1
|
Hernández-Domínguez RA, Herrera-Orozco JF, Salazar-Calderón GE, Chávez-Canales M, Márquez MF, González-Álvarez F, Totomoch-Serra A, Reyes-Cruz T, Lip F, Aceves-Buendía JJ. Optogenetic modulation of cardiac autonomic nervous system. Auton Neurosci 2024; 255:103199. [PMID: 39059299 DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2024.103199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The following is a narrative review of the fundamentals of optogenetics. It focuses on the advantages and constraints of manipulating the autonomic nervous system by modifying the pathophysiological characteristics that arise in different diseases. Although the use of this technique is currently experimental, we will discuss improvements that have been implemented and identify the necessary measures for potential preclinical translation in the control of the cardiac autonomic nervous system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramon A Hernández-Domínguez
- Electrocardiology Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano 1 Belisario Domínguez secc. 16 Tlalpan CP 14080, Mexico City, Mexico; Surgery Department, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad Dr. Juan Graham Casasús, Calle Uno S/N, Miguel Hidalgo III Etapa, Villahermosa, 86126, Tabasco, Mexico
| | - Jorge F Herrera-Orozco
- Electrocardiology Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano 1 Belisario Domínguez secc. 16 Tlalpan CP 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Guadalupe E Salazar-Calderón
- Neurology Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15 Belisario Domínguez, Secc. 16, Tlalpan CP 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - María Chávez-Canales
- Unidad de Investigación UNAM-INC, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Tlalpan 14080, Ciudad de México Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad, Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán 04510, México
| | - Manlio F Márquez
- Electrocardiology Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano 1 Belisario Domínguez secc. 16 Tlalpan CP 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Felipe González-Álvarez
- Neurology Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15 Belisario Domínguez, Secc. 16, Tlalpan CP 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Armando Totomoch-Serra
- Electrocardiology Department, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano 1 Belisario Domínguez secc. 16 Tlalpan CP 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Tania Reyes-Cruz
- Microbiology Laboratory, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100 Villa Quietud Coyoacán CP 04960, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Finn Lip
- Neurology Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15 Belisario Domínguez, Secc. 16, Tlalpan CP 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José J Aceves-Buendía
- Neurology Department, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15 Belisario Domínguez, Secc. 16, Tlalpan CP 14080, Mexico City, Mexico.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Leemann S, Schneider-Warme F, Kleinlogel S. Cardiac optogenetics: shining light on signaling pathways. Pflugers Arch 2023; 475:1421-1437. [PMID: 38097805 PMCID: PMC10730638 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02892-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
In the early 2000s, the field of neuroscience experienced a groundbreaking transformation with the advent of optogenetics. This innovative technique harnesses the properties of naturally occurring and genetically engineered rhodopsins to confer light sensitivity upon target cells. The remarkable spatiotemporal precision offered by optogenetics has provided researchers with unprecedented opportunities to dissect cellular physiology, leading to an entirely new level of investigation. Initially revolutionizing neuroscience, optogenetics quickly piqued the interest of the wider scientific community, and optogenetic applications were expanded to cardiovascular research. Over the past decade, researchers have employed various optical tools to observe, regulate, and steer the membrane potential of excitable cells in the heart. Despite these advancements, achieving control over specific signaling pathways within the heart has remained an elusive goal. Here, we review the optogenetic tools suitable to control cardiac signaling pathways with a focus on GPCR signaling, and delineate potential applications for studying these pathways, both in healthy and diseased hearts. By shedding light on these exciting developments, we hope to contribute to the ongoing progress in basic cardiac research to facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic possibilities for treating cardiovascular pathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siri Leemann
- Institute of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, and Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Franziska Schneider-Warme
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, and Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Kleinlogel
- Institute of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Translational Medicine Neuroscience, Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sung YL, Wang TW, Lin TT, Lin SF. Optogenetics in cardiology: methodology and future applications. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARRHYTHMIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s42444-022-00060-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractOptogenetics is an emerging biological approach with the unique capability of specific targeting due to the precise light control with high spatial and temporal resolution. It uses selected light wavelengths to control and modulate the biological functions of cells, tissues, and organ levels. Optogenetics has been instrumental in different biomedical applications, including neuroscience, diabetes, and mitochondria, based on distinctive optical biomedical effects with light modulation. Nowadays, optogenetics in cardiology is rapidly evolving for the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Several in vitro and in vivo research for cardiac optogenetics demonstrated visible progress. The optogenetics technique can be applied to address critical cardiovascular problems such as heart failure and arrhythmia. To this end, this paper reviews cardiac electrophysiology and the technical progress about experimental and clinical cardiac optogenetics and provides the background and evolution of cardiac optogenetics. We reviewed the literature to demonstrate the servo type, transfection efficiency, signal recording, and heart disease targets in optogenetic applications. Such literature review would hopefully expedite the progress of optogenetics in cardiology and further expect to translate into the clinical terminal in the future.
Collapse
|
4
|
Gruber A, Edri O, Glatstein S, Goldfracht I, Huber I, Arbel G, Gepstein A, Chorna S, Gepstein L. Optogenetic Control of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiac Tissue Models. J Am Heart Assoc 2022; 11:e021615. [PMID: 35112880 PMCID: PMC9245811 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.121.021615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Background Optogenetics, using light‐sensitive proteins, emerged as a unique experimental paradigm to modulate cardiac excitability. We aimed to develop high‐resolution optogenetic approaches to modulate electrical activity in 2‐ and 3‐dimensional cardiac tissue models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)‐derived cardiomyocytes. Methods and Results To establish light‐controllable cardiac tissue models, opsin‐carrying HEK293 cells, expressing the light‐sensitive cationic‐channel CoChR, were mixed with hiPSC‐cardiomyocytes to generate 2‐dimensional hiPSC‐derived cardiac cell‐sheets or 3‐dimensional engineered heart tissues. Complex illumination patterns were designed with a high‐resolution digital micro‐mirror device. Optical mapping and force measurements were used to evaluate the tissues' electromechanical properties. The ability to optogenetically pace and shape the tissue's conduction properties was demonstrated by using single or multiple illumination stimulation sites, complex illumination patterns, or diffuse illumination. This allowed to establish in vitro models for optogenetic‐based cardiac resynchronization therapy, where the electrical activation could be synchronized (hiPSC‐derived cardiac cell‐sheets and engineered heart tissue models) and contractile properties improved (engineered heart tissues). Next, reentrant activity (rotors) was induced in the hiPSC‐derived cardiac cell‐sheets and engineered heart tissue models through optogenetics programmed‐ or cross‐field stimulations. Diffuse illumination protocols were then used to terminate arrhythmias, demonstrating the potential to study optogenetics cardioversion mechanisms and to identify optimal illumination parameters for arrhythmia termination. Conclusions By combining optogenetics and hiPSC technologies, light‐controllable human cardiac tissue models could be established, in which tissue excitability can be modulated in a functional, reversible, and localized manner. This approach may bring a unique value for physiological/pathophysiological studies, for disease modeling, and for developing optogenetic‐based cardiac pacing, resynchronization, and defibrillation approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amit Gruber
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Oded Edri
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Shany Glatstein
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Idit Goldfracht
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Irit Huber
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Gil Arbel
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Amira Gepstein
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Snizhanna Chorna
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Lior Gepstein
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
- Cardiology DepartmentRambam Health Care CampusHaifaIsrael
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ochs AR, Karathanos TV, Trayanova NA, Boyle PM. Optogenetic Stimulation Using Anion Channelrhodopsin (GtACR1) Facilitates Termination of Reentrant Arrhythmias With Low Light Energy Requirements: A Computational Study. Front Physiol 2021; 12:718622. [PMID: 34526912 PMCID: PMC8435849 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.718622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Optogenetic defibrillation of hearts expressing light-sensitive cation channels (e.g., ChR2) has been proposed as an alternative to conventional electrotherapy. Past modeling work has shown that ChR2 stimulation can depolarize enough myocardium to interrupt arrhythmia, but its efficacy is limited by light attenuation and high energy needs. These shortcomings may be mitigated by using new optogenetic proteins like Guillardia theta Anion Channelrhodopsin (GtACR1), which produces a repolarizing outward current upon illumination. Accordingly, we designed a study to assess the feasibility of GtACR1-based optogenetic arrhythmia termination in human hearts. We conducted electrophysiological simulations in MRI-based atrial or ventricular models (n = 3 each), with pathological remodeling from atrial fibrillation or ischemic cardiomyopathy, respectively. We simulated light sensitization via viral gene delivery of three different opsins (ChR2, red-shifted ChR2, GtACR1) and uniform endocardial illumination at the appropriate wavelengths (blue, red, or green light, respectively). To analyze consistency of arrhythmia termination, we varied pulse timing (three evenly spaced intervals spanning the reentrant cycle) and intensity (atrial: 0.001–1 mW/mm2; ventricular: 0.001–10 mW/mm2). In atrial models, GtACR1 stimulation with 0.005 mW/mm2 green light consistently terminated reentry; this was 10–100x weaker than the threshold levels for ChR2-mediated defibrillation. In ventricular models, defibrillation was observed in 2/3 models for GtACR1 stimulation at 0.005 mW/mm2 (100–200x weaker than ChR2 cases). In the third ventricular model, defibrillation failed in nearly all cases, suggesting that attenuation issues and patient-specific organ/scar geometry may thwart termination in some cases. Across all models, the mechanism of GtACR1-mediated defibrillation was voltage forcing of illuminated tissue toward the modeled channel reversal potential of −40 mV, which made propagation through affected regions impossible. Thus, our findings suggest GtACR1-based optogenetic defibrillation of the human heart may be feasible with ≈2–3 orders of magnitude less energy than ChR2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander R Ochs
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Thomas V Karathanos
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Natalia A Trayanova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Alliance for Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Innovation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Patrick M Boyle
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Majumder R, Mohamed Nazer AN, Panfilov AV, Bodenschatz E, Wang Y. Electrophysiological Characterization of Human Atria: The Understated Role of Temperature. Front Physiol 2021; 12:639149. [PMID: 34366877 PMCID: PMC8346027 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.639149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ambient temperature has a profound influence on cellular electrophysiology through direct control over the gating mechanisms of different ion channels. In the heart, low temperature is known to favor prolongation of the action potential. However, not much is known about the influence of temperature on other important characterization parameters such as the resting membrane potential (RMP), excitability, morphology and characteristics of the action potential (AP), restitution properties, conduction velocity (CV) of signal propagation, etc. Here we present the first, detailed, systematic in silico study of the electrophysiological characterization of cardiomyocytes from different regions of the normal human atria, based on the effects of ambient temperature (5-50°C). We observe that RMP decreases with increasing temperature. At ~ 48°C, the cells lose their excitability. Our studies show that different parts of the atria react differently to the same changes in temperature. In tissue simulations a drop in temperature correlated positively with a decrease in CV, but the decrease was region-dependent, as expected. In this article we show how this heterogeneous response can provide an explanation for the development of a proarrhythmic substrate during mild hypothermia. We use the above concept to propose a treatment strategy for atrial fibrillation that involves severe hypothermia in specific regions of the heart for a duration of only ~ 200 ms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rupamanjari Majumder
- Laboratory for Fluid Physics, Pattern Formation and Biocomplexity, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Alexander V Panfilov
- World-Class Research Center "Digital Biodesign and Personalized Healthcare", Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Laboratory of Computational Biology and Medicine, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Eberhard Bodenschatz
- Laboratory for Fluid Physics, Pattern Formation and Biocomplexity, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Laboratory of Atomic and Solid-State Physics and Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Yong Wang
- Laboratory for Fluid Physics, Pattern Formation and Biocomplexity, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Gruber A, Edri O, Huber I, Arbel G, Gepstein A, Shiti A, Shaheen N, Chorna S, Landesberg M, Gepstein L. Optogenetic modulation of cardiac action potential properties may prevent arrhythmogenesis in short and long QT syndromes. JCI Insight 2021; 6:e147470. [PMID: 34100384 PMCID: PMC8262308 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.147470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal action potential (AP) properties, as occurs in long or short QT syndromes (LQTS and SQTS, respectively), can cause life-threatening arrhythmias. Optogenetics strategies, utilizing light-sensitive proteins, have emerged as experimental platforms for cardiac pacing, resynchronization, and defibrillation. We tested the hypothesis that similar optogenetic tools can modulate the cardiomyocyte's AP properties, as a potentially novel antiarrhythmic strategy. Healthy control and LQTS/SQTS patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) were transduced to express the light-sensitive cationic channel channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) or the anionic-selective opsin, ACR2. Detailed patch-clamp, confocal-microscopy, and optical mapping studies evaluated the ability of spatiotemporally defined optogenetic protocols to modulate AP properties and prevent arrhythmogenesis in the hiPSC-CMs cell/tissue models. Depending on illumination timing, light-induced ChR2 activation induced robust prolongation or mild shortening of AP duration (APD), while ACR2 activation allowed effective APD shortening. Fine-tuning these approaches allowed for the normalization of pathological AP properties and suppression of arrhythmogenicity in the LQTS/SQTS hiPSC-CM cellular models. We next established a SQTS-hiPSC-CMs-based tissue model of reentrant-arrhythmias using optogenetic cross-field stimulation. An APD-modulating optogenetic protocol was then designed to dynamically prolong APD of the propagating wavefront, completely preventing arrhythmogenesis in this model. This work highlights the potential of optogenetics in studying repolarization abnormalities and in developing novel antiarrhythmic therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amit Gruber
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Haifa, Israel
| | - Oded Edri
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Haifa, Israel
| | - Irit Huber
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gil Arbel
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Haifa, Israel
| | - Amira Gepstein
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Haifa, Israel
| | - Assad Shiti
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Haifa, Israel
| | - Naim Shaheen
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Haifa, Israel
| | - Snizhana Chorna
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Haifa, Israel
| | - Michal Landesberg
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Haifa, Israel
| | - Lior Gepstein
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, the Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel, Haifa, Israel.,Cardiology Department, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Desmet NM, Dhusia K, Qi W, Doseff AI, Bhattacharya S, Gilad AA. Bioengineering of Genetically Encoded Gene Promoter Repressed by the Flavonoid Apigenin for Constructing Intracellular Sensor for Molecular Events. BIOSENSORS-BASEