as a powerful technique in the field of biomedicine but has not been actively applied to the monitoring of circulatory/cardiovascular parameters, due to dynamic speckles and low frame rates. We demonstrate FCR-QPI to measure heart rate and blood flow in a zebrafish embryo. FCR-QPI utilizes a high-speed photodetector instead of a conventional camera, so it enables real-time monitoring of individual red blood cell (RBC) flow. RESULTS The average velocity of zebrafish's RBCs was measured from 192.5 to 608.8 μm / s at 24 to 28 hour-post-fertilization (hpf). In addition, the number of RBCs in a pulsatile blood flow was revealed to 16 cells/pulse at 48 hpf. The heart rates corresponded to 94 and 142 beats-per-minute at 24 and 48 hpf. CONCLUSIONS This approach will newly enable in-depth understanding of the cardiovascular dynamics in the zebrafish model and possible usage for drug discovery applications in biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeeranan Boonruangkan
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Singapore
| | - Hamid Farrokhi
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Singapore
| | - Thazhe M. Rohith
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Singapore
| | - Samuel Kwok
- Nanyang Technological University, Lee Kong Chian, School of Medicine, Singapore
| | - Tom J. Carney
- Nanyang Technological University, Lee Kong Chian, School of Medicine, Singapore
| | - Pei-Chen Su
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Singapore
| | - Young-Jin Kim
- Nanyang Technological University, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Singapore
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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Minhas R, Loeffler-Wirth H, Siddiqui YH, Obrębski T, Vashisht S, Abu Nahia K, Paterek A, Brzozowska A, Bugajski L, Piwocka K, Korzh V, Binder H, Winata CL. Transcriptome profile of the sinoatrial ring reveals conserved and novel genetic programs of the zebrafish pacemaker. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:715. [PMID: 34600492 PMCID: PMC8487553 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08016-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sinoatrial Node (SAN) is part of the cardiac conduction system, which controls the rhythmic contraction of the vertebrate heart. The SAN consists of a specialized pacemaker cell population that has the potential to generate electrical impulses. Although the SAN pacemaker has been extensively studied in mammalian and teleost models, including the zebrafish, their molecular nature remains inadequately comprehended. RESULTS To characterize the molecular profile of the zebrafish sinoatrial ring (SAR) and elucidate the mechanism of pacemaker function, we utilized the transgenic line sqet33mi59BEt to isolate cells of the SAR of developing zebrafish embryos and profiled their transcriptome. Our analyses identified novel candidate genes and well-known conserved signaling pathways involved in pacemaker development. We show that, compared to the rest of the heart, the zebrafish SAR overexpresses several mammalian SAN pacemaker signature genes, which include hcn4 as well as those encoding calcium- and potassium-gated channels. Moreover, genes encoding components of the BMP and Wnt signaling pathways, as well as members of the Tbx family, which have previously been implicated in pacemaker development, were also overexpressed in the SAR. Among SAR-overexpressed genes, 24 had human homologues implicated in 104 different ClinVar phenotype entries related to various forms of congenital heart diseases, which suggest the relevance of our transcriptomics resource to studying human heart conditions. Finally, functional analyses of three SAR-overexpressed genes, pard6a, prom2, and atp1a1a.2, uncovered their novel role in heart development and physiology. CONCLUSION Our results established conserved aspects between zebrafish and mammalian pacemaker function and revealed novel factors implicated in maintaining cardiac rhythm. The transcriptome data generated in this study represents a unique and valuable resource for the study of pacemaker function and associated heart diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashid Minhas
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- Randall Centre of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Henry Loeffler-Wirth
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Yusra H Siddiqui
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- School of Human Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, University of Derby, Derby, UK
| | - Tomasz Obrębski
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Shikha Vashisht
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karim Abu Nahia
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alexandra Paterek
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Angelika Brzozowska
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lukasz Bugajski
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Laboratory of Cytometry, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Piwocka
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Laboratory of Cytometry, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Vladimir Korzh
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hans Binder
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Bioinformatics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Cecilia Lanny Winata
- International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
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Zebrafish, an In Vivo Platform to Screen Drugs and Proteins for Biomedical Use. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14060500. [PMID: 34073947 PMCID: PMC8225009 DOI: 10.3390/ph14060500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The nearly simultaneous convergence of human genetics and advanced molecular technologies has led to an improved understanding of human diseases. At the same time, the demand for drug screening and gene function identification has also increased, albeit time- and labor-intensive. However, bridging the gap between in vitro evidence from cell lines and in vivo evidence, the lower vertebrate zebrafish possesses many advantages over higher vertebrates, such as low maintenance, high fecundity, light-induced spawning, transparent embryos, short generation interval, rapid embryonic development, fully sequenced genome, and some phenotypes similar to human diseases. Such merits have popularized the zebrafish as a model system for biomedical and pharmaceutical studies, including drug screening. Here, we reviewed the various ways in which zebrafish serve as an in vivo platform to perform drug and protein screening in the fields of rare human diseases, social behavior and cancer studies. Since zebrafish mutations faithfully phenocopy many human disorders, many compounds identified from zebrafish screening systems have advanced to early clinical trials, such as those for Adenoid cystic carcinoma, Dravet syndrome and Diamond-Blackfan anemia. We also reviewed and described how zebrafish are used to carry out environmental pollutant detection and assessment of nanoparticle biosafety and QT prolongation.
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Santiago CF, Huttner IG, Fatkin D. Mechanisms of TTNtv-Related Dilated Cardiomyopathy: Insights from Zebrafish Models. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8020010. [PMID: 33504111 PMCID: PMC7912658 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8020010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common heart muscle disorder characterized by ventricular dilation and contractile dysfunction that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. New insights into disease mechanisms and strategies for treatment and prevention are urgently needed. Truncating variants in the TTN gene, which encodes the giant sarcomeric protein titin (TTNtv), are the most common genetic cause of DCM, but exactly how TTNtv promote cardiomyocyte dysfunction is not known. Although rodent models have been widely used to investigate titin biology, they have had limited utility for TTNtv-related DCM. In recent years, zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as a powerful alternative model system for studying titin function in the healthy and diseased heart. Optically transparent embryonic zebrafish models have demonstrated key roles of titin in sarcomere assembly and cardiac development. The increasing availability of sophisticated imaging tools for assessment of heart function in adult zebrafish has revolutionized the field and opened new opportunities for modelling human genetic disorders. Genetically modified zebrafish that carry a human A-band TTNtv have now been generated and shown to spontaneously develop DCM with age. This zebrafish model will be a valuable resource for elucidating the phenotype modifying effects of genetic and environmental factors, and for exploring new drug therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine F. Santiago
- Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; (C.F.S.); (I.G.H.)
