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Mazhar F, Bartolucci C, Regazzoni F, Paci M, Dedè L, Quarteroni A, Corsi C, Severi S. A detailed mathematical model of the human atrial cardiomyocyte: integration of electrophysiology and cardiomechanics. J Physiol 2024; 602:4543-4583. [PMID: 37641426 DOI: 10.1113/jp283974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechano-electric regulations (MER) play an important role in the maintenance of cardiac performance. Mechano-calcium and mechano-electric feedback (MCF and MEF) pathways adjust the cardiomyocyte contractile force according to mechanical perturbations and affects electro-mechanical coupling. MER integrates all these regulations in one unit resulting in a complex phenomenon. Computational modelling is a useful tool to accelerate the mechanistic understanding of complex experimental phenomena. We have developed a novel model that integrates the MER loop for human atrial cardiomyocytes with proper consideration of feedforward and feedback pathways. The model couples a modified version of the action potential (AP) Koivumäki model with the contraction model by Quarteroni group. The model simulates iso-sarcometric and isometric twitches and the feedback effects on AP and Ca2+-handling. The model showed a biphasic response of Ca2+ transient (CaT) peak to increasing pacing rates and highlights the possible mechanisms involved. The model has shown a shift of the threshold for AP and CaT alternans from 4.6 to 4 Hz under post-operative atrial fibrillation, induced by depressed SERCA activity. The alternans incidence was dependent on a chain of mechanisms including RyRs availability time, MCF coupling, CaMKII phosphorylation, and the stretch levels. As a result, the model predicted a 10% slowdown of conduction velocity for a 20% stretch, suggesting a role of stretch in creation of substrate formation for atrial fibrillation. Overall, we conclude that the developed model provides a physiological CaT followed by a physiological twitch. This model can open pathways for the future studies of human atrial electromechanics. KEY POINTS: With the availability of human atrial cellular data, interest in atrial-specific model integration has been enhanced. We have developed a detailed mathematical model of human atrial cardiomyocytes including the mechano-electric regulatory loop. The model has gone through calibration and evaluation phases against a wide collection of available human in-vitro data. The usefulness of the model for analysing clinical problems has been preliminaryly tested by simulating the increased incidence of Ca2+ transient and action potential alternans at high rates in post-operative atrial fibrillation condition. The model determines the possible role of mechano-electric feedback in alternans incidence, which can increase vulnerability to atrial arrhythmias by varying stretch levels. We found that our physiologically accurate description of Ca2+ handling can reproduce many experimental phenomena and can help to gain insights into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazeelat Mazhar
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering 'Guglielmo Marconi', University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Chiara Bartolucci
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering 'Guglielmo Marconi', University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | | | - Michelangelo Paci
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering 'Guglielmo Marconi', University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Luca Dedè
- MOX - Dipartimento di Matematica, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alfio Quarteroni
- MOX - Dipartimento di Matematica, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Mathematics Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cristiana Corsi
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering 'Guglielmo Marconi', University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Stefano Severi
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering 'Guglielmo Marconi', University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
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Ramos-Mondragón R, Lozhkin A, Vendrov AE, Runge MS, Isom LL, Madamanchi NR. NADPH Oxidases and Oxidative Stress in the Pathogenesis of Atrial Fibrillation. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1833. [PMID: 37891912 PMCID: PMC10604902 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia and its prevalence increases with age. The irregular and rapid contraction of the atria can lead to ineffective blood pumping, local blood stasis, blood clots, ischemic stroke, and heart failure. NADPH oxidases (NOX) and mitochondria are the main sources of reactive oxygen species in the heart, and dysregulated activation of NOX and mitochondrial dysfunction are associated with AF pathogenesis. NOX- and mitochondria-derived oxidative stress contribute to the onset of paroxysmal AF by inducing electrophysiological changes in atrial myocytes and structural remodeling in the atria. Because high atrial activity causes cardiac myocytes to expend extremely high energy to maintain excitation-contraction coupling during persistent AF, mitochondria, the primary energy source, undergo metabolic stress, affecting their morphology, Ca2+ handling, and ATP generation. In this review, we discuss the role of oxidative stress in activating AF-triggered activities, regulating intracellular Ca2+ handling, and functional and anatomical reentry mechanisms, all of which are associated with AF initiation, perpetuation, and progression. Changes in the extracellular matrix, inflammation, ion channel expression and function, myofibril structure, and mitochondrial function occur during the early transitional stages of AF, opening a window of opportunity to target NOX and mitochondria-derived oxidative stress using isoform-specific NOX inhibitors and mitochondrial ROS scavengers, as well as drugs that improve mitochondrial dynamics and metabolism to treat persistent AF and its transition to permanent AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ramos-Mondragón
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, 2301 Medical Science Research Building III, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (R.R.-M.); (L.L.I.)
| | - Andrey Lozhkin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48019, USA; (A.L.); (A.E.V.); (M.S.R.)
| | - Aleksandr E. Vendrov
- Department of Internal Medicine, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48019, USA; (A.L.); (A.E.V.); (M.S.R.)
| | - Marschall S. Runge
- Department of Internal Medicine, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48019, USA; (A.L.); (A.E.V.); (M.S.R.)
| | - Lori L. Isom
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, 1150 West Medical Center Drive, 2301 Medical Science Research Building III, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (R.R.-M.); (L.L.I.)
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Nageswara R. Madamanchi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Frankel Cardiovascular Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48019, USA; (A.L.); (A.E.V.); (M.S.R.)
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Dries E, Gilbert G, Roderick HL, Sipido KR. The ryanodine receptor microdomain in cardiomyocytes. Cell Calcium 2023; 114:102769. [PMID: 37390591 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2023.102769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The ryanodine receptor type 2 (RyR) is a key player in Ca2+ handling during excitation-contraction coupling. During each heartbeat, RyR channels are responsible for linking the action potential with the contractile machinery of the cardiomyocyte by releasing Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. RyR function is fine-tuned by associated signalling molecules, arrangement in clusters and subcellular localization. These parameters together define RyR function within microdomains and are subject to disease remodelling. This review describes the latest findings on RyR microdomain organization, the alterations with disease which result in increased subcellular heterogeneity and emergence of microdomains with enhanced arrhythmogenic potential, and presents novel technologies that guide future research to study and target RyR channels within specific microdomains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eef Dries
- Lab of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Guillaume Gilbert
- Lab of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratoire ORPHY EA 4324, Université de Brest, Brest, France
| | - H Llewelyn Roderick
- Lab of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karin R Sipido
- Lab of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Velez Rueda AJ, Gonano LA, Smith AG, Parisi G, Fornasari MS, Sommese LM. CardIAP: calcium transients confocal image analysis tool. FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 3:1137815. [PMID: 37521316 PMCID: PMC10381969 DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2023.1137815] [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: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the main topics of cardiovascular research is the study of calcium (Ca2+) handling, as even small changes in Ca2+ concentration can alter cell functionality (Bers, Annu Rev Physiol, 2014, 76, 107-127). Ionic calcium (Ca2+) plays the role of a second messenger in eukaryotic cells, associated with cellular functions such as cell cycle regulation, transport, motility, gene expression, and regulation. The use of fluorometric techniques in isolated cells loaded with Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent probes allows quantitative measurement of dynamic events occurring in living, functioning cells. The Cardiomyocytes Images Analyzer Python (CardIAP) application addresses the need to analyze and retrieve information from confocal microscopy images systematically, accurately, and rapidly. Here we present CardIAP, an open-source tool developed entirely in Python, freely available and useable in an interactive web application. In addition, CardIAP can be used as a standalone Python library and freely installed via PIP, making it easy to integrate into biomedical imaging pipelines. The images that can be generated in the study of the heart have the particularity of requiring both spatial and temporal analysis. CardIAP aims to open the field of cardiomyocytes and intact hearts image processing. The improvement in the extraction of information from the images will allow optimizing the usage of resources and animals. With CardIAP, users can run the analysis to both, the complete image, and portions of it in an easy way, and replicate it on a series of images. This analysis provides users with information on the spatial and temporal changes in calcium releases and characterizes them. The web application also allows users to extract calcium dynamics data in downloadable tables, simplifying the calculation of alternation and discordance indices and their classification. CardIAP aims to provide a tool that could assist biomedical researchers in studying the underlying mechanisms of anomalous calcium release phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Julia Velez Rueda
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Luis Alberto Gonano
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Facultad de Medicina, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Agustín García Smith
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Parisi
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - María Silvina Fornasari
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Leandro Matías Sommese
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
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Grandi E, Navedo MF, Saucerman JJ, Bers DM, Chiamvimonvat N, Dixon RE, Dobrev D, Gomez AM, Harraz OF, Hegyi B, Jones DK, Krogh-Madsen T, Murfee WL, Nystoriak MA, Posnack NG, Ripplinger CM, Veeraraghavan R, Weinberg S. Diversity of cells and signals in the cardiovascular system. J Physiol 2023; 601:2547-2592. [PMID: 36744541 PMCID: PMC10313794 DOI: 10.1113/jp284011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
This white paper is the outcome of the seventh UC Davis Cardiovascular Research Symposium on Systems Approach to Understanding Cardiovascular Disease and Arrhythmia. This biannual meeting aims to bring together leading experts in subfields of cardiovascular biomedicine to focus on topics of importance to the field. The theme of the 2022 Symposium was 'Cell Diversity in the Cardiovascular System, cell-autonomous and cell-cell signalling'. Experts in the field contributed their experimental and mathematical modelling perspectives and discussed emerging questions, controversies, and challenges in examining cell and signal diversity, co-ordination and interrelationships involved in cardiovascular function. This paper originates from the topics of formal presentations and informal discussions from the Symposium, which aimed to develop a holistic view of how the multiple cell types in the cardiovascular system integrate to influence cardiovascular function, disease progression and therapeutic strategies. The first section describes the major cell types (e.g. cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells, fibroblasts, neurons, immune cells, etc.) and the signals involved in cardiovascular function. The second section emphasizes the complexity at the subcellular, cellular and system levels in the context of cardiovascular development, ageing and disease. Finally, the third section surveys the technological innovations that allow the interrogation of this diversity and advancing our understanding of the integrated cardiovascular function and dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Grandi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Manuel F. Navedo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey J. Saucerman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Donald M. Bers
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Nipavan Chiamvimonvat
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Rose E. Dixon
- Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ana M. Gomez
- Signaling and Cardiovascular Pathophysiology-UMR-S 1180, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Osama F. Harraz
- Department of Pharmacology, Larner College of Medicine, and Vermont Center for Cardiovascular and Brain Health, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Bence Hegyi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - David K. Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Trine Krogh-Madsen
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Walter Lee Murfee
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Matthew A. Nystoriak
- Department of Medicine, Division of Environmental Medicine, Center for Cardiometabolic Science, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Nikki G. Posnack
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric and Surgical Innovation, Children’s National Heart Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Rengasayee Veeraraghavan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University – Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Seth Weinberg
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University – Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
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6
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Zhang X, Ni H, Morotti S, Smith C, Sato D, Louch W, Edwards A, Grandi E. Mechanisms of spontaneous Ca 2+ release-mediated arrhythmia in a novel 3D human atrial myocyte model: I. Transverse-axial tubule variation. J Physiol 2023; 601:2655-2683. [PMID: 36094888 PMCID: PMC10008525 DOI: 10.1113/jp283363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular calcium (Ca2+ ) cycling is tightly regulated in the healthy heart ensuring effective contraction. This is achieved by transverse (t)-tubule membrane invaginations that facilitate close coupling of key Ca2+ -handling proteins such as the L-type Ca2+ channel and Na+ -Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) on the cell surface with ryanodine receptors (RyRs) on the intracellular Ca2+ store. Although less abundant and regular than in the ventricle, t-tubules also exist in atrial myocytes as a network of transverse invaginations with axial extensions known as the transverse-axial tubule system (TATS). In heart failure and atrial fibrillation, there is TATS remodelling that is associated with aberrant Ca2+ -handling and Ca2+ -induced arrhythmic activity; however, the mechanism underlying this is not fully understood. To address this, we developed a novel 3D human atrial myocyte model that couples electrophysiology and Ca2+ -handling with variable TATS organization and density. We extensively parameterized and validated our model against experimental data to build a robust tool examining TATS regulation of subcellular Ca2+ release. We found that varying TATS density and thus the localization of key Ca2+ -handling proteins has profound effects on Ca2+ handling. Following TATS loss, there is reduced NCX that results in increased cleft Ca2+ concentration through decreased Ca2+ extrusion. This elevated Ca2+ increases RyR open probability causing spontaneous Ca2+ releases and the promotion of arrhythmogenic waves (especially in the cell interior) leading to voltage instabilities through delayed afterdepolarizations. In summary, the present study demonstrates a mechanistic link between TATS remodelling and Ca2+ -driven proarrhythmic behaviour that probably reflects the arrhythmogenic state observed in disease. KEY POINTS: Transverse-axial tubule systems (TATS) modulate Ca2+ handling and excitation-contraction coupling in atrial myocytes, with TATS remodelling in heart failure and atrial fibrillation being associated with altered Ca2+ cycling and subsequent arrhythmogenesis. To investigate the poorly understood mechanisms linking TATS variation and spontaneous Ca2+ release, we built, parameterized and validated a 3D human atrial myocyte model coupling electrophysiology and spatially-detailed subcellular Ca2+ handling governed by the TATS. Simulated TATS loss causes diastolic Ca2+ and voltage instabilities through reduced Na+ -Ca2+ exchanger-mediated Ca2+ removal, cleft Ca2+ accumulation and increased ryanodine receptor open probability, resulting in spontaneous Ca2+ release and promotion of arrhythmogenic waves and delayed afterdepolarizations. At fast electrical rates typical of atrial tachycardia/fibrillation, spontaneous Ca2+ releases are larger and more frequent in the cell interior than at the periphery. Our work provides mechanistic insight into how atrial TATS remodelling can lead to Ca2+ -driven instabilities that may ultimately contribute to the arrhythmogenic state in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- X. Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - H. Ni
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - S. Morotti
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - C.E.R. Smith
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - D. Sato
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - W.E. Louch
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Cardiac Research, University of Oslo, Oslo Norway
| | - A.G. Edwards
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- Simula Research Laboratory, Lysaker, Norway
| | - E. Grandi
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
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7
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Kanaporis G, Martinez‐Hernandez E, Blatter LA. Calcium- and voltage-driven atrial alternans: Insight from [Ca] i and V m asynchrony. Physiol Rep 2023; 11:e15703. [PMID: 37226365 PMCID: PMC10209431 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.15703] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac alternans is defined as beat-to-beat alternations in contraction strength, action potential duration (APD), and Ca transient (CaT) amplitude. Cardiac excitation-contraction coupling relies on the activity of two bidirectionally coupled excitable systems, membrane voltage (Vm ) and Ca release. Alternans has been classified as Vm - or Ca-driven, depending whether a disturbance of Vm or [Ca]i regulation drives the alternans. We determined the primary driver of pacing induced alternans in rabbit atrial myocytes, using combined patch clamp and fluorescence [Ca]i and Vm measurements. APD and CaT alternans are typically synchronized; however, uncoupling between APD and CaT regulation can lead to CaT alternans in the absence of APD alternans, and APD alternans can fail to precipitate CaT alternans, suggesting a considerable degree of independence of CaT and APD alternans. Using alternans AP voltage clamp protocols with extra APs showed that most frequently the pre-existing CaT alternans pattern prevailed after the extra-beat, indicating that alternans is Ca-driven. In electrically coupled cell pairs, dyssynchrony of APD and CaT alternans points to autonomous regulation of CaT alternans. Thus, with three novel experimental protocols, we collected evidence for Ca-driven alternans; however, the intimately intertwined regulation of Vm and [Ca]i precludes entirely independent development of CaT and APD alternans.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Kanaporis
- Department of Physiology & BiophysicsRush University Medical CenterChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - E. Martinez‐Hernandez
- Department of Physiology & BiophysicsRush University Medical CenterChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - L. A. Blatter
- Department of Physiology & BiophysicsRush University Medical CenterChicagoIllinoisUSA
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8
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Abstract
Cardiac alternans arises from dynamical instabilities in the electrical and calcium cycling systems of the heart, and often precedes ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. In this review, we integrate clinical observations with theory and experiment to paint a holistic portrait of cardiac alternans: the underlying mechanisms, arrhythmic manifestations and electrocardiographic signatures. We first summarize the cellular and tissue mechanisms of alternans that have been demonstrated both theoretically and experimentally, including 3 voltage-driven and 2 calcium-driven alternans mechanisms. Based on experimental and simulation results, we describe their relevance to mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis under different disease conditions, and their link to electrocardiographic characteristics of alternans observed in patients. Our major conclusion is that alternans is not only a predictor, but also a causal mechanism of potentially lethal ventricular and atrial arrhythmias across the full spectrum of arrhythmia mechanisms that culminate in functional reentry, although less important for anatomic reentry and focal arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilin Qu
- Departments of Medicine (Cardiology), Physiology, and Computational Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - James N. Weiss
- Departments of Medicine (Cardiology), Physiology, and Computational Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA
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9
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A cell-based framework for modeling cardiac mechanics. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2023; 22:515-539. [PMID: 36602715 PMCID: PMC10097778 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-022-01660-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes are the functional building blocks of the heart-yet most models developed to simulate cardiac mechanics do not represent the individual cells and their surrounding matrix. Instead, they work on a homogenized tissue level, assuming that cellular and subcellular structures and processes scale uniformly. Here we present a mathematical and numerical framework for exploring tissue-level cardiac mechanics on a microscale given an explicit three-dimensional geometrical representation of cells embedded in a matrix. We defined a mathematical model over such a geometry and parametrized our model using publicly available data from tissue stretching and shearing experiments. We then used the model to explore mechanical differences between the extracellular and the intracellular space. Through sensitivity analysis, we found the stiffness in the extracellular matrix to be most important for the intracellular stress values under contraction. Strain and stress values were observed to follow a normal-tangential pattern concentrated along the membrane, with substantial spatial variations both under contraction and stretching. We also examined how it scales to larger size simulations, considering multicellular domains. Our work extends existing continuum models, providing a new geometrical-based framework for exploring complex cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.
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10
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Banach K, Blatter LA. The 'Reverse FDUF' Mechanism of Atrial Excitation-Contraction Coupling Sustains Calcium Alternans-A Hypothesis. Biomolecules 2022; 13:biom13010007. [PMID: 36671392 PMCID: PMC9855423 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac calcium alternans is defined as beat-to-beat alternations of Ca transient (CaT) amplitude and has been linked to cardiac arrhythmia, including atrial fibrillation. We investigated the mechanism of atrial alternans in isolated rabbit atrial myocytes using high-resolution line scan confocal Ca imaging. Alternans was induced by increasing the pacing frequency until stable alternans was observed (1.6-2.5 Hz at room temperature). In atrial myocytes, action potential-induced Ca release is initiated in the cell periphery and subsequently propagates towards the cell center by Ca-induced Ca release (CICR) in a Ca wave-like fashion, driven by the newly identified 'fire-diffuse-uptake-fire' (FDUF) mechanism. The development of CaT alternans was accompanied by characteristic changes of the spatio-temporal organization of the CaT. During the later phase of the CaT, central [Ca]i exceeded peripheral [Ca]i that was indicative of a reversal of the subcellular [Ca]i gradient from centripetal to centrifugal. This gradient reversal resulted in a reversal of CICR propagation, causing a secondary Ca release during the large-amplitude alternans CaT, thereby prolonging the CaT, enhancing Ca-release refractoriness and reducing Ca release on the subsequent beat, thus enhancing the degree of CaT alternans. Here, we propose the 'reverse FDUF' mechanism as a novel cellular mechanism of atrial CaT alternans, which explains how the uncoupling of central from peripheral Ca release leads to the reversal of propagating CICR and to alternans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Banach
- Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Lothar A. Blatter
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Correspondence:
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11
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Qiliqiangxin Capsule Modulates Calcium Transients and Calcium Sparks in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:9361077. [PMID: 36082183 PMCID: PMC9448542 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9361077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background The therapeutic effects of Qiliqiangxin capsule (QLQX), a Chinese patent medicine, in patients with chronic heart failure are well established. However, whether QLQX modulates cardiac calcium (Ca2+) signals, which are crucial for the heart function, remains unclear. Aim of the Study. This study aimed to evaluate the role of QLQX in modulating Ca2+ signals in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). Materials and Methods Fluorescence imaging was used to monitor Ca2+ signals in the cytosol and nuclei of hiPSC-CMs. For Ca2+ spark measurements, the line-scan mode of a confocal microscope was used. Results The QLQX treatment substantially decreased the frequency of spontaneous Ca2+ transients, whereas the amplitude of Ca2+ transients elicited by electrical stimulation did not change. QLQX increased the Ca2+ spark frequency in both the cytosol and nuclei without changing the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content. Interestingly, QLQX ameliorated abnormal Ca2+ transients in CMs differentiated from hiPSCs derived from patients with long-QT syndrome. Conclusions Our findings provide the first line of evidence that QLQX directly modulates cardiac Ca2+ signals in a human cardiomyocyte model.
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12
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Discordant Ca 2+ release in cardiac myocytes: characterization and susceptibility to pharmacological RyR2 modulation. Pflugers Arch 2022; 474:625-636. [PMID: 35235009 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-022-02678-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Systolic Ca2+ transients are shaped by the concerted summation of Ca2+ sparks across cardiomyocytes. At high pacing rates, alterations of excitation-contraction coupling manifest as pro-arrhythmic Ca2+ alternans that can be classified as concordant or discordant. Discordance is ascribed to out-of-phase alternation of local Ca2+ release across the cell, although the triggers and consequences of this phenomenon remain unclear. Rat ventricular cardiomyocytes were paced at increasing rates. A discordance index (SD of local alternans ratios) was developed to quantify discordance in confocal recordings of Ca2+ transients. Index values were significantly increased by rapid pacing, and negatively correlated with Ca2+ transient amplitude change, indicating that discordance is an important contributor to the negative Ca2+ transient-frequency relationship. In addition, the largest local calcium transient in two consecutive transients was measured to build a potential "best release" profile, which quantitatively confirmed discordance-induced Ca2+ release impairment (DICRI). Diastolic Ca2+ homeostasis was also observed to be disrupted by discordance, as late Ca2+ release events elicited instability of resting Ca2+ levels. Finally, the effects of two RyR2 inhibitors (VK-II-86 and dantrolene) were tested. While both compounds inhibited Ca2+ wave generation, only VK-II-86 augmented subcellular discordance. Discordant Ca2+ release is a quantifiable phenomenon, sensitive to pacing frequency, and impairs both systolic and diastolic Ca2+ homeostasis. Interestingly, RyR2 inhibition can induce discordance, which should be considered when evaluating pharmacological RyR2 modulators for clinical use.
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13
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Hoang-Trong MT, Ullah A, Lederer WJ, Jafri MS. Cardiac Alternans Occurs through the Synergy of Voltage- and Calcium-Dependent Mechanisms. MEMBRANES 2021; 11:794. [PMID: 34677560 PMCID: PMC8539281 DOI: 10.3390/membranes11100794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac alternans is characterized by alternating weak and strong beats of the heart. This signaling at the cellular level may appear as alternating long and short action potentials (APs) that occur in synchrony with alternating large and small calcium transients, respectively. Previous studies have suggested that alternans manifests itself through either a voltage dependent mechanism based upon action potential restitution or as a calcium dependent mechanism based on refractoriness of calcium release. We use a novel model of cardiac excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in the rat ventricular myocyte that includes 20,000 calcium release units (CRU) each with 49 ryanodine receptors (RyR2s) and 7 L-type calcium channels that are all stochastically gated. The model suggests that at the cellular level in the case of alternans produced by rapid pacing, the mechanism requires a synergy of voltage- and calcium-dependent mechanisms. The rapid pacing reduces AP duration and magnitude reducing the number of L-type calcium channels activating individual CRUs during each AP and thus increases the population of CRUs that can be recruited stochastically. Elevated myoplasmic and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium, [Ca2+]myo and [Ca2+]SR respectively, increases ryanodine receptor open probability (Po) according to our model used in this simulation and this increased the probability of activating additional CRUs. A CRU that opens in one beat is less likely to open the subsequent beat due to refractoriness caused by incomplete refilling of the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (jSR). Furthermore, the model includes estimates of changes in Na+ fluxes and [Na+]i and thus provides insight into how changes in electrical activity, [Na+]i and sodium-calcium exchanger activity can modulate alternans. The model thus tracks critical elements that can account for rate-dependent changes in [Na+]i and [Ca2+]myo and how they contribute to the generation of Ca2+ signaling alternans in the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minh Tuan Hoang-Trong
- Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study and School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA; (M.T.H.-T.); (A.U.)
| | - Aman Ullah
- Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study and School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA; (M.T.H.-T.); (A.U.)
| | - William Jonathan Lederer
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Mohsin Saleet Jafri
- Krasnow Institute for Advanced Study and School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA; (M.T.H.-T.); (A.U.)
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
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14
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Blatter LA, Kanaporis G, Martinez-Hernandez E, Oropeza-Almazan Y, Banach K. Excitation-contraction coupling and calcium release in atrial muscle. Pflugers Arch 2021; 473:317-329. [PMID: 33398498 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-020-02506-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
In cardiac muscle, the process of excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) describes the chain of events that links action potential induced myocyte membrane depolarization, surface membrane ion channel activation, triggering of Ca2+ induced Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ store to activation of the contractile machinery that is ultimately responsible for the pump function of the heart. Here we review similarities and differences of structural and functional attributes of ECC between atrial and ventricular tissue. We explore a novel "fire-diffuse-uptake-fire" paradigm of atrial ECC and Ca2+ release that assigns a novel role to the SR SERCA pump and involves a concerted "tandem" activation of the ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channel by cytosolic and luminal Ca2+. We discuss the contribution of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor Ca2+ release channel as an auxiliary pathway to Ca2+ signaling, and we review IP3 receptor-induced Ca2+ release involvement in beat-to-beat ECC, nuclear Ca2+ signaling, and arrhythmogenesis. Finally, we explore the topic of electromechanical and Ca2+ alternans and its ramifications for atrial arrhythmia.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Blatter
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
| | - G Kanaporis
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - E Martinez-Hernandez
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Y Oropeza-Almazan
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, 1750 W. Harrison Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - K Banach
- Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
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15
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Du B, Chakraborty P, Azam MA, Massé S, Lai PFH, Niri A, Si D, Thavendiranathan P, Abdel-Qadir H, Billia F, Nanthakumar K. Acute Effects of Ibrutinib on Ventricular Arrhythmia in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. JACC: CARDIOONCOLOGY 2020; 2:614-629. [PMID: 34396273 PMCID: PMC8352013 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccao.2020.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background The Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor ibrutinib is associated with ventricular arrhythmia (VA) and sudden death. However, the pro-arrhythmic electrophysiological dysregulation that results from ibrutinib with age and cardiovascular disease is unknown. Objectives This study sought to investigate the acute effects of ibrutinib on left ventricular (LV) VA vulnerability, cytosolic calcium dynamics, and membrane electrophysiology in old and young spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs). Methods Langendorff-perfused hearts of young (10 to 14 weeks) and old (10 to 14 months) SHRs were treated with ibrutinib (0.1 μmol/l) or vehicle for 30 min. Simultaneously, LV epicardial action potential and cytosolic calcium transients were optically mapped following an incremental pacing protocol. Calcium and action potential dynamics parameters were analyzed. VA vulnerability was assessed by electrically inducing ventricular fibrillations (VFs) in each heart. Western blot analysis was performed on LV tissues. Results Ibrutinib treatment resulted in higher vulnerability to VF in old SHR hearts (27.5 ± 7.5% vs. 5.7 ± 3.7%; p = 0.026) but not in young SHR hearts (8.0 ± 4.9% vs. 0%; p = 0.193). In old SHR hearts, following ibrutinib treatment, action potential duration (APD) alternans (p = 0.008) and APD alternans spatial discordance (p = 0.027) were more prominent. Moreover, calcium transient duration 50 was longer (p = 0.032), calcium amplitude alternans ratio was significantly lower (p = 0.001), and time-to-peak of calcium amplitude was shorter (p = 0.037). In young SHR hearts, there were no differences in calcium and APD dynamics. Conclusions Ibrutinib-induced VA is associated with old age in SHR. Acute dysregulation of calcium and repolarization dynamics play important roles in ibrutinib-induced VF.
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Key Words
- AF, atrial fibrillation
- AMPK, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase
- APD, action potential duration
- CA, calcium alternans
- CaMKII, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II
- CaT, calcium transient
- CaTD, calcium transient duration
- DAD, delayed afterdepolarization
- EAD, early afterpolarization
- LV, left ventricular
- PI3K, phosphoinositide 3-kinase
- PLB, phospholamban
- SCaE, spontaneous calcium elevation
- SHR, spontaneous hypertension rat
- SR, sarcoplasmic reticulum
- VA, ventricular arrhythmia
- VF, ventricular fibrillation
- action potential duration alternans
- calcium handling
- ibrutinib
- spatial discordant repolarization
- ventricular arrythmias
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Du
- The Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Cardiology, The Third Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin Provincial Cardiovascular Research Institute, Changchun, China
| | - Praloy Chakraborty
- The Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mohammed Ali Azam
- The Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stéphane Massé
- The Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick F H Lai
- The Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ahmed Niri
- The Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daoyuan Si
- The Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Cardiology, The Third Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin Provincial Cardiovascular Research Institute, Changchun, China
| | - Paaladinesh Thavendiranathan
- Ted Rogers Program in Cardiotoxicity Prevention, Peter Munk Cardiac Center, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Husam Abdel-Qadir
- Ted Rogers Program in Cardiotoxicity Prevention, Peter Munk Cardiac Center, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Filio Billia
- Ted Rogers Program in Cardiotoxicity Prevention, Peter Munk Cardiac Center, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kumaraswamy Nanthakumar
- The Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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16
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Vagos MR, Arevalo H, Heijman J, Schotten U, Sundnes J. A Novel Computational Model of the Rabbit Atrial Cardiomyocyte With Spatial Calcium Dynamics. Front Physiol 2020; 11:556156. [PMID: 33162894 PMCID: PMC7583320 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.556156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Models of cardiac electrophysiology are widely used to supplement experimental results and to provide insight into mechanisms of cardiac function and pathology. The rabbit has been a particularly important animal model for studying mechanisms of atrial pathophysiology and atrial fibrillation, which has motivated the development of models for the rabbit atrial cardiomyocyte electrophysiology. Previously developed models include detailed representations of membrane currents and intracellular ionic concentrations, but these so-called “common-pool” models lack a spatially distributed description of the calcium handling system, which reflects the detailed ultrastructure likely found in cells in vivo. Because of the less well-developed T-tubular system in atrial compared to ventricular cardiomyocytes, spatial gradients in intracellular calcium concentrations may play a more significant role in atrial cardiomyocyte pathophysiology, rendering common-pool models less suitable for investigating underlying electrophysiological mechanisms. In this study, we developed a novel computational model of the rabbit atrial cardiomyocyte incorporating detailed compartmentalization of intracellular calcium dynamics, in addition to a description of membrane currents and intracellular processes. The spatial representation of calcium was based on dividing the intracellular space into eighteen different compartments in the transversal direction, each with separate systems for internal calcium storage and release, and tracking ionic fluxes between compartments in addition to the dynamics driven by membrane currents and calcium release. The model was parameterized employing a population-of-models approach using experimental data from different sources. The parameterization of this novel model resulted in a reduced population of models with inherent variability in calcium dynamics and electrophysiological properties, all of which fall within the range of observed experimental values. As such, the population of models may represent natural variability in cardiomyocyte electrophysiology or inherent uncertainty in the underlying experimental data. The ionic model population was also able to reproduce the U-shaped waveform observed in line-scans of triggered calcium waves in atrial cardiomyocytes, characteristic of the absence of T-tubules, resulting in a centripetal calcium wave due to subcellular calcium diffusion. This novel spatial model of the rabbit atrial cardiomyocyte can be used to integrate experimental findings, offering the potential to enhance our understanding of the pathophysiological role of calcium-handling abnormalities under diseased conditions, such as atrial fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márcia R Vagos
- Simula Research Laboratory, Computational Physiology Department, Lysaker, Norway.,Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hermenegild Arevalo
- Simula Research Laboratory, Computational Physiology Department, Lysaker, Norway.,Center for Cardiological Innovation, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jordi Heijman
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Ulrich Schotten
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Joakim Sundnes
- Simula Research Laboratory, Computational Physiology Department, Lysaker, Norway.,Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Center for Cardiological Innovation, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
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17
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Oropeza-Almazán Y, Blatter LA. Mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex activation protects against calcium alternans in atrial myocytes. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2020; 319:H873-H881. [PMID: 32857593 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00375.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac alternans, defined as beat-to-beat alternations in action potential duration, cytosolic Ca transient (CaT) amplitude, and cardiac contraction is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) and sudden cardiac death. At the cellular level, cardiac alternans is linked to abnormal intracellular calcium handling during excitation-contraction coupling. We investigated how pharmacological activation or inhibition of cytosolic Ca sequestration via mitochondrial Ca uptake and mitochondrial Ca retention affects the occurrence of pacing-induced CaT alternans in isolated rabbit atrial myocytes. Cytosolic CaTs were recorded using Fluo-4 fluorescence microscopy. Alternans was quantified as the alternans ratio (AR = 1 - CaTsmall/CaTlarge, where CaTsmall and CaTlarge are the amplitudes of the small and large CaTs of a pair of alternating CaTs). Inhibition of mitochondrial Ca sequestration via mitochondrial Ca uniporter complex (MCUC) with Ru360 enhanced the severity of CaT alternans (AR increase) and lowered the pacing frequency threshold for alternans. In contrast, stimulation of MCUC mediated mitochondrial Ca uptake with spermine-rescued alternans (AR decrease) and increased the alternans pacing threshold. Direct measurement of mitochondrial [Ca] in membrane permeabilized myocytes with Fluo-4 loaded mitochondria revealed that spermine enhanced and accelerated mitochondrial Ca uptake. Stimulation of mitochondrial Ca retention by preventing mitochondrial Ca efflux through the mitochondrial permeability transition pore with cyclosporin A also protected from alternans and increased the alternans pacing threshold. Pharmacological manipulation of MCUC activity did not affect sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca load. Our results suggest that activation of Ca sequestration by mitochondria protects from CaT alternans and could be a potential therapeutic target for cardiac alternans and AF prevention.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study provides conclusive evidence that mitochondrial Ca uptake and retention protects from Ca alternans, whereas uptake inhibition enhances Ca alternans. The data suggest pharmacological mitochondrial Ca cycling modulation as a potential therapeutic strategy for alternans-related cardiac arrhythmia prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lothar A Blatter
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
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18
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Martinez-Hernandez E, Blatter LA. Effect of carvedilol on atrial excitation-contraction coupling, Ca 2+ release, and arrhythmogenicity. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2020; 318:H1245-H1255. [PMID: 32275472 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00650.2019] [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: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Carvedilol is an FDA-approved β-blocker commonly used for treatment of high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and cardiac tachyarrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. We investigated at the cellular level the mechanisms through which carvedilol interferes with sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release during excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) in single rabbit atrial myocytes. Carvedilol caused concentration-dependent (1-10 µM) failure of SR Ca2+ release. Failure of ECC and Ca2+ release was the result of dose-dependent inhibition of voltage-gated Na+ (INa) and L-type Ca2+ (ICa) currents that are responsible for the rapid depolarization phase of the cardiac action potential (AP) and the initiation of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release from the SR, respectively. Carvedilol (1 µM) led to AP duration shortening, AP failures, and peak INa inhibition by ~80%, whereas ICa was not markedly affected. Carvedilol (10 µM) blocked INa almost completely and reduced ICa by ~40%. No effect on Ca2+-transient amplitude, ICa, and INa was observed in control experiments with the β-blocker metoprolol, suggesting that the carvedilol effect on ECC is unlikely the result of its β-blocking property. The effects of carvedilol (1 µM) on subcellular SR Ca2+ release was spatially inhomogeneous, where a selective inhibition of peripheral subsarcolemmal Ca2+ release from the junctional SR accounted for the cell-averaged reduction in Ca2+-transient amplitude. Furthermore, carvedilol significantly reduced the probability of spontaneous arrhythmogenic Ca2+ waves without changes of SR Ca2+ load. The data suggest a profound antiarrhythmic action of carvedilol in atrial myocytes resulting from an inhibitory effect on the SR Ca2+ release channel.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Here we show that the clinically widely used β-blocker carvedilol has profound effects on Ca2+ signaling and ion currents, but also antiarrhythmic effects in adult atrial myocytes. Carvedilol inhibits sodium and calcium currents and leads to failure of ECC but also prevents spontaneous Ca2+ release from cellular sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ stores in form of arrhythmogenic Ca2+ waves. The antiarrhythmic effect occurs by carvedilol acting directly on the SR ryanodine receptor Ca2+ release channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Martinez-Hernandez
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - L A Blatter
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
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19
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Conditional Up-Regulation of SERCA2a Exacerbates RyR2-Dependent Ventricular and Atrial Arrhythmias. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072535. [PMID: 32260593 PMCID: PMC7178036 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ryanodine receptor 2 (RyR2) and SERCA2a are two major players in myocyte calcium (Ca) cycling that are modulated physiologically, affected by disease and thus considered to be potential targets for cardiac disease therapy. However, how RyR2 and SERCA2a influence each others’ activities, as well as the primary and secondary consequences of their combined manipulations remain controversial. In this study, we examined the effect of acute upregulation of SERCA2a on arrhythmogenesis by conditionally overexpressing SERCA2a in a mouse model featuring hyperactive RyR2s due to ablation of calsequestrin 2 (CASQ2). CASQ2 knock-out (KO) mice were crossbred with doxycycline (DOX)-inducible SERCA2a transgenic mice to generate KO-TG mice. In-vivo ECG studies have shown that induction of SERCA2a (DOX+) overexpression markedly exacerbated both ventricular and atrial arrhythmias in vivo, compared with uninduced KO-TG mice (DOX-). Consistent with that, confocal microscopy in both atrial and ventricular myocytes demonstrated that conditional upregulation of SERCA2a enhanced the rate of occurrence of diastolic Ca release events. Additionally, deep RNA sequencing identified 17 downregulated genes and 5 upregulated genes in DOX+ mice, among which Ppp1r13l, Clcn1, and Agt have previously been linked to arrhythmias. Our results suggest that conditional upregulation of SERCA2a exacerbates hyperactive RyR2-mediated arrhythmias by further elevating diastolic Ca release.
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20
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Mijares A, Espinosa R, Adams J, Lopez JR. Increases in [IP3]i aggravates diastolic [Ca2+] and contractile dysfunction in Chagas' human cardiomyocytes. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008162. [PMID: 32275663 PMCID: PMC7176279 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas cardiomyopathy is the most severe manifestation of human Chagas disease and represents the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Latin America. We previously demonstrated diastolic Ca2+ alterations in cardiomyocytes isolated from Chagas' patients to different degrees of cardiac dysfunction. In addition, we have found a significant elevation of diastolic [Na+]d in Chagas' cardiomyocytes (FCII>FCI) that was greater than control. Exposure of cardiomyocytes to agents that enhance inositol 1,4,5 trisphosphate (IP3) generation or concentration like endothelin (ET-1) or bradykinin (BK), or membrane-permeant myoinositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate hexakis(butyryloxy-methyl) esters (IP3BM) caused an elevation in diastolic [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]d) that was always greater in cardiomyocytes from Chagas' than non- Chagas' subjects, and the magnitude of the [Ca2+]d elevation in Chagas' cardiomyocytes was related to the degree of cardiac dysfunction. Incubation with xestospongin-C (Xest-C), a membrane-permeable selective blocker of the IP3 receptors (IP3Rs), significantly reduced [Ca2+]d in Chagas' cardiomyocytes but did not have a significant effect on non-Chagas' cells. The effects of ET-1, BK, and IP3BM on [Ca2+]d were not modified by the removal of extracellular [Ca2+]e. Furthermore, cardiomyocytes from Chagas' patients had a significant decrease in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+content compared to control (Control>FCI>FCII), a higher intracellular IP3 concentration ([IP3]i) and markedly depressed contractile properties compared to control cardiomyocytes. These results provide additional and convincing support about the implications of IP3 in the pathogenesis of Chagas cardiomyopathy in patients at different stages of chronic infection. Additionally, these findings open the door for novel therapeutic strategies oriented to improve cardiac function and quality of life of individuals suffering from chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CC).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Mijares
- Centro de Biofísica y Bioquímica, Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Raúl Espinosa
- Departamento de Cardiología, Hospital Miguel Pérez Carreño, Instituto venezolano de los Seguros Sociales, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - José Adams
- Division of Neonatology, Mount Sinai, Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States of America
| | - José R. Lopez
- Department of Research, Mount Sinai, Medical Center, Miami, FL, United States of America
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21
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Abstract
Changes of intracellular Ca2+ concentration regulate many aspects of cardiac myocyte function. About 99% of the cytoplasmic calcium in cardiac myocytes is bound to buffers, and their properties will therefore have a major influence on Ca2+ signaling. This article considers the fundamental properties and identities of the buffers and how to measure them. It reviews the effects of buffering on the systolic Ca2+ transient and how this may change physiologically, and in heart failure and both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, as well. It is concluded that the consequences of this strong buffering may be more significant than currently appreciated, and a fuller understanding is needed for proper understanding of cardiac calcium cycling and contractility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey L Smith
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary, and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK (G.L.S.)
| | - David A Eisner
- Unit of Cardiac Physiology, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, UK (D.A.E.)
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22
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Veasy J, Lai YM, Coombes S, Thul R. Complex patterns of subcellular cardiac alternans. J Theor Biol 2019; 478:102-114. [PMID: 31220466 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2019.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac alternans, in which the membrane potential and the intracellular calcium concentration exhibit alternating durations and peak amplitudes at consecutive beats, constitute a precursor to fatal cardiac arrhythmia such as sudden cardiac death. A crucial question therefore concerns the onset of cardiac alternans. Typically, alternans are only reported when they are fully developed. Here, we present a modelling approach to explore recently discovered microscopic alternans, which represent one of the earliest manifestations of cardiac alternans. In this case, the regular periodic dynamics of the local intracellular calcium concentration is already unstable, while the whole-cell behaviour suggests a healthy cell state. In particular, we use our model to investigate the impact of calcium diffusion in both the cytosol and the sarcoplasmic reticulum on the formation of microscopic calcium alternans. We find that for dominant cytosolic coupling, calcium alternans emerge via the traditional period doubling bifurcation. In contrast, dominant luminal coupling leads to a novel route to calcium alternans through a saddle-node bifurcation at the network level. Combining semi-analytical and computational approaches, we compute areas of stability in parameter space and find that as we cross from stable to unstable regions, the emergent patterns of the intracellular calcium concentration change abruptly in a fashion that is highly dependent upon position along the stability boundary. Our results demonstrate that microscopic calcium alternans may possess a much richer dynamical repertoire than previously thought and further strengthen the role of luminal calcium in shaping cardiac calcium dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Veasy
- Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology, School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Yi Ming Lai
- Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology, School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Stephen Coombes
- Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology, School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Rüdiger Thul
- Centre for Mathematical Medicine and Biology, School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK.
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23
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Romero L, Alvarez-Lacalle E, Shiferaw Y. Stochastic coupled map model of subcellular calcium cycling in cardiac cells. CHAOS (WOODBURY, N.Y.) 2019; 29:023125. [PMID: 30823735 PMCID: PMC7043839 DOI: 10.1063/1.5063462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we analyze a nonlinear map model of intracellular calcium (Ca) and voltage in cardiac cells. In this model, Ca release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) occurs at spatially distributed dyadic junctions that are diffusively coupled. At these junctions, release occurs with a probability that depends on key variables such as the SR load and the diastolic interval. Using this model, we explore how nonlinearity and stochasticity determine the spatial distribution of Ca release events within a cardiac cell. In particular, we identify a novel synchronization transition, which occurs at rapid pacing rates, in which the global Ca transient transitions from a period 2 response to a period 1 response. In the global period 2 response dyadic junctions fire in unison, on average, on alternate beats, while in the period 1 regime, Ca release at individual dyads is highly irregular. A close examination of the spatial distribution of Ca reveals that in the period 1 regime, the system coarsens into spatially out-of-phase regions with a length scale much smaller than the system size, but larger than the spacing between dyads. We have also explored in detail the coupling to membrane voltage. We study first the case of positive coupling, where a large Ca transient promotes a long action potential duration (APD). Here, the coupling to voltage synchronizes Ca release so that the system exhibits a robust period 2 response that is independent of initial conditions. On the other hand, in the case of negative coupling, where a large Ca transient tends to shorten the APD, we find a multitude of metastable states which consist of complex spatially discordant alternans patterns. Using an analogy to equilibrium statistical mechanics, we show that the spatial patterns observed can be explained by a mapping to the Potts model, with an additional term that accounts for a global coupling of spin states. Using this analogy, we argue that Ca cycling in cardiac cells exhibits complex spatiotemporal patterns that emerge via first or second order phase transitions. These results show that voltage and Ca can interact in order to induce complex subcellular responses, which can potentially lead to heart rhythm disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Romero
- Department of Physics, California State University, Northridge, California 91330, USA
| | - Enric Alvarez-Lacalle
- Departament de Fisica, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, BarcelonaTech, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yohannes Shiferaw
- Department of Physics, California State University, Northridge, California 91330, USA
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Bögeholz N, Pauls P, Dechering DG, Frommeyer G, Goldhaber JI, Pott C, Eckardt L, Müller FU, Schulte JS. Distinct Occurrence of Proarrhythmic Afterdepolarizations in Atrial Versus Ventricular Cardiomyocytes: Implications for Translational Research on Atrial Arrhythmia. Front Pharmacol 2018; 9:933. [PMID: 30186171 PMCID: PMC6111493 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Principal mechanisms of arrhythmia have been derived from ventricular but not atrial cardiomyocytes of animal models despite higher prevalence of atrial arrhythmia (e.g., atrial fibrillation). Due to significant ultrastructural and functional differences, a simple transfer of ventricular proneness toward arrhythmia to atrial arrhythmia is critical. The use of murine models in arrhythmia research is widespread, despite known translational limitations. We here directly compare atrial and ventricular mechanisms of arrhythmia to identify critical differences that should be considered in murine models for development of antiarrhythmic strategies for atrial arrhythmia. Methods and Results: Isolated murine atrial and ventricular myocytes were analyzed by wide field microscopy and subjected to a proarrhythmic protocol during patch-clamp experiments. As expected, the spindle shaped atrial myocytes showed decreased cell area and membrane capacitance compared to the rectangular shaped ventricular myocytes. Though delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs) could be evoked in a similar fraction of both cell types (80% of cells each), these led significantly more often to the occurrence of spontaneous action potentials (sAPs) in ventricular myocytes. Interestingly, numerous early afterdepolarizations (EADs) were observed in the majority of ventricular myocytes, but there was no EAD in any atrial myocyte (EADs per cell; atrial myocytes: 0 ± 0; n = 25/12 animals; ventricular myocytes: 1.5 [0–43]; n = 20/12 animals; p < 0.05). At the same time, the action potential duration to 90% decay (APD90) was unaltered and the APD50 even increased in atrial versus ventricular myocytes. However, the depolarizing L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) and Na+/Ca2+-exchanger inward current (INCX) were significantly smaller in atrial versus ventricular myocytes. Conclusion: In mice, atrial myocytes exhibit a substantially distinct occurrence of proarrhythmic afterdepolarizations compared to ventricular myocytes, since they are in a similar manner susceptible to DADs but interestingly seem to be protected against EADs and show less sAPs. Key factors in the generation of EADs like ICa and INCX were significantly reduced in atrial versus ventricular myocytes, which may offer a mechanistic explanation for the observed protection against EADs. These findings may be of relevance for current studies on atrial level in murine models to develop targeted strategies for the treatment of atrial arrhythmia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Bögeholz
- Clinic for Cardiology II - Electrophysiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Paul Pauls
- Clinic for Cardiology II - Electrophysiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.,Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Dirk G Dechering
- Clinic for Cardiology II - Electrophysiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Gerrit Frommeyer
- Clinic for Cardiology II - Electrophysiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Joshua I Goldhaber
- Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Christian Pott
- Department of Cardiology, Schuechtermann-Klinik, Bad Rothenfelde, Germany
| | - Lars Eckardt
- Clinic for Cardiology II - Electrophysiology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Frank U Müller
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jan S Schulte
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Song Z, Liu MB, Qu Z. Transverse tubular network structures in the genesis of intracellular calcium alternans and triggered activity in cardiac cells. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2018; 114:288-299. [PMID: 29217432 PMCID: PMC5801147 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The major role of a transverse-tubular (TT) network in a cardiac cell is to facilitate effective excitation-contraction coupling and signaling. The TT network structures are heterogeneous within a single cell, and vary between different types of cells and species. They are also remodeled in cardiac diseases. However, how different TT network structures predispose cardiac cells to arrhythmogenesis remains to be revealed. OBJECTIVE To systematically investigate the roles of TT network structure and the underlying mechanisms in the genesis of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) alternans and triggered activity (TA). METHODS AND RESULTS Based on recent experimental observations, different TT network structures, including uniformly and non-uniformly random TT distributions, were modeled in a cardiac cell model consisting of a three-dimensional network of Ca2+ release units (CRUs). Our simulations showed that both Ca2+ alternans and Ca2+ wave-mediated TA were promoted when the fraction of orphaned CRUs was in an intermediate range, but suppressed in cells exhibiting either well-organized TT networks or low TT densities. Ca2+ alternans and TA could be promoted by low TT densities when the cells were small or the CRU coupling was strong. Both alternans and TA occurred more easily in uniformly random TT networks than in non-uniformly random TT networks. Subcellular spatially discordant Ca2+ alternans was promoted by non-uniformly random TT networks but suppressed by increasing CRU coupling strength. These mechanistic insights provide a holistic understanding of the effects of TT network structure on the susceptibility to arrhythmogenesis. CONCLUSIONS The TT network plays important roles in promoting Ca2+ alternans and TA, and different TT network structures may predispose cardiac cells differently to arrhythmogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Song
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Michael B Liu
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Zhilin Qu
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Biomathematics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Wilson D, Ermentrout B. Stochastic Pacing Inhibits Spatially Discordant Cardiac Alternans. Biophys J 2017; 113:2552-2572. [PMID: 29212008 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Depressed heart rate variability is a well-established risk factor for sudden cardiac death in survivors of acute myocardial infarction and for those with congestive heart failure. Although measurements of heart rate variability provide a valuable prognostic tool, it is unclear whether reduced heart rate variability itself is proarrhythmic or if it simply correlates with the severity of autonomic nervous system dysfunction. In this work, we investigate a possible mechanism by which heart rate variability could protect against cardiac arrhythmia. Specifically, in numerical simulations, we observe an inverse relationship between the variance of stochastic pacing and the occurrence of spatially discordant alternans, an arrhythmia that is widely believed to facilitate the development of cardiac fibrillation. By analyzing the effects of conduction velocity restitution, cellular dynamics, electrotonic coupling, and stochastic pacing on the nodal dynamics of spatially discordant alternans, we provide intuition for this observed behavior and propose control strategies to inhibit discordant alternans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Wilson
- Department of Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
| | - Bard Ermentrout
- Department of Mathematics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Matsuyama TA, Tanaka H, Ishibashi-Ueda H, Takamatsu T. Spatiotemporally Non-Uniform Ca 2+ Dynamics of Cardiac Purkinje Fibers in Mouse Myocardial Infarct. J Histochem Cytochem 2017; 65:655-667. [PMID: 28903013 DOI: 10.1369/0022155417730280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Surviving Purkinje fibers in myocardial infarct are regarded as an important substrate in arrhythmogenesis. However, poorly understood are functional properties of Purkinje fibers in the infarcted heart. We sought to visualize intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) dynamics of Purkinje fiber networks in the mouse myocardial infarct. Using 3- to 4-day-old or 7- to 9-day-old infarcted hearts after the left coronary-artery ligation corresponding, respectively, to acute or healing phase, we conducted rapid fluo4-fluorescence imaging on the endocardial surface of the left ventricular septum by macro-zoom fluorescence microscopy and rapid-scanning confocal microscopy. In contrast with the intact heart, where uniform Ca2+ transients propagated rapidly, the infarcted heart exhibited slow, non-uniform impulse propagations. On confocal microscopy, Purkinje fibers in the peri-infarct zone exhibited non-uniform [Ca2+]i dynamics: beat-to-beat alternans of the Ca2+ transient amplitude in and among the individual fibers, whereas the intact fibers exhibited uniform Ca2+ transients. Such non-uniform [Ca2+]i dynamics were more conspicuous in the acute infarcted hearts than in the healing ones. In accordance with [Ca2+]i dynamics, fixed fluo4-loaded heart preparations exhibited definitive connexin-40 plaques in the peri-infarct Purkinje fibers, whereas the subjacent myocardium presented coagulative necrosis and granulation tissues, respectively. The surviving Purkinje fibers in the peri-infarct zone exhibited non-uniform [Ca2+]i dynamics, which may lead to arrhythmogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taka-Aki Matsuyama
- Department of Pathology and Cell Regulation, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hideo Tanaka
- Department of Pathology and Cell Regulation, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hatsue Ishibashi-Ueda
- Department of Pathology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Takamatsu
- Department of Medical Photonics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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28
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Blatter LA. The intricacies of atrial calcium cycling during excitation-contraction coupling. J Gen Physiol 2017; 149:857-865. [PMID: 28798277 PMCID: PMC5583713 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201711809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Blatter discusses the initiation and spread of Ca release, Ca store depletion, and release termination in atrial myocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lothar A Blatter
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
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Sobie EA, Williams GSB, Lederer WJ. Ambiguous interactions between diastolic and SR Ca 2+ in the regulation of cardiac Ca 2+ release. J Gen Physiol 2017; 149:847-855. [PMID: 28798276 PMCID: PMC5583714 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201711814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 07/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Sobie et al. highlight unresolved issues concerning the regulation of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium release in cardiac myocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Sobie
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - George S B Williams
- BioMET, Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
| | - W J Lederer
- BioMET, Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
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Schönleitner P, Schotten U, Antoons G. Mechanosensitivity of microdomain calcium signalling in the heart. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017. [PMID: 28648626 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2017.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In cardiac myocytes, calcium (Ca2+) signalling is tightly controlled in dedicated microdomains. At the dyad, i.e. the narrow cleft between t-tubules and junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), many signalling pathways combine to control Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release during contraction. Local Ca2+ gradients also exist in regions where SR and mitochondria are in close contact to regulate energetic demands. Loss of microdomain structures, or dysregulation of local Ca2+ fluxes in cardiac disease, is often associated with oxidative stress, contractile dysfunction and arrhythmias. Ca2+ signalling at these microdomains is highly mechanosensitive. Recent work has demonstrated that increasing mechanical load triggers rapid local Ca2+ releases that are not reflected by changes in global Ca2+. Key mechanisms involve rapid mechanotransduction with reactive oxygen species or nitric oxide as primary signalling molecules targeting SR or mitochondria microdomains depending on the nature of the mechanical stimulus. This review summarizes the most recent insights in rapid Ca2+ microdomain mechanosensitivity and re-evaluates its (patho)physiological significance in the context of historical data on the macroscopic role of Ca2+ in acute force adaptation and mechanically-induced arrhythmias. We distinguish between preload and afterload mediated effects on local Ca2+ release, and highlight differences between atrial and ventricular myocytes. Finally, we provide an outlook for further investigation in chronic models of abnormal mechanics (eg post-myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation), to identify the clinical significance of disturbed Ca2+ mechanosensitivity for arrhythmogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Schönleitner
- Dept of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - Uli Schotten
- Dept of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
| | - Gudrun Antoons
- Dept of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, The Netherlands.
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31
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Azam MA, Zamiri N, Massé S, Kusha M, Lai PFH, Nair GK, Tan NS, Labos C, Nanthakumar K. Effects of Late Sodium Current Blockade on Ventricular Refibrillation in a Rabbit Model. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2017; 10:CIRCEP.116.004331. [PMID: 28314848 DOI: 10.1161/circep.116.004331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND After defibrillation of initial ventricular fibrillation (VF), it is crucial to prevent refibrillation to ensure successful resuscitation outcomes. Inability of the late Na+ current to inactivate leads to intracellular Ca2+ dysregulation and arrhythmias. Our aim was to determine the effects of ranolazine and GS-967, inhibitors of the late Na+ current, on ventricular refibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS Long-duration VF was induced electrically in Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts (n=22) and terminated with a defibrillator after 6 minutes. Fibrillating hearts were randomized into 3 groups: treatment with ranolazine, GS-967, or nontreated controls. In the treated groups, hearts were perfused with ranolazine or GS-967 at 2 minutes of VF. In control experiments, perfusion solution was supplemented with isotonic saline in lieu of a drug. Inducibility of refibrillation was assessed after initial long-duration VF by attempting to reinduce VF. Sustained refibrillation was successful in fewer ranolazine-treated (29.17%; P=0.005) or GS-967-treated (45.83%, P=0.035) hearts compared with that in nontreated control hearts (84.85%). In GS-967-treated hearts, significantly more spontaneous termination of initial long-duration VF was observed (66.67%; P=0.01). Ca2+ transient duration was reduced in ranolazine-treated hearts compared with that in controls (P=0.05) and also Ca2+ alternans (P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS Late Na+ current inhibition during long-duration VF reduces the susceptibility to subsequent refibrillation, partially by mitigating dysregulation of intracellular Ca2+. These results suggest the potential therapeutic use of ranolazine and GS-967 and call for further testing in cardiac arrest models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Ali Azam
- From the Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada (M.A.A., N.Z., S.M., M.K., P.F.H.L., G.K.N., N.S.T., K.N.); and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L.)
| | - Nima Zamiri
- From the Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada (M.A.A., N.Z., S.M., M.K., P.F.H.L., G.K.N., N.S.T., K.N.); and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L.)
| | - Stéphane Massé
- From the Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada (M.A.A., N.Z., S.M., M.K., P.F.H.L., G.K.N., N.S.T., K.N.); and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L.)
| | - Marjan Kusha
- From the Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada (M.A.A., N.Z., S.M., M.K., P.F.H.L., G.K.N., N.S.T., K.N.); and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L.)
| | - Patrick F H Lai
- From the Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada (M.A.A., N.Z., S.M., M.K., P.F.H.L., G.K.N., N.S.T., K.N.); and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L.)
| | - Govind K Nair
- From the Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada (M.A.A., N.Z., S.M., M.K., P.F.H.L., G.K.N., N.S.T., K.N.); and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L.)
| | - Nigel S Tan
- From the Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada (M.A.A., N.Z., S.M., M.K., P.F.H.L., G.K.N., N.S.T., K.N.); and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L.)
| | - Christopher Labos
- From the Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada (M.A.A., N.Z., S.M., M.K., P.F.H.L., G.K.N., N.S.T., K.N.); and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L.)
| | - Kumaraswamy Nanthakumar
- From the Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Ontario, Canada (M.A.A., N.Z., S.M., M.K., P.F.H.L., G.K.N., N.S.T., K.N.); and Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (C.L.).
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Kanaporis G, Blatter LA. Alternans in atria: Mechanisms and clinical relevance. MEDICINA-LITHUANIA 2017; 53:139-149. [PMID: 28666575 DOI: 10.1016/j.medici.2017.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation is the most common sustained arrhythmia and its prevalence is rapidly rising with the aging of the population. Cardiac alternans, defined as cyclic beat-to-beat alternations in contraction force, action potential (AP) duration and intracellular Ca2+ release at constant stimulation rate, has been associated with the development of ventricular arrhythmias. Recent clinical data also provide strong evidence that alternans plays a central role in arrhythmogenesis in atria. The aim of this article is to review the mechanisms that are responsible for repolarization alternans and contribute to the transition from spatially concordant alternans to the more arrhythmogenic spatially discordant alternans in atria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giedrius Kanaporis
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA.
| | - Lothar A Blatter
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA
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33
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Yue X, Zhang R, Kim B, Ma A, Philipson KD, Goldhaber JI. Heterogeneity of transverse-axial tubule system in mouse atria: Remodeling in atrial-specific Na +-Ca 2+ exchanger knockout mice. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2017; 108:50-60. [PMID: 28529049 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Revised: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Transverse-axial tubules (TATs) are commonly assumed to be sparse or absent in atrial myocytes from small animals. Atrial myocytes from rats, cats and rabbits lack TATs, which results in a characteristic "V"-shaped Ca release pattern in confocal line-scan recordings due to the delayed rise of Ca in the center of the cell. To examine TAT expression in isolated mouse atrial myocytes, we loaded them with the membrane dye Di-4-ANEPPS to label TATs. We found that >80% of atrial myocytes had identifiable TATs. Atria from male mice had a higher TAT density than female mice, and TAT density correlated with cell width. Using the fluorescent Ca indicator Fluo-4-AM and confocal imaging, we found that wild type (WT) mouse atrial myocytes generate near-synchronous Ca transients, in contrast to the "V"-shaped pattern typically reported in other small animals such as rat. In atrial-specific Na-Ca exchanger (NCX) knockout (KO) mice, which develop sinus node dysfunction and atrial hypertrophy with dilation, we found a substantial loss of atrial TATs in isolated atrial myocytes. There was a greater loss of transverse tubules compared to axial tubules, resulting in a dominance of axial tubules. Consistent with the overall loss of TATs, NCX KO atrial myocytes displayed a "V"-shaped Ca transient with slower and reduced central (CT) Ca release and uptake in comparison to subsarcolemmal (SS) Ca release. We compared chemically detubulated (DT) WT cells to KO, and found similar slowing of CT Ca release and uptake. However, SS Ca transients in the WT DT cells had faster uptake kinetics than KO cells, consistent with the presence of NCX and normal sarcolemmal Ca efflux in the WT DT cells. We conclude that the remodeling of NCX KO atrial myocytes is accompanied by a loss of TATs leading to abnormal Ca release and uptake that could impact atrial contractility and rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yue
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Rui Zhang
- Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Brian Kim
- Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Aiqun Ma
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology of Shaanxi Province, 277 Yanta West Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China.
| | - Kenneth D Philipson
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 650 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Joshua I Goldhaber
- Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
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34
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Maleckar MM, Edwards AG, Louch WE, Lines GT. Studying dyadic structure-function relationships: a review of current modeling approaches and new insights into Ca 2+ (mis)handling. CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS-CARDIOLOGY 2017; 11:1179546817698602. [PMID: 28469494 PMCID: PMC5392018 DOI: 10.1177/1179546817698602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Excitation–contraction coupling in cardiac myocytes requires calcium influx through L-type calcium channels in the sarcolemma, which gates calcium release through sarcoplasmic reticulum ryanodine receptors in a process known as calcium-induced calcium release, producing a myoplasmic calcium transient and enabling cardiomyocyte contraction. The spatio-temporal dynamics of calcium release, buffering, and reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum play a central role in excitation–contraction coupling in both normal and diseased cardiac myocytes. However, further quantitative understanding of these cells’ calcium machinery and the study of mechanisms that underlie both normal cardiac function and calcium-dependent etiologies in heart disease requires accurate knowledge of cardiac ultrastructure, protein distribution and subcellular function. As current imaging techniques are limited in spatial resolution, limiting insight into changes in calcium handling, computational models of excitation–contraction coupling have been increasingly employed to probe these structure–function relationships. This review will focus on the development of structural models of cardiac calcium dynamics at the subcellular level, orienting the reader broadly towards the development of models of subcellular calcium handling in cardiomyocytes. Specific focus will be given to progress in recent years in terms of multi-scale modeling employing resolved spatial models of subcellular calcium machinery. A review of the state-of-the-art will be followed by a review of emergent insights into calcium-dependent etiologies in heart disease and, finally, we will offer a perspective on future directions for related computational modeling and simulation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M Maleckar
- Simula Research Laboratory, Center for Cardiological Innovation and Center for Biomedical Computing, Lysaker, Norway
| | - Andrew G Edwards
- Simula Research Laboratory, Center for Cardiological Innovation and Center for Biomedical Computing, Lysaker, Norway.,University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - William E Louch
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research (IEMR), Oslo University Hospital and the University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Glenn T Lines
- Simula Research Laboratory, Center for Cardiological Innovation and Center for Biomedical Computing, Lysaker, Norway
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Liguzinediol Enhances the Inotropic Effect of Rat Hearts via Inhibition of Protein Phosphatase (PP1 and PP2A) Activities. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2017; 69:236-244. [DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000000467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Davoodi M, Segal S, Kirschner Peretz N, Kamoun D, Yaniv Y. Semi-automated program for analysis of local Ca 2+ spark release with application for classification of heart cell type. Cell Calcium 2017; 64:83-90. [PMID: 28216082 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2017.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2017] [Revised: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Local Ca2+ spark releases are essential to the Ca2+ cycling process. Thus, they play an important role in ventricular and atrial cell contraction, as well as in sinoatrial cell automaticity. Characterizing their properties in healthy cells from different regions in the heart can reveal the basic biophysical differences among these regions. We designed a semi-automatic Matlab Graphical User Interface (called Sparkalyzer) to characterize parameters of Ca2+ spark release from any major cardiac tissue, as recorded in line-scan mode with a confocal laser-scanning microscope. We validated the algorithm on experimental images from rabbit sinoatrial, atrial, and ventricular cells loaded with Fluo-4 AM. The program characterizes general image parameters of Ca2+ transients and sparks: spark duration, which indicates for how long the spark provides Ca2+ to the closed intracellular mechanisms (typical value: 25±1, 23±1, 26±1ms for sinoatrial, atrial, and ventricular cells, respectively); spark amplitude, which indicates the amount of Ca2+ released by a single spark (1.6±0.1, 1.6±0.2, 1.4±0.1F/F0 for sinoatrial, atrial, and ventricular cells, respectively); spark length, which is the length of the Ca2+ wavelets fired out of a row of ryanodine receptors (5±0.1, 5±0.2, 3.4±0.3μm for sinoatrial, atrial, or ventricular cells, respectively) and number of sparks (0.14±0.02, 0.025±0.01, 0.02±0.01 for 1μm in 1s for sinoatrial, atrial, and ventricular cells, respectively). This method is reliable for Ca2+ spark analysis of sinoatrial, atrial, or ventricular cells. Moreover, by examining the average value of Ca2+ spark characteristics and their scattering around the mean, atrial, ventricular and sinoatrial cells can be differentiated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moran Davoodi
- Biomedical Engineering Faculty, Technion-IIT, Haifa, Israel
| | - Sofia Segal
- Biomedical Engineering Faculty, Technion-IIT, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - David Kamoun
- Biomedical Engineering Faculty, Technion-IIT, Haifa, Israel
| | - Yael Yaniv
- Biomedical Engineering Faculty, Technion-IIT, Haifa, Israel.
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Maxwell JT, Blatter LA. A novel mechanism of tandem activation of ryanodine receptors by cytosolic and SR luminal Ca 2+ during excitation-contraction coupling in atrial myocytes. J Physiol 2017; 595:3835-3845. [PMID: 28028837 DOI: 10.1113/jp273611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS In atrial myocytes excitation-contraction coupling is strikingly different from ventricle because atrial myocytes lack a transverse tubule membrane system: Ca2+ release starts in the cell periphery and propagates towards the cell centre by Ca2+ -induced Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ store. The cytosolic Ca2+ sensitivity of the ryanodine receptor (RyRs) Ca2+ release channel is low and it is unclear how Ca2+ release can be activated in the interior of atrial cells. Simultaneous confocal imaging of cytosolic and intra-SR calcium revealed a transient elevation of store Ca2+ that we termed 'Ca2+ sensitization signal'. We propose a novel paradigm of atrial ECC that is based on tandem activation of the RyRs by cytosolic and luminal Ca2+ through a 'fire-diffuse-uptake-fire' (or FDUF) mechanism: Ca2+ uptake by SR Ca2+ pumps at the propagation front elevates Ca2+ inside the SR locally, leading to luminal RyR sensitization and lowering of the cytosolic Ca2+ activation threshold. ABSTRACT In atrial myocytes Ca2+ release during excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) is strikingly different from ventricular myocytes. In many species atrial myocytes lack a transverse tubule system, dividing the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ store into the peripheral subsarcolemmnal junctional (j-SR) and the much more abundant central non-junctional (nj-SR) SR. Action potential (AP)-induced Ca2+ entry activates Ca2+ -induced Ca2+ release (CICR) from j-SR ryanodine receptor (RyR) Ca2+ release channels. Peripheral elevation of [Ca2+ ]i initiates CICR from nj-SR and sustains propagation of CICR to the cell centre. Simultaneous confocal measurements of cytosolic ([Ca2+ ]i ; with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator rhod-2) and intra-SR ([Ca2+ ]SR ; fluo-5N) Ca2+ in rabbit atrial myocytes revealed that Ca2+ release from j-SR resulted in a cytosolic Ca2+ transient of higher amplitude compared to release from nj-SR; however, the degree of depletion of j-SR [Ca2+ ]SR was smaller than nj-SR [Ca2+ ]SR . Similarly, Ca2+ signals from individual release sites of the j-SR showed a larger cytosolic amplitude (Ca2+ sparks) but smaller depletion (Ca2+ blinks) than release from nj-SR. During AP-induced Ca2+ release the rise of [Ca2+ ]i detected at individual release sites of the nj-SR preceded the depletion of [Ca2+ ]SR , and during this latency period a transient elevation of [Ca2+ ]SR occurred. We propose that Ca2+ release from nj-SR is activated by cytosolic and luminal Ca2+ (tandem RyR activation) via a novel 'fire-diffuse-uptake-fire' (FDUF) mechanism. This novel paradigm of atrial ECC predicts that Ca2+ uptake by sarco-endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase (SERCA) at the propagation front elevates local [Ca2+ ]SR , leading to luminal RyR sensitization and lowering of the activation threshold for cytosolic CICR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua T Maxwell
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology, Rush University Medical Centre, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - Lothar A Blatter
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology, Rush University Medical Centre, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
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Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias can follow disruption of the normal cellular electrophysiological processes underlying excitable activity and their tissue propagation as coherent wavefronts from the primary sinoatrial node pacemaker, through the atria, conducting structures and ventricular myocardium. These physiological events are driven by interacting, voltage-dependent, processes of activation, inactivation, and recovery in the ion channels present in cardiomyocyte membranes. Generation and conduction of these events are further modulated by intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, and metabolic and structural change. This review describes experimental studies on murine models for known clinical arrhythmic conditions in which these mechanisms were modified by genetic, physiological, or pharmacological manipulation. These exemplars yielded molecular, physiological, and structural phenotypes often directly translatable to their corresponding clinical conditions, which could be investigated at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and whole animal levels. Arrhythmogenesis could be explored during normal pacing activity, regular stimulation, following imposed extra-stimuli, or during progressively incremented steady pacing frequencies. Arrhythmic substrate was identified with temporal and spatial functional heterogeneities predisposing to reentrant excitation phenomena. These could arise from abnormalities in cardiac pacing function, tissue electrical connectivity, and cellular excitation and recovery. Triggering events during or following recovery from action potential excitation could thereby lead to sustained arrhythmia. These surface membrane processes were modified by alterations in cellular Ca2+ homeostasis and energetics, as well as cellular and tissue structural change. Study of murine systems thus offers major insights into both our understanding of normal cardiac activity and its propagation, and their relationship to mechanisms generating clinical arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher L-H Huang
- Physiological Laboratory and the Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Hohendanner F, DeSantiago J, Heinzel FR, Blatter LA. Dyssynchronous calcium removal in heart failure-induced atrial remodeling. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2016; 311:H1352-H1359. [PMID: 27694214 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00375.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis that in atrial myocytes from a rabbit left ventricular heart failure (HF) model, spatial inhomogeneity and temporal dyssynchrony of Ca removal during excitation-contraction coupling together with increased Na/Ca exchange (NCX) activity generate a substrate for proarrhythmic Ca release. Ca removal occurs via Ca reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum and extrusion via NCX exclusively in the cell periphery since rabbit atrial myocytes lack transverse tubules. Ca removal kinetics were assessed by the time constant τ of decay of local peripheral subsarcolemmal (SS) and central (CT) action potential (AP)-induced Ca transients (CaTs) recorded in confocal line scan mode (using Fluo-4). Spatial and temporal dyssynchrony of Ca removal was quantified by CV TAU, defined as the standard deviation of local τ along the transverse cell axis divided by mean τ. In normal cells CT CaT decline was slower compared with the SS domain, while in HF cells decline was accelerated, became equal in SS and CT regions, and a significant increase of CV TAU indicated an increased Ca removal dyssynchrony. In HF atrial cells NCX upregulation was accompanied by an overall higher incidence of spontaneous Ca waves and a higher propensity of arrhythmogenic Ca waves, defined as waves that triggered APs due to NCX-mediated membrane depolarization. NCX inhibition normalized CV TAU in HF atrial cells and decreased the propensity of Ca waves. In summary, HF atrial myocytes show accelerated but dyssynchronous diastolic Ca removal and altered sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase (SERCA) and NCX activity that result in increased susceptibility to arrhythmia.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Hohendanner
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - J DeSantiago
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - F R Heinzel
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
| | - L A Blatter
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois
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Hohendanner F, Maxwell JT, Blatter LA. Cytosolic and nuclear calcium signaling in atrial myocytes: IP3-mediated calcium release and the role of mitochondria. Channels (Austin) 2016; 9:129-38. [PMID: 25891132 DOI: 10.1080/19336950.2015.1040966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In rabbit atrial myocytes Ca signaling has unique features due to the lack of transverse (t) tubules, the spatial arrangement of mitochondria and the contribution of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor-induced Ca release (IICR). During excitation-contraction coupling action potential-induced elevation of cytosolic [Ca] originates in the cell periphery from Ca released from the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (j-SR) and then propagates by Ca-induced Ca release from non-junctional (nj-) SR toward the cell center. The subsarcolemmal region between j-SR and the first array of nj-SR Ca release sites is devoid of mitochondria which results in a rapid propagation of activation through this domain, whereas the subsequent propagation through the nj-SR network occurs at a velocity typical for a propagating Ca wave. Inhibition of mitochondrial Ca uptake with the Ca uniporter blocker Ru360 accelerates propagation and increases the amplitude of Ca transients (CaTs) originating from nj-SR. Elevation of cytosolic IP3 levels by rapid photolysis of caged IP3 has profound effects on the magnitude of subcellular CaTs with increased Ca release from nj-SR and enhanced CaTs in the nuclear compartment. IP3 uncaging restricted to the nucleus elicites 'mini'-Ca waves that remain confined to this compartment. Elementary IICR events (Ca puffs) preferentially originate in the nucleus in close physical association with membrane structures of the nuclear envelope and the nucleoplasmic reticulum. The data suggest that in atrial myocytes the nucleus is an autonomous Ca signaling domain where Ca dynamics are primarily governed by IICR.
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Key Words
- 2-APB, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate
- AP, action potential
- CICR, Ca-induced Ca release
- CRU, Ca release units
- CT, central
- CaT, Ca transient
- ECC, excitation-contraction coupling
- IICR
- IICR, IP3R-induced Ca release
- IP3
- IP3R, Inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor
- LCC, L-type Ca channels
- MCU, mitochondrial Ca uniporter
- NE, nuclear envelope
- NFAT, nuclear factor of activated T cells
- NPR, nucleoplasmic reticulum
- RyR, ryanodine receptor
- SR, sarcoplasmic reticulum
- SS, subsarcolemmal
- TF50, time to half-maximal amplitude
- TZ, transition zone.
- [Ca]i, cytosolic Ca concentration
- [Ca]mito, mitochondrial Ca concentration
- atria
- excitation-contraction coupling
- j-SR, junctional SR
- mitochondria
- nj-SR, non-junctional SR
- nuclear calcium
- t-tubule, transverse tubule
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Hohendanner
- a Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology ; Rush University Medical Center ; Chicago , IL USA
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Genge CE, Lin E, Lee L, Sheng X, Rayani K, Gunawan M, Stevens CM, Li AY, Talab SS, Claydon TW, Hove-Madsen L, Tibbits GF. The Zebrafish Heart as a Model of Mammalian Cardiac Function. Rev Physiol Biochem Pharmacol 2016; 171:99-136. [PMID: 27538987 DOI: 10.1007/112_2016_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are widely used as vertebrate model in developmental genetics and functional genomics as well as in cardiac structure-function studies. The zebrafish heart has been increasingly used as a model of human cardiac function, in part, due to the similarities in heart rate and action potential duration and morphology with respect to humans. The teleostian zebrafish is in many ways a compelling model of human cardiac function due to the clarity afforded by its ease of genetic manipulation, the wealth of developmental biological information, and inherent suitability to a variety of experimental techniques. However, in addition to the numerous advantages of the zebrafish system are also caveats related to gene duplication (resulting in paralogs not present in human or other mammals) and fundamental differences in how zebrafish hearts function. In this review, we discuss the use of zebrafish as a cardiac function model through the use of techniques such as echocardiography, optical mapping, electrocardiography, molecular investigations of excitation-contraction coupling, and their physiological implications relative to that of the human heart. While some of these techniques (e.g., echocardiography) are particularly challenging in the zebrafish because of diminutive size of the heart (~1.5 mm in diameter) critical information can be derived from these approaches and are discussed in detail in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Genge
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Eric Lin
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Ling Lee
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Z 4H4
| | - XiaoYe Sheng
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Z 4H4
| | - Kaveh Rayani
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Marvin Gunawan
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Charles M Stevens
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Z 4H4
| | - Alison Yueh Li
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Sanam Shafaat Talab
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Thomas W Claydon
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6
| | - Leif Hove-Madsen
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6.,Cardiovascular Research Centre CSIC-ICCC, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Glen F Tibbits
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6. .,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5Z 4H4.
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Edwards JN, Blatter LA. Cardiac alternans and intracellular calcium cycling. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2015; 41:524-32. [PMID: 25040398 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.12231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2013] [Revised: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac alternans refers to a condition in which there is a periodic beat-to-beat oscillation in electrical activity and the strength of cardiac muscle contraction at a constant heart rate. Clinically, cardiac alternans occurs in settings that are typical for cardiac arrhythmias and has been causally linked to these conditions. At the cellular level, alternans is defined as beat-to-beat alternations in contraction amplitude (mechanical alternans), action potential duration (APD; electrical or APD alternans) and Ca(2+) transient amplitude (Ca(2+) alternans). The cause of alternans is multifactorial; however, alternans always originate from disturbances of the bidirectional coupling between membrane voltage (Vm ) and intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+) ]i ). Bidirectional coupling refers to the fact that, in cardiac cells, Vm depolarization and the generation of action potentials cause the elevation of [Ca(2+) ]i that is required for contraction (a process referred to as excitation-contraction coupling); conversely, changes of [Ca(2+) ]i control Vm because important membrane currents are Ca(2+) dependent. Evidence is mounting that alternans is ultimately caused by disturbances of cellular Ca(2+) signalling. Herein we review how two key factors of cardiac cellular Ca(2+) cycling, namely the release of Ca(2+) from internal stores and the capability of clearing the cytosol from Ca(2+) after each beat, determine the conditions under which alternans occurs. The contributions from key Ca(2+) -handling proteins (i.e. surface membrane channels, ion pumps and transporters and internal Ca(2+) release channels) are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua N Edwards
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Physiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
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Thul R, Rietdorf K, Bootman MD, Coombes S. Unifying principles of calcium wave propagation - Insights from a three-dimensional model for atrial myocytes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2015; 1853:2131-43. [PMID: 25746480 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2015.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Revised: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Atrial myocytes in a number of species lack transverse tubules. As a consequence the intracellular calcium signals occurring during each heartbeat exhibit complex spatio-temporal dynamics. These calcium patterns arise from saltatory calcium waves that propagate via successive rounds of diffusion and calcium-induced calcium release. The many parameters that impinge on calcium-induced calcium release and calcium signal propagation make it difficult to know a priori whether calcium waves will successfully travel, or be extinguished. In this study, we describe in detail a mathematical model of calcium signalling that allows the effect of such parameters to be independently assessed. A key aspect of the model is to follow the triggering and evolution of calcium signals within a realistic three-dimensional cellular volume of an atrial myocyte, but with low computational costs. This is achieved by solving the linear transport equation for calcium analytically between calcium release events and by expressing the onset of calcium liberation as a threshold process. The model makes non-intuitive predictions about calcium signal propagation. For example, our modelling illustrates that the boundary of a cell produces a wave-guiding effect that enables calcium ions to propagate further and for longer, and can subtly alter the pattern of calcium wave movement. The high spatial resolution of the modelling framework allows the study of any arrangement of calcium release sites. We demonstrate that even small variations in randomly positioned release sites cause highly heterogeneous cellular responses. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 13th European Symposium on Calcium.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Thul
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - K Rietdorf
- Department of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
| | - M D Bootman
- Department of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
| | - S Coombes
- School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
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Pluteanu F, Heß J, Plackic J, Nikonova Y, Preisenberger J, Bukowska A, Schotten U, Rinne A, Kienitz MC, Schäfer MKH, Weihe E, Goette A, Kockskämper J. Early subcellular Ca2+ remodelling and increased propensity for Ca2+ alternans in left atrial myocytes from hypertensive rats. Cardiovasc Res 2015; 106:87-97. [PMID: 25691541 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvv045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Hypertension is a major risk factor for atrial fibrillation. We hypothesized that arterial hypertension would alter atrial myocyte calcium (Ca2+) handling and that these alterations would serve to trigger atrial tachyarrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS Left atria or left atrial (LA) myocytes were isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) or normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) controls. Early after the onset of hypertension, at 3 months of age, there were no differences in Ca2+ transients (CaTs) or expression and phosphorylation of Ca2+ handling proteins between SHR and WKY. At 7 months of age, when left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy had progressed and markers of fibrosis were increased in left atrium, CaTs (at 1 Hz stimulation) were still unchanged. Subcellular alterations in Ca2+ handling were observed, however, in SHR atrial myocytes including (i) reduced expression of the α1C subunit of and reduced Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels, (ii) reduced expression of ryanodine receptors with increased phosphorylation at Ser2808, (iii) decreased activity of the Na+ / Ca2+ exchanger (at unaltered intracellular Na+ concentration), and (iv) increased SR Ca2+ load with reduced fractional release. These changes were associated with an increased propensity of SHR atrial myocytes to develop frequency-dependent, arrhythmogenic Ca2+ alternans. CONCLUSIONS In SHR, hypertension induces early subcellular LA myocyte Ca2+ remodelling during compensated LV hypertrophy. In basal conditions, atrial myocyte CaTs are not changed. At increased stimulation frequency, however, SHR atrial myocytes become more prone to arrhythmogenic Ca2+ alternans, suggesting a link between hypertension, atrial Ca2+ homeostasis, and development of atrial tachyarrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentina Pluteanu
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Biochemical and Pharmacological Center (BPC) Marburg, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 1, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Johannes Heß
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Biochemical and Pharmacological Center (BPC) Marburg, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 1, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Jelena Plackic
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Biochemical and Pharmacological Center (BPC) Marburg, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 1, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Yulia Nikonova
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Biochemical and Pharmacological Center (BPC) Marburg, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 1, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Judit Preisenberger
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Biochemical and Pharmacological Center (BPC) Marburg, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 1, 35032 Marburg, Germany
| | - Alicja Bukowska
- Working Group of Molecular Electrophysiology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schotten
- Department of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, University Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Andreas Rinne
- Institute of Physiology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Martin K-H Schäfer
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Eberhard Weihe
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Goette
- Working Group of Molecular Electrophysiology, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany St. Vincenz-Hospital, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Jens Kockskämper
- Institute of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, Biochemical and Pharmacological Center (BPC) Marburg, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 1, 35032 Marburg, Germany
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45
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Chang KC, Bayer JD, Trayanova NA. Disrupted calcium release as a mechanism for atrial alternans associated with human atrial fibrillation. PLoS Comput Biol 2014; 10:e1004011. [PMID: 25501557 PMCID: PMC4263367 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Accepted: 10/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, but our knowledge of the arrhythmogenic substrate is incomplete. Alternans, the beat-to-beat alternation in the shape of cardiac electrical signals, typically occurs at fast heart rates and leads to arrhythmia. However, atrial alternans have been observed at slower pacing rates in AF patients than in controls, suggesting that increased vulnerability to arrhythmia in AF patients may be due to the proarrythmic influence of alternans at these slower rates. As such, alternans may present a useful therapeutic target for the treatment and prevention of AF, but the mechanism underlying alternans occurrence in AF patients at heart rates near rest is unknown. The goal of this study was to determine how cellular changes that occur in human AF affect the appearance of alternans at heart rates near rest. To achieve this, we developed a computational model of human atrial tissue incorporating electrophysiological remodeling associated with chronic AF (cAF) and performed parameter sensitivity analysis of ionic model parameters to determine which cellular changes led to alternans. Of the 20 parameters tested, only decreasing the ryanodine receptor (RyR) inactivation rate constant (kiCa) produced action potential duration (APD) alternans seen clinically at slower pacing rates. Using single-cell clamps of voltage, fluxes, and state variables, we determined that alternans onset was Ca2+-driven rather than voltage-driven and occurred as a result of decreased RyR inactivation which led to increased steepness of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release slope. Iterated map analysis revealed that because SR Ca2+ uptake efficiency was much higher in control atrial cells than in cAF cells, drastic reductions in kiCa were required to produce alternans at comparable pacing rates in control atrial cells. These findings suggest that RyR kinetics may play a critical role in altered Ca2+ homeostasis which drives proarrhythmic APD alternans in patients with AF. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart rhythm affecting millions of people worldwide. Effective treatment of this cardiac disorder relies upon our detailed knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms that lead to arrhythmia. Recent clinical observations have suggested that alternans, a phenomenon where the shape of the electrical signal in the heart alternates from beat to beat, may play an important role in this process, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we use computational models to conduct a detailed examination of the causes and contributors to alternans associated with human atrial fibrillation. We find that in atria remodeled by atrial fibrillation, alternans appears near resting heart rates because several aspects of calcium cycling are disrupted in the atrial cells. In particular, the release and uptake of calcium from the cellular storage compartment, the sarcoplasmic reticulum, becomes imbalanced, leading to alternation in calcium signals from beat to beat. These findings provide important insights into the mechanisms of proarrhythmic alternans in human atrial fibrillation which may be used to develop novel therapeutic targets and treatment strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly C. Chang
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jason D. Bayer
- IHU-LIRYC - L'Institut de RYthmologie et Modélisation Cardiaque, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Natalia A. Trayanova
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Caldwell JL, Smith CER, Taylor RF, Kitmitto A, Eisner DA, Dibb KM, Trafford AW. Dependence of cardiac transverse tubules on the BAR domain protein amphiphysin II (BIN-1). Circ Res 2014; 115:986-96. [PMID: 25332206 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.116.303448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Transverse tubules (t-tubules) regulate cardiac excitation-contraction coupling and exhibit interchamber and interspecies differences in expression. In cardiac disease, t-tubule loss occurs and affects the systolic calcium transient. However, the mechanisms controlling t-tubule maintenance and whether these factors differ between species, cardiac chambers, and in a disease setting remain unclear. OBJECTIVE To determine the role of the Bin/Amphiphysin/Rvs domain protein amphiphysin II (AmpII) in regulating t-tubule maintenance and the systolic calcium transient. METHODS AND RESULTS T-tubule density was assessed by di-4-ANEPPS, FM4-64 or WGA staining using confocal microscopy. In rat, ferret, and sheep hearts t-tubule density and AmpII protein levels were lower in the atrium than in the ventricle. Heart failure (HF) was induced in sheep using right ventricular tachypacing and ferrets by ascending aortic coarctation. In both HF models, AmpII protein and t-tubule density were decreased in the ventricles. In the sheep, atrial t-tubules were also lost in HF and AmpII levels decreased. Conversely, junctophilin 2 levels did not show interchamber differences in the rat and ferret nor did they change in HF in the sheep or ferret. In addition, in rat atrial and sheep HF atrial cells where t-tubules were absent, junctophilin 2 had sarcomeric intracellular distribution. Small interfering RNA-induced knockdown of AmpII protein reduced t-tubule density, calcium transient amplitude, and the synchrony of the systolic calcium transient. CONCLUSIONS AmpII is intricately involved in t-tubule maintenance. Reducing AmpII protein decreases t-tubule density, reduces the amplitude, and increases the heterogeneity of the systolic calcium transient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Caldwell
- From the Unit of Cardiac Physiology and Cardiac Biophysics Group, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte E R Smith
- From the Unit of Cardiac Physiology and Cardiac Biophysics Group, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca F Taylor
- From the Unit of Cardiac Physiology and Cardiac Biophysics Group, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ashraf Kitmitto
- From the Unit of Cardiac Physiology and Cardiac Biophysics Group, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - David A Eisner
- From the Unit of Cardiac Physiology and Cardiac Biophysics Group, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Katharine M Dibb
- From the Unit of Cardiac Physiology and Cardiac Biophysics Group, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew W Trafford
- From the Unit of Cardiac Physiology and Cardiac Biophysics Group, Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
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Abstract
In a normal human life span, the heart beats about 2 to 3 billion times. Under diseased conditions, a heart may lose its normal rhythm and degenerate suddenly into much faster and irregular rhythms, called arrhythmias, which may lead to sudden death. The transition from a normal rhythm to an arrhythmia is a transition from regular electrical wave conduction to irregular or turbulent wave conduction in the heart, and thus this medical problem is also a problem of physics and mathematics. In the last century, clinical, experimental, and theoretical studies have shown that dynamical theories play fundamental roles in understanding the mechanisms of the genesis of the normal heart rhythm as well as lethal arrhythmias. In this article, we summarize in detail the nonlinear and stochastic dynamics occurring in the heart and their links to normal cardiac functions and arrhythmias, providing a holistic view through integrating dynamics from the molecular (microscopic) scale, to the organelle (mesoscopic) scale, to the cellular, tissue, and organ (macroscopic) scales. We discuss what existing problems and challenges are waiting to be solved and how multi-scale mathematical modeling and nonlinear dynamics may be helpful for solving these problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilin Qu
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Correspondence to: Zhilin Qu, PhD, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, A2-237 CHS, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095, Tel: 310-794-6050, Fax: 310-206-9133,
| | - Gang Hu
- Department of Physics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Alan Garfinkel
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - James N. Weiss
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Department of Physiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
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Kharche SR, Stary T, Colman MA, Biktasheva IV, Workman AJ, Rankin AC, Holden AV, Zhang H. Effects of human atrial ionic remodelling by β-blocker therapy on mechanisms of atrial fibrillation: a computer simulation. Europace 2014; 16:1524-33. [PMID: 25085203 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euu084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Atrial anti-arrhythmic effects of β-adrenoceptor antagonists (β-blockers) may involve both a suppression of pro-arrhythmic effects of catecholamines, and an adaptational electrophysiological response to chronic β-blocker use; so-called 'pharmacological remodelling'. In human atrium, such remodelling decreases the transient outward (Ito) and inward rectifier (IK1) K(+) currents, and increases the cellular action potential duration (APD) and effective refractory period (ERP). However, the consequences of these changes on mechanisms of genesis and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF) are unknown. Using mathematical modelling, we tested the hypothesis that the long-term adaptational decrease in human atrial Ito and IK1 caused by chronic β-blocker therapy, i.e. independent of acute electrophysiological effects of β-blockers, in an otherwise un-remodelled atrium, could suppress AF. METHODS AND RESULTS Contemporarily, biophysically detailed human atrial cell and tissue models were used to investigate effects of the β-blocker-based pharmacological remodelling. Chronic β-blockade remodelling prolonged atrial cell APD and ERP. The incidence of small amplitude APD alternans in the CRN model was reduced. At the 1D tissue level, β-blocker remodelling decreased the maximum pacing rate at which APs could be conducted. At the three-dimensional organ level, β-blocker remodelling reduced the life span of re-entry scroll waves. CONCLUSION This study improves our understanding of the electrophysiological mechanisms of AF suppression by chronic β-blocker therapy. Atrial fibrillation suppression may involve a reduced propensity for maintenance of re-entrant excitation waves, as a consequence of increased APD and ERP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay R Kharche
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QF, UK Biological Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Tomas Stary
- College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QF, UK
| | - Michael A Colman
- Biological Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Irina V Biktasheva
- Department of Computer Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Antony J Workman
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, 126 University Place, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK
| | - Andrew C Rankin
- School of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Arun V Holden
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS6 9JT, UK
| | - Henggui Zhang
- Biological Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
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Frisk M, Koivumäki JT, Norseng PA, Maleckar MM, Sejersted OM, Louch WE. Variable t-tubule organization and Ca2+ homeostasis across the atria. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2014; 307:H609-20. [PMID: 24951751 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00295.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Although t-tubules have traditionally been thought to be absent in atrial cardiomyocytes, recent studies have suggested that t-tubules exist in the atria of large mammals. However, it is unclear whether regional differences in t-tubule organization exist that define cardiomyocyte function across the atria. We sought to investigate regional t-tubule density in pig and rat atria and the consequences for cardiomyocyte Ca(2+) homeostasis. We observed t-tubules in approximately one-third of rat atrial cardiomyocytes, in both tissue cryosections and isolated cardiomyocytes. In a minority (≈10%) of atrial cardiomyocytes, the t-tubular network was well organized, with a transverse structure resembling that of ventricular cardiomyocytes. In both rat and pig atrial tissue, we observed higher t-tubule density in the epicardium than in the endocardium. Consistent with high variability in the distribution of t-tubules and Ca(2+) channels among cells, L-type Ca(2+) current amplitude was also highly variable and steeply dependent on capacitance and t-tubule density. Accordingly, Ca(2+) transients showed great variability in Ca(2+) release synchrony. Simultaneous imaging of the cell membrane and Ca(2+) transients confirmed t-tubule functionality. Results from mathematical modeling indicated that a transmural gradient in t-tubule organization and Ca(2+) release kinetics supports synchronization of contraction across the atrial wall and may underlie transmural differences in the refractory period. In conclusion, our results indicate that t-tubule density is highly variable across the atria. We propose that higher t-tubule density in cells localized in the epicardium may promote synchronization of contraction across the atrial wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Frisk
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Cardiac Research Center and Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway;
| | - Jussi T Koivumäki
- Center for Biomedical Computing, Simula Research Laboratory, Oslo, Norway; and Center for Cardiological Innovation, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Per A Norseng
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Cardiac Research Center and Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Mary M Maleckar
- Center for Biomedical Computing, Simula Research Laboratory, Oslo, Norway; and Center for Cardiological Innovation, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ole M Sejersted
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Cardiac Research Center and Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - William E Louch
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; KG Jebsen Cardiac Research Center and Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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50
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Lugo CA, Cantalapiedra IR, Peñaranda A, Hove-Madsen L, Echebarria B. Are SR Ca content fluctuations or SR refractoriness the key to atrial cardiac alternans?: insights from a human atrial model. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2014; 306:H1540-52. [DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00515.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite the important role of electromechanical alternans in cardiac arrhythmogenesis, its molecular origin is not well understood. The appearance of calcium alternans has often been associated to fluctuations in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca loading. However, cytosolic calcium alternans observed without concurrent oscillations in the SR Ca content suggests an alternative mechanism related to a dysfunction in the dynamics of the ryanodine receptor (RyR2). We have investigated the effect of SR release refractoriness in the appearance of alternans, using a mathematical model of a single human atrial cell, based on the model by Nygren et al. ( 30 ), where we modified the dynamics of the RyR2 and of SR Ca release. The genesis of calcium alternans was studied stimulating the cell for different periods and values of the RyR2 recovery time from inactivation. At fast rates cytosolic calcium alternans were obtained without concurrent SR Ca content fluctuations. A transition from regular response to alternans was also observed, changing the recovery time from inactivation of the RyR2. This transition was found to be hysteretic, so for a given set of parameters different responses were observed. We then studied the relevance of RyR2 refractoriness for the generation of alternans, reproducing the same protocols as in recent experiments. In particular, restitution of Ca release during alternans was studied with a S1S2 protocol, obtaining a different response if the S2 stimulation was given after a long or a short release. We show that the experimental results can be explained by RyR2 refractoriness, arising from a slow RyR2 recovery from inactivation, stressing the role of the RyR2 in the genesis of alternans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos A. Lugo
- Departament de Física Aplicada, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Astrobiología, Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Ctra de Torrejón a Ajalvir, Madrid, Spain; and
| | - Inma R. Cantalapiedra
- Departament de Física Aplicada, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angelina Peñaranda
- Departament de Física Aplicada, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Leif Hove-Madsen
- Cardiovascular Research Centre, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Blas Echebarria
- Departament de Física Aplicada, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
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