- St. Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Inken G. Huttner
- Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; (C.F.S.); (I.G.H.)
- St. Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Diane Fatkin
- Molecular Cardiology and Biophysics Division, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia; (C.F.S.); (I.G.H.)
- St. Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Cardiology Department, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- Correspondence:
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Simpson KE, Venkateshappa R, Pang ZK, Faizi S, Tibbits GF, Claydon TW. Utility of Zebrafish Models of Acquired and Inherited Long QT Syndrome. Front Physiol 2021; 11:624129. [PMID: 33519527 PMCID: PMC7844309 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.624129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Long-QT Syndrome (LQTS) is a cardiac electrical disorder, distinguished by irregular heart rates and sudden death. Accounting for ∼40% of cases, LQTS Type 2 (LQTS2), is caused by defects in the Kv11.1 (hERG) potassium channel that is critical for cardiac repolarization. Drug block of hERG channels or dysfunctional channel variants can result in acquired or inherited LQTS2, respectively, which are typified by delayed repolarization and predisposition to lethal arrhythmia. As such, there is significant interest in clear identification of drugs and channel variants that produce clinically meaningful perturbation of hERG channel function. While toxicological screening of hERG channels, and phenotypic assessment of inherited channel variants in heterologous systems is now commonplace, affordable, efficient, and insightful whole organ models for acquired and inherited LQTS2 are lacking. Recent work has shown that zebrafish provide a viable in vivo or whole organ model of cardiac electrophysiology. Characterization of cardiac ion currents and toxicological screening work in intact embryos, as well as adult whole hearts, has demonstrated the utility of the zebrafish model to contribute to the development of therapeutics that lack hERG-blocking off-target effects. Moreover, forward and reverse genetic approaches show zebrafish as a tractable model in which LQTS2 can be studied. With the development of new tools and technologies, zebrafish lines carrying precise channel variants associated with LQTS2 have recently begun to be generated and explored. In this review, we discuss the present knowledge and questions raised related to the use of zebrafish as models of acquired and inherited LQTS2. We focus discussion, in particular, on developments in precise gene-editing approaches in zebrafish to create whole heart inherited LQTS2 models and evidence that zebrafish hearts can be used to study arrhythmogenicity and to identify potential anti-arrhythmic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle E. Simpson
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Ravichandra Venkateshappa
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Zhao Kai Pang
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Shoaib Faizi
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Glen F. Tibbits
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Department of Cardiovascular Science, British Columbia Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tom W. Claydon
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
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Winbo A, Ramanan S, Eugster E, Jovinge S, Skinner JR, Montgomery JM. Functional coculture of sympathetic neurons and cardiomyocytes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2020; 319:H927-H937. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00546.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We present data on a functional coculture between human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived sympathetic neurons and cardiomyocytes. Moreover, this study adds significantly to the available data on the electrophysiological function of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived sympathetic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Winbo
- Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Mānawa Centre for Heart Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Services, Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Suganeya Ramanan
- Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Mānawa Centre for Heart Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Emily Eugster
- DeVos Cardiovascular Research Program, Spectrum Health and Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Stefan Jovinge
- DeVos Cardiovascular Research Program, Spectrum Health and Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
| | - Jonathan R. Skinner
- Manaaki Mānawa Centre for Heart Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Department of Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Services, Starship Children’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Johanna M. Montgomery
- Department of Physiology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Manaaki Mānawa Centre for Heart Research, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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11
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Santoso F, Farhan A, Castillo AL, Malhotra N, Saputra F, Kurnia KA, Chen KHC, Huang JC, Chen JR, Hsiao CD. An Overview of Methods for Cardiac Rhythm Detection in Zebrafish. Biomedicines 2020; 8:E329. [PMID: 32899676 PMCID: PMC7554775 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8090329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The heart is the most important muscular organ of the cardiovascular system, which pumps blood and circulates, supplying oxygen and nutrients to peripheral tissues. Zebrafish have been widely explored in cardiotoxicity research. For example, the zebrafish embryo has been used as a human heart model due to its body transparency, surviving several days without circulation, and facilitating mutant identification to recapitulate human diseases. On the other hand, adult zebrafish can exhibit the amazing regenerative heart muscle capacity, while adult mammalian hearts lack this potential. This review paper offers a brief description of the major methodologies used to detect zebrafish cardiac rhythm at both embryonic and adult stages. The dynamic pixel change method was mostly performed for the embryonic stage. Other techniques, such as kymography, laser confocal microscopy, artificial intelligence, and electrocardiography (ECG) have also been applied to study heartbeat in zebrafish embryos. Nevertheless, ECG is widely used for heartbeat detection in adult zebrafish since ECG waveforms' similarity between zebrafish and humans is prominent. High-frequency ultrasound imaging (echocardiography) and modern electronic sensor tag also have been proposed. Despite the fact that each method has its benefits and limitations, it is proved that zebrafish have become a promising animal model for human cardiovascular disease, drug pharmaceutical, and toxicological research. Using those tools, we conclude that zebrafish behaviors as an excellent small animal model to perform real-time monitoring for the developmental heart process with transparent body appearance, to conduct the in vivo cardiovascular performance and gene function assays, as well as to perform high-throughput/high content drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorency Santoso
- Master Program in Nanotechnology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan;
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (F.S.); (K.A.K.)
| | - Ali Farhan
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University Faisalabad, Punjab 38000, Pakistan;
| | - Agnes L. Castillo
- Faculty of Pharmacy, The Graduate School and Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, Manila 1008, Philippines;
| | - Nemi Malhotra
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan;
| | - Ferry Saputra
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (F.S.); (K.A.K.)
| | - Kevin Adi Kurnia
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (F.S.); (K.A.K.)
| | - Kelvin H.-C. Chen
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan;
| | - Jong-Chin Huang
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan;
| | - Jung-Ren Chen
- Department of Biological Science & Technology College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Der Hsiao
- Master Program in Nanotechnology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan;
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan; (F.S.); (K.A.K.)
- Center of Nanotechnology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung-Li 320314, Taiwan
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12
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Zhao Y, James NA, Beshay AR, Chang EE, Lin A, Bashar F, Wassily A, Nguyen B, Nguyen TP. Adult zebrafish ventricular electrical gradients as tissue mechanisms of ECG patterns under baseline vs. oxidative stress. Cardiovasc Res 2020; 117:1891-1907. [PMID: 32735330 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS In mammalian ventricles, electrical gradients establish electrical heterogeneities as essential tissue mechanisms to optimize mechanical efficiency and safeguard electrical stability. Electrical gradients shape mammalian electrocardiographic patterns; disturbance of electrical gradients is proarrhythmic. The zebrafish heart is a popular surrogate model for human cardiac electrophysiology thanks to its remarkable recapitulation of human electrocardiogram and ventricular action potential features. Yet, zebrafish ventricular electrical gradients are largely unexplored. The goal of this study is to define the zebrafish ventricular electrical gradients that shape the QRS complex and T wave patterns at baseline and under oxidative stress. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed in vivo electrocardiography and ex vivo voltage-sensitive fluorescent epicardial and transmural optical mapping of adult zebrafish hearts at baseline and during acute H2O2 exposure. At baseline, apicobasal activation and basoapical repolarization gradients accounted for the polarity concordance between the QRS complex and T wave. During H2O2 exposure, differential regional impairment of activation and repolarization at the apex and base disrupted prior to baseline electrical gradients, resulting in either reversal or loss of polarity concordance between the QRS complex and T wave. KN-93, a specific calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor (CaMKII), protected zebrafish hearts from H2O2 disruption of electrical gradients. The protection was complete if administered prior to oxidative stress exposure. CONCLUSIONS Despite remarkable apparent similarities, zebrafish and human ventricular electrocardiographic patterns are mirror images supported by opposite electrical gradients. Like mammalian ventricles, zebrafish ventricles are also susceptible to H2O2 proarrhythmic perturbation via CaMKII activation. Our findings suggest that the adult zebrafish heart may constitute a clinically relevant model to investigate ventricular arrhythmias induced by oxidative stress. However, the fundamental ventricular activation and repolarization differences between the two species that we demonstrated in this study highlight the potential limitations when extrapolating results from zebrafish experiments to human cardiac electrophysiology, arrhythmias, and drug toxicities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Thao P Nguyen
- The Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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13
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Shi YP, Pang Z, Venkateshappa R, Gunawan M, Kemp J, Truong E, Chang C, Lin E, Shafaattalab S, Faizi S, Rayani K, Tibbits GF, Claydon VE, Claydon TW. The hERG channel activator, RPR260243, enhances protective IKr current early in the refractory period reducing arrhythmogenicity in zebrafish hearts. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2020; 319:H251-H261. [PMID: 32559136 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00038.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Human ether-à-go-go related gene (hERG) K+ channels are important in cardiac repolarization, and their dysfunction causes prolongation of the ventricular action potential, long QT syndrome, and arrhythmia. As such, approaches to augment hERG channel function, such as activator compounds, have been of significant interest due to their marked therapeutic potential. Activator compounds that hinder channel inactivation abbreviate action potential duration (APD) but carry risk of overcorrection leading to short QT syndrome. Enhanced risk by overcorrection of the APD may be tempered by activator-induced increased refractoriness; however, investigation of the cumulative effect of hERG activator compounds on the balance of these effects in whole organ systems is lacking. Here, we have investigated the antiarrhythmic capability of a hERG activator, RPR260243, which primarily augments channel function by slowing deactivation kinetics in ex vivo zebrafish whole hearts. We show that RPR260243 abbreviates the ventricular APD, reduces triangulation, and steepens the slope of the electrical restitution curve. In addition, RPR260243 increases the post-repolarization refractory period. We provide evidence that this latter effect arises from RPR260243-induced enhancement of hERG channel-protective currents flowing early in the refractory period. Finally, the cumulative effect of RPR260243 on arrhythmogenicity in whole organ zebrafish hearts is demonstrated by the restoration of normal rhythm in hearts presenting dofetilide-induced arrhythmia. These findings in a whole organ model demonstrate the antiarrhythmic benefit of hERG activator compounds that modify both APD and refractoriness. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that targeted slowing of hERG channel deactivation and enhancement of protective currents may provide an effective antiarrhythmic approach.NEW & NOTEWORTHY hERG channel dysfunction causes long QT syndrome and arrhythmia. Activator compounds have been of significant interest due to their therapeutic potential. We used the whole organ zebrafish heart model to demonstrate the antiarrhythmic benefit of the hERG activator, RPR260243. The activator abbreviated APD and increased refractoriness, the combined effect of which rescued induced ventricular arrhythmia. Our findings show that the targeted slowing of hERG channel deactivation and enhancement of protective currents caused by the RPR260243 activator may provide an effective antiarrhythmic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Patrick Shi
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - ZhaoKai Pang
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ravichandra Venkateshappa
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marvin Gunawan
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jacob Kemp
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Elson Truong
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Cherlene Chang
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Eric Lin
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sanam Shafaattalab
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shoaib Faizi
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kaveh Rayani
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Glen F Tibbits
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Victoria E Claydon
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Thomas W Claydon
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
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14
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Yan J, Li H, Bu H, Jiao K, Zhang AX, Le T, Cao H, Li Y, Ding Y, Xu X. Aging-associated sinus arrest and sick sinus syndrome in adult zebrafish. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232457. [PMID: 32401822 PMCID: PMC7219707 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of its powerful genetics, the adult zebrafish has been increasingly used for studying cardiovascular diseases. Considering its heart rate of ~100 beats per minute at ambient temperature, which is very close to human, we assessed the use of this vertebrate animal for modeling heart rhythm disorders such as sinus arrest (SA) and sick sinus syndrome (SSS). We firstly optimized a protocol to measure electrocardiogram in adult zebrafish. We determined the location of the probes, implemented an open-chest microsurgery procedure, measured the effects of temperature, and determined appropriate anesthesia dose and time. We then proposed an PP interval of more than 1.5 seconds as an arbitrary criterion to define an SA episode in an adult fish at ambient temperature, based on comparison between the current definition of an SA episode in humans and our studies of candidate SA episodes in aged wild-type fish and Tg(SCN5A-D1275N) fish (a fish model for inherited SSS). With this criterion, a subpopulation of about 5% wild-type fish can be considered to have SA episodes, and this percentage significantly increases to about 25% in 3-year-old fish. In response to atropine, this subpopulation has both common SSS phenotypic traits that are shared with the Tg(SCN5A-D1275N) model, such as bradycardia; and unique SSS phenotypic traits, such as increased QRS/P ratio and chronotropic incompetence. In summary, this study defined baseline SA and SSS in adult zebrafish and underscored use of the zebrafish as an alternative model to study aging-associated SSS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Yan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Division of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiaotong University School Of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongsong Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Haisong Bu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Kunli Jiao
- Division of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiaotong University School Of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Alex X. Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Tai Le
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, UC Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Hung Cao
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, UC Irvine, Irvine, California
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, UC Irvine, Irvine, California
| | - Yigang Li
- Division of Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiaotong University School Of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yonghe Ding
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Xiaolei Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
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15
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Hull CM, Genge CE, Hobbs Y, Rayani K, Lin E, Gunawan M, Shafaattalab S, Tibbits GF, Claydon TW. Investigating the utility of adult zebrafish ex vivo whole hearts to pharmacologically screen hERG channel activator compounds. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2019; 317:R921-R931. [PMID: 31664867 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00190.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
There is significant interest in the potential utility of small-molecule activator compounds to mitigate cardiac arrhythmia caused by loss of function of hERG1a voltage-gated potassium channels. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have been proposed as a cost-effective, high-throughput drug-screening model to identify compounds that cause hERG1a dysfunction. However, there are no reports on the effects of hERG1a activator compounds in zebrafish and consequently on the utility of the model to screen for potential gain-of-function therapeutics. Here, we examined the effects of hERG1a blocker and types 1 and 2 activator compounds on isolated zkcnh6a (zERG3) channels in the Xenopus oocyte expression system as well as action potentials recorded from ex vivo adult zebrafish whole hearts using optical mapping. Our functional data from isolated zkcnh6a channels show that under the conditions tested, these channels are blocked by hERG1a channel blockers (dofetilide and terfenadine), and activated by type 1 (RPR260243) and type 2 (NS1643, PD-118057) hERG1a activators with higher affinity than hKCNH2a channels (except NS1643), with differences accounted for by different biophysical properties in the two channels. In ex vivo zebrafish whole hearts, two of the three hERG1a activators examined caused abbreviation of the action potential duration (APD), whereas hERG1a blockers caused APD prolongation. These data represent, to our knowledge, the first pharmacological characterization of isolated zkcnh6a channels and the first assessment of hERG enhancing therapeutics in zebrafish. Our findings lead us to suggest that the zebrafish ex vivo whole heart model serves as a valuable tool in the screening of hKCNH2a blocker and activator compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M Hull
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christine E Genge
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yuki Hobbs
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kaveh Rayani
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Eric Lin
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marvin Gunawan
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sanam Shafaattalab
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Glen F Tibbits
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Tom W Claydon
- Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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16
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Giardoglou P, Beis D. On Zebrafish Disease Models and Matters of the Heart. Biomedicines 2019; 7:E15. [PMID: 30823496 PMCID: PMC6466020 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines7010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 02/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading form of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the primary cause of mortality worldwide. It is a complex disease with genetic and environmental risk factor contributions. Reports in human and mammalian models elucidate age-associated changes in cardiac function. The diverse mechanisms involved in cardiac diseases remain at the center of the research interest to identify novel strategies for prevention and therapy. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have emerged as a valuable vertebrate model to study cardiovascular development over the last few decades. The facile genetic manipulation via forward and reverse genetic approaches combined with noninvasive, high-resolution imaging and phenotype-based screening has provided new insights to molecular pathways that orchestrate cardiac development. Zebrafish can recapitulate human cardiac pathophysiology due to gene and regulatory pathways conservation, similar heart rate and cardiac morphology and function. Thus, generations of zebrafish models utilize the functional analysis of genes involved in CAD, which are derived from large-scale human population analysis. Here, we highlight recent studies conducted on cardiovascular research focusing on the benefits of the combination of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with functional genomic analysis in zebrafish. We further summarize the knowledge obtained from zebrafish studies that have demonstrated the architecture of the fundamental mechanisms underlying heart development, homeostasis and regeneration at the cellular and molecular levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiota Giardoglou
- Zebrafish Disease Models Lab, Center for Clinical Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
- School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, 17676 Athens, Greece.
| | - Dimitris Beis
- Zebrafish Disease Models Lab, Center for Clinical Experimental Surgery and Translational Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.
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17
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Younes N, Pintus G, Al-Asmakh M, Rasool K, Younes S, Calzolari S, Mahmoud KA, Nasrallah GK. “Safe” Chitosan/Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite Has Minimal Organ-Specific Toxicity in Early Stages of Zebrafish Development. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2019; 6:38-47. [DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b01144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kashif Rasool
- Qatar Environment
and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Simone Calzolari
- ZeClinics SL, PRBB (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Khaled A. Mahmoud
- Qatar Environment
and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, P.O. Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Physics & Mathematical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Port Said University, 42523 Port Said, Egypt
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18
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Lin MH, Chou HC, Chen YF, Liu W, Lee CC, Liu LYM, Chuang YJ. Development of a rapid and economic in vivo electrocardiogram platform for cardiovascular drug assay and electrophysiology research in adult zebrafish. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15986. [PMID: 30375400 PMCID: PMC6207748 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Zebrafish is a popular and favorable model organism for cardiovascular research, with an increasing number of studies implementing functional assays in the adult stage. For example, the application of electrocardiography (ECG) in adult zebrafish has emerged as an important tool for cardiac pathophysiology, toxicity, and chemical screen studies. However, few laboratories are able to perform such functional analyses due to the high cost and limited availability of a convenient in vivo ECG recording system. In this study, an inexpensive ECG recording platform and operation protocol that has been optimized for adult zebrafish ECG research was developed. The core hardware includes integration of a ready-to-use portable ECG kit with a set of custom-made needle electrode probes. A combined anesthetic formula of MS-222 and isoflurane was first tested to determine the optimal assay conditions to minimize the interference to zebrafish cardiac physiology under sedation. For demonstration, we treated wild-type zebrafish with different pharmacological agents known to affect cardiac rhythms in humans. Conserved electrophysiological responses to these drugs were induced in adult zebrafish and recorded in real time. This economic ECG platform has the potential to facilitate teaching and training in cardiac electrophysiology with adult zebrafish and to promote future translational applications in cardiovascular medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Hsuan Lin
- Department of Medical Science & Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Huang-Cheng Chou
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Fu Chen
- Department of Medical Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Wangta Liu
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 80708, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chun Lee
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Lawrence Yu-Min Liu
- Department of Medical Science & Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan. .,Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hsinchu Mackay Memorial Hospital, Hsinchu, 30071, Taiwan.
| | - Yung-Jen Chuang
- Department of Medical Science & Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan.
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19
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Bernardo BC, Ooi JYY, Weeks KL, Patterson NL, McMullen JR. Understanding Key Mechanisms of Exercise-Induced Cardiac Protection to Mitigate Disease: Current Knowledge and Emerging Concepts. Physiol Rev 2018; 98:419-475. [PMID: 29351515 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00043.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The benefits of exercise on the heart are well recognized, and clinical studies have demonstrated that exercise is an intervention that can improve cardiac function in heart failure patients. This has led to significant research into understanding the key mechanisms responsible for exercise-induced cardiac protection. Here, we summarize molecular mechanisms that regulate exercise-induced cardiac myocyte growth and proliferation. We discuss in detail the effects of exercise on other cardiac cells, organelles, and systems that have received less or little attention and require further investigation. This includes cardiac excitation and contraction, mitochondrial adaptations, cellular stress responses to promote survival (heat shock response, ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy-lysosomal system, endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response, DNA damage response), extracellular matrix, inflammatory response, and organ-to-organ crosstalk. We summarize therapeutic strategies targeting known regulators of exercise-induced protection and the challenges translating findings from bench to bedside. We conclude that technological advancements that allow for in-depth profiling of the genome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome, combined with animal and human studies, provide new opportunities for comprehensively defining the signaling and regulatory aspects of cell/organelle functions that underpin the protective properties of exercise. This is likely to lead to the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for heart disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca C Bernardo
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute , Melbourne , Australia ; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia ; Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University , Victoria , Australia ; Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University , Victoria , Australia ; and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences , Victoria , Australia
| | - Jenny Y Y Ooi
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute , Melbourne , Australia ; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia ; Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University , Victoria , Australia ; Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University , Victoria , Australia ; and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences , Victoria , Australia
| | - Kate L Weeks
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute , Melbourne , Australia ; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia ; Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University , Victoria , Australia ; Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University , Victoria , Australia ; and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences , Victoria , Australia
| | - Natalie L Patterson
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute , Melbourne , Australia ; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia ; Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University , Victoria , Australia ; Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University , Victoria , Australia ; and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences , Victoria , Australia
| | - Julie R McMullen
- Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute , Melbourne , Australia ; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne , Victoria , Australia ; Department of Diabetes, Central Clinical School, Monash University , Victoria , Australia ; Department of Medicine, Central Clinical School, Monash University , Victoria , Australia ; and Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences , Victoria , Australia
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20
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van Opbergen CJ, van der Voorn SM, Vos MA, de Boer TP, van Veen TA. Cardiac Ca2+ signalling in zebrafish: Translation of findings to man. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2018; 138:45-58. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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21
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Cornet C, Calzolari S, Miñana-Prieto R, Dyballa S, van Doornmalen E, Rutjes H, Savy T, D'Amico D, Terriente J. ZeGlobalTox: An Innovative Approach to Address Organ Drug Toxicity Using Zebrafish. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:E864. [PMID: 28422076 PMCID: PMC5412445 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18040864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2017] [Revised: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/14/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxicity is one of the major attrition causes during the drug development process. In that line, cardio-, neuro-, and hepatotoxicities are among the main reasons behind the retirement of drugs in clinical phases and post market withdrawal. Zebrafish exploitation in high-throughput drug screening is becoming an important tool to assess the toxicity and efficacy of novel drugs. This animal model has, from early developmental stages, fully functional organs from a physiological point of view. Thus, drug-induced organ-toxicity can be detected in larval stages, allowing a high predictive power on possible human drug-induced liabilities. Hence, zebrafish can bridge the gap between preclinical in vitro safety assays and rodent models in a fast and cost-effective manner. ZeGlobalTox is an innovative assay that sequentially integrates in vivo cardio-, neuro-, and hepatotoxicity assessment in the same animal, thus impacting strongly in the 3Rs principles. It Reduces, by up to a third, the number of animals required to assess toxicity in those organs. It Refines the drug toxicity evaluation through novel physiological parameters. Finally, it might allow the Replacement of classical species, such as rodents and larger mammals, thanks to its high predictivity (Specificity: 89%, Sensitivity: 68% and Accuracy: 78%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carles Cornet
- ZeClinics SL, PRBB (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Simone Calzolari
- ZeClinics SL, PRBB (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Rafael Miñana-Prieto
- ZeClinics SL, PRBB (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Sylvia Dyballa
- ZeClinics SL, PRBB (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Els van Doornmalen
- Pivot Park Screening Centre (PPSC), Kloosterstraat 9, 5349AB OSS, The Netherland.
| | - Helma Rutjes
- Pivot Park Screening Centre (PPSC), Kloosterstraat 9, 5349AB OSS, The Netherland.
| | - Thierry Savy
- Multilevel Dynamics in Morphogenesis Unit, USR3695 CNRS, 91190 Gif sur Yvette, France.
| | - Davide D'Amico
- ZeClinics SL, PRBB (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Javier Terriente
- ZeClinics SL, PRBB (Barcelona Biomedical Research Park), 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
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22
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Benz A, Kossack M, Auth D, Seyler C, Zitron E, Juergensen L, Katus HA, Hassel D. miR-19b Regulates Ventricular Action Potential Duration in Zebrafish. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36033. [PMID: 27805004 PMCID: PMC5090966 DOI: 10.1038/srep36033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Sudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmias often caused by action potential duration (APD) prolongation is a common mode of death in heart failure (HF). microRNAs, noncoding RNAs that fine tune gene expression, are frequently dysregulated during HF, suggesting a potential involvement in the electrical remodeling process accompanying HF progression. Here, we identified miR-19b as an important regulator of heart function. Zebrafish lacking miR-19b developed severe bradycardia and reduced cardiac contractility. miR-19b deficient fish displayed increased sensitivity to AV-block, a characteristic feature of long QT syndrome in zebrafish. Patch clamp experiments from whole hearts showed that miR-19b deficient zebrafish exhibit significantly prolonged ventricular APD caused by impaired repolarization. We found that miR-19b directly and indirectly regulates the expression of crucial modulatory subunits of cardiac ion channels, and thereby modulates AP duration and shape. Interestingly, miR-19b knockdown mediated APD prolongation can rescue a genetically induced short QT phenotype. Thus, miR-19b might represent a crucial modifier of the cardiac electrical activity, and our work establishes miR-19b as a potential candidate for human long QT syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Benz
- Department of Medicine III, Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mandy Kossack
- Department of Medicine III, Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dominik Auth
- Department of Medicine III, Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Claudia Seyler
- Department of Medicine III, Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edgar Zitron
- Department of Medicine III, Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lonny Juergensen
- Department of Medicine III, Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hugo A Katus
- Department of Medicine III, Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Hassel
- Department of Medicine III, Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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23
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Adams DS, Uzel SGM, Akagi J, Wlodkowic D, Andreeva V, Yelick PC, Devitt-Lee A, Pare JF, Levin M. Bioelectric signalling via potassium channels: a mechanism for craniofacial dysmorphogenesis in KCNJ2-associated Andersen-Tawil Syndrome. J Physiol 2016; 594:3245-70. [PMID: 26864374 PMCID: PMC4908029 DOI: 10.1113/jp271930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Xenopus laevis craniofacial development is a good system for the study of Andersen-Tawil Syndrome (ATS)-associated craniofacial anomalies (CFAs) because (1) Kcnj2 is expressed in the nascent face; (2) molecular-genetic and biophysical techniques are available for the study of ion-dependent signalling during craniofacial morphogenesis; (3) as in humans, expression of variant Kcnj2 forms in embryos causes a muscle phenotype; and (4) variant forms of Kcnj2 found in human patients, when injected into frog embryos, cause CFAs in the same cell lineages. Forced expression of WT or variant Kcnj2 changes the normal pattern of Vmem (resting potential) regionalization found in the ectoderm of neurulating embryos, and changes the normal pattern of expression of ten different genetic regulators of craniofacial development, including markers of cranial neural crest and of placodes. Expression of other potassium channels and two different light-activated channels, all of which have an effect on Vmem , causes CFAs like those induced by injection of Kcnj2 variants. In contrast, expression of Slc9A (NHE3), an electroneutral ion channel, and of GlyR, an inactive Cl(-) channel, do not cause CFAs, demonstrating that correct craniofacial development depends on a pattern of bioelectric states, not on ion- or channel-specific signalling. Using optogenetics to control both the location and the timing of ion flux in developing embryos, we show that affecting Vmem of the ectoderm and no other cell layers is sufficient to cause CFAs, but only during early neurula stages. Changes in Vmem induced late in neurulation do not affect craniofacial development. We interpret these data as strong evidence, consistent with our hypothesis, that ATS-associated CFAs are caused by the effect of variant Kcnj2 on the Vmem of ectodermal cells of the developing face. We predict that the critical time is early during neurulation, and the critical cells are the ectodermal cranial neural crest and placode lineages. This points to the potential utility of extant, ion flux-modifying drugs as treatments to prevent CFAs associated with channelopathies such as ATS. ABSTRACT Variants in potassium channel KCNJ2 cause Andersen-Tawil Syndrome (ATS); the induced craniofacial anomalies (CFAs) are entirely unexplained. We show that KCNJ2 is expressed in Xenopus and mouse during the earliest stages of craniofacial development. Misexpression in Xenopus of KCNJ2 carrying ATS-associated mutations causes CFAs in the same structures affected in humans, changes the normal pattern of membrane voltage potential regionalization in the developing face and disrupts expression of important craniofacial patterning genes, revealing the endogenous control of craniofacial patterning by bioelectric cell states. By altering cells' resting potentials using other ion translocators, we show that a change in ectodermal voltage, not tied to a specific protein or ion, is sufficient to cause CFAs. By adapting optogenetics for use in non-neural cells in embryos, we show that developmentally patterned K(+) flux is required for correct regionalization of the resting potentials and for establishment of endogenous early gene expression domains in the anterior ectoderm, and that variants in KCNJ2 disrupt this regionalization, leading to the CFAs seen in ATS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dany Spencer Adams
- Department of Biology and Tufts Centre for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Sebastien G M Uzel
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Jin Akagi
- School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Donald Wlodkowic
- School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Viktoria Andreeva
- Department of Orthodontics, Division of Craniofacial and Molecular Genetics, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Pamela Crotty Yelick
- Department of Orthodontics, Division of Craniofacial and Molecular Genetics, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Adrian Devitt-Lee
- Department of Biology and Tufts Centre for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Jean-Francois Pare
- Department of Biology and Tufts Centre for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Department of Biology and Tufts Centre for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, Tufts University, 200 Boston Avenue, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
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24
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Improvement of surface ECG recording in adult zebrafish reveals that the value of this model exceeds our expectation. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25073. [PMID: 27125643 PMCID: PMC4850402 DOI: 10.1038/srep25073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The adult zebrafish has been used to model the electrocardiogram (ECG) for human cardiovascular studies. Nonetheless huge variations are observed among studies probably because of the lack of a reliable and reproducible recording method. In our study, an adult zebrafish surface ECG recording technique was improved using a multi-electrode method and by pre-opening the pericardial sac. A convenient ECG data analysis method without wavelet transform was also established. Intraperitoneal injection of KCl in zebrafish induced an arrhythmia similar to that of humans, and the arrhythmia was partially rescued by calcium gluconate. Amputation and cryoinjury of the zebrafish heart induced ST segment depression and affected QRS duration after injury. Only cryoinjury decelerated the heart rate. Different changes were also observed in the QT interval during heart regeneration in these two injury models. We also characterized the electrocardiophysiology of breakdance zebrafish mutant with a prolonged QT interval, that has not been well described in previous studies. Our study provided a reliable and reproducible means to record zebrafish ECG and analyse data. The detailed characterization of the cardiac electrophysiology of zebrafish and its mutant revealed that the potential of the zebrafish in modeling the human cardiovascular system exceeds expectations.
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25
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Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a popular model for human cardiac diseases and pharmacology including cardiac arrhythmias and its electrophysiological basis. Notably, the phenotype of zebrafish cardiac action potential is similar to the human cardiac action potential in that both have a long plateau phase. Also the major inward and outward current systems are qualitatively similar in zebrafish and human hearts. However, there are also significant differences in ionic current composition between human and zebrafish hearts, and the molecular basis and pharmacological properties of human and zebrafish cardiac ionic currents differ in several ways. Cardiac ionic currents may be produced by non-orthologous genes in zebrafish and humans, and paralogous gene products of some ion channels are expressed in the zebrafish heart. More research on molecular basis of cardiac ion channels, and regulation and drug sensitivity of the cardiac ionic currents are needed to enable rational use of the zebrafish heart as an electrophysiological model for the human heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matti Vornanen
- a Department of Biology , University of Eastern Finland , Joensuu , Finland
| | - Minna Hassinen
- a Department of Biology , University of Eastern Finland , Joensuu , Finland
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26
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Kessler EL, van Veen TAB. A fishing trip to cure arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy? ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2015; 3:90. [PMID: 26015932 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2305-5839.2015.01.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2015] [Accepted: 01/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
The paper entitled "Identification of a New Modulator of the Intercalated Disc in a Zebrafish Model of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy", as published in 2014 in Science Translational Medicine, examined the effects of the newly discovered drug SB216763 (SB21) on arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM). In this paper, the authors focused on mechanisms underlying ACM and the accompanying molecular and cellular alterations. Most importantly they showed that SB21 was able to rescue and partly reverse the ACM phenotype in three different experimental models: (I) a zebrafish model of Naxos disease induced by the overexpression of the 2057del2 mutation in plakoglobin (PKG); (II) neonatal rat cardiomyocytes overexpressing the same mutation in PKG; (III) cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells expressing two different forms of mutations in plakophilin-2. This editorial will focus on the potency and possible restrictions concerning SB21 treatment as a potential intervention for ACM and the usefulness of the applied zebrafish models in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise L Kessler
- Department of Medical Physiology, Division of Heart & Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Toon A B van Veen
- Department of Medical Physiology, Division of Heart & Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht Utrecht, The Netherlands
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27
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Poon KL, Brand T. The zebrafish model system in cardiovascular research: A tiny fish with mighty prospects. Glob Cardiol Sci Pract 2013; 2013:9-28. [PMID: 24688998 PMCID: PMC3963735 DOI: 10.5339/gcsp.2013.4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2012] [Accepted: 01/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kar Lai Poon
- Harefield Heart Science Centre, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Hill End Road, Harefield, Middlesex, UB9 6JH, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Brand
- Harefield Heart Science Centre, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Hill End Road, Harefield, Middlesex, UB9 6JH, United Kingdom
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28
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Paavola J, Schliffke S, Rossetti S, Kuo IYT, Yuan S, Sun Z, Harris PC, Torres VE, Ehrlich BE. Polycystin-2 mutations lead to impaired calcium cycling in the heart and predispose to dilated cardiomyopathy. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2013; 58:199-208. [PMID: 23376035 PMCID: PMC3636149 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2013.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2012] [Revised: 01/04/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in PKD1 and PKD2, the genes encoding the proteins polycystin-1 (PC1) and polycystin-2 (PC2), cause autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Although the leading cause of mortality in ADPKD is cardiovascular disease, the relationship between these conditions remains poorly understood. PC2 is an intracellular calcium channel expressed in renal epithelial cells and in cardiomyocytes, and is thus hypothesized to modulate intracellular calcium signaling and affect cardiac function. Our first aim was to study cardiac function in a zebrafish model lacking PC2 (pkd2 mutants). Next, we aimed to explore the relevance of this zebrafish model to human ADPKD by examining the Mayo Clinic's ADPKD database for an association between ADPKD and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM). Pkd2 mutant zebrafish showed low cardiac output and atrioventricular block. Isolated pkd2 mutant hearts displayed impaired intracellular calcium cycling and calcium alternans. These results indicate heart failure in the pkd2 mutants. In human ADPKD patients, we found IDCM to coexist frequently with ADPKD. This association was strongest in patients with PKD2 mutations. Our results demonstrate that PC2 modulates intracellular calcium cycling, contributing to the development of heart failure. In human subjects we found an association between ADPKD and IDCM and suggest that PKD mutations contribute to the development of heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jere Paavola
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Anatomy II: Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simon Schliffke
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
- Department of Anatomy II: Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sandro Rossetti
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ivana Y.-T. Kuo
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Shiaulou Yuan
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum Helsinki 2U, Tukholmankatu 8, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Zhaoxia Sun
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum Helsinki 2U, Tukholmankatu 8, 00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Peter C. Harris
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Vicente E. Torres
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Barbara E. Ehrlich
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
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29
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Dhillon SS, Dóró É, Magyary I, Egginton S, Sík A, Müller F. Optimisation of embryonic and larval ECG measurement in zebrafish for quantifying the effect of QT prolonging drugs. PLoS One 2013; 8:e60552. [PMID: 23579446 PMCID: PMC3620317 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 02/28/2013] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Effective chemical compound toxicity screening is of paramount importance for safe cardiac drug development. Using mammals in preliminary screening for detection of cardiac dysfunction by electrocardiography (ECG) is costly and requires a large number of animals. Alternatively, zebrafish embryos can be used as the ECG waveform is similar to mammals, a minimal amount of chemical is necessary for drug testing, while embryos are abundant, inexpensive and represent replacement in animal research with reduced bioethical concerns. We demonstrate here the utility of pre-feeding stage zebrafish larvae in detection of cardiac dysfunction by electrocardiography. We have optimised an ECG recording system by addressing key parameters such as the form of immobilization, recording temperature, electrode positioning and developmental age. Furthermore, analysis of 3 days post fertilization (dpf) zebrafish embryos treated with known QT prolonging drugs such as terfenadine, verapamil and haloperidol led to reproducible detection of QT prolongation as previously shown for adult zebrafish. In addition, calculation of Z-factor scores revealed that the assay was sensitive and specific enough to detect large drug-induced changes in QTc intervals. Thus, the ECG recording system is a useful drug-screening tool to detect alteration to cardiac cycle components and secondary effects such as heart block and arrhythmias in zebrafish larvae before free feeding stage, and thus provides a suitable replacement for mammalian experimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundeep Singh Dhillon
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Nature Protection, University of Kaposvar, Kaposvar, Hungary
| | - Éva Dóró
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - István Magyary
- Department of Nature Protection, University of Kaposvar, Kaposvar, Hungary
| | - Stuart Egginton
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Attila Sík
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Ferenc Müller
- School of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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30
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Simrick S, Schindler RF, Poon KL, Brand T. Popeye domain-containing proteins and stress-mediated modulation of cardiac pacemaking. Trends Cardiovasc Med 2013; 23:257-63. [PMID: 23562093 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2013.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Revised: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
An intricate network of ion channels and pumps are involved in generating a diastolic pacemaker potential, which is transmitted to the working myocardium with the help of the cardiac conduction system. The principles of cardiac pacemaking are reasonably well understood, however, the mechanism by which the heart increases its beating frequency in response to adrenergic stimulation has not been fully worked out. The Popeye domain-containing (Popdc) genes encode plasma membrane-localized proteins that are able to bind cAMP with high affinity; mice with null mutations in Popdc1 or 2 have a stress-induced pacemaker dysfunction. The phenotype in both mutants develops in an age-dependent manner and thus may model pacemaker dysfunction in man, as well as provide novel mechanistic insights into the process of pacemaker adaptation to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subreena Simrick
- Heart Science Centre, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Harefield UB9 6JH, United Kingdom
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31
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Verkerk AO, Remme CA. Zebrafish: a novel research tool for cardiac (patho)electrophysiology and ion channel disorders. Front Physiol 2012; 3:255. [PMID: 22934012 PMCID: PMC3429032 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 06/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish is a cold-blooded tropical freshwater teleost with two-chamber heart morphology. A major advantage of the zebrafish for heart studies is that the embryo is transparent, allowing for easy assessment of heart development, heart rate analysis and phenotypic characterization. Moreover, rapid and effective gene-specific knockdown can be achieved using morpholino oligonucleotides. Lastly, zebrafish are small in size, are easy to maintain and house, grow fast, and have large offspring size, making them a cost-efficient research model. Zebrafish embryonic and adult heart rates as well as action potential (AP) shape and duration and electrocardiogram morphology closely resemble those of humans. However, whether the zebrafish is truly an attractive alternative model for human cardiac electrophysiology depends on the presence and gating properties of the various ion channels in the zebrafish heart, but studies into the latter are as yet limited. The rapid component of the delayed rectifier K+ current (IKr) remains the best characterized and validated ion current in zebrafish myocytes, and zebrafish may represent a valuable model to investigate human IKr channel-related disease, including long QT syndrome. Arguments against the use of zebrafish as model for human cardiac (patho)electrophysiology include its cold-bloodedness and two-chamber heart morphology, absence of t-tubuli, sarcoplamatic reticulum function, and a different profile of various depolarizing and repolarizing ion channels, including a limited Na+ current density. Based on the currently available literature, we propose that zebrafish may constitute a relevant research model for investigating ion channel disorders associated with abnormal repolarization, but may be less suitable for studying depolarization disorders or Ca2+-modulated arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arie O Verkerk
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology, and Physiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands
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32
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Kirchmaier BC, Poon KL, Schwerte T, Huisken J, Winkler C, Jungblut B, Stainier DY, Brand T. The Popeye domain containing 2 (popdc2) gene in zebrafish is required for heart and skeletal muscle development. Dev Biol 2012; 363:438-50. [PMID: 22290329 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2011] [Revised: 01/12/2012] [Accepted: 01/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The Popeye domain containing (Popdc) genes encode a family of transmembrane proteins with an evolutionary conserved Popeye domain. These genes are abundantly expressed in striated muscle tissue, however their function is not well understood. In this study we have investigated the role of the popdc2 gene in zebrafish. Popdc2 transcripts were detected in the embryonic myocardium and transiently in the craniofacial and tail musculature. Morpholino oligonucleotide-mediated knockdown of popdc2 resulted in aberrant development of skeletal muscle and heart. Muscle segments in the trunk were irregularly shaped and craniofacial muscles were severely reduced or even missing. In the heart, pericardial edema was prevalent in the morphants and heart chambers were elongated and looping was abnormal. These pathologies in muscle and heart were alleviated after reducing the morpholino concentration. However the heart still was abnormal displaying cardiac arrhythmia at later stages of development. Optical recordings of cardiac contractility revealed irregular ventricular contractions with a 2:1, or 3:1 atrial/ventricular conduction ratio, which caused a significant reduction in heart frequency. Recordings of calcium transients with high spatiotemporal resolution using a transgenic calcium indicator line (Tg(cmlc2:gCaMP)(s878)) and SPIM microscopy confirmed the presence of a severe arrhythmia phenotype. Our results identify popdc2 as a gene important for striated muscle differentiation and cardiac morphogenesis. In addition it is required for the development of the cardiac conduction system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bettina C Kirchmaier
- Cell- and Developmental Biology, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
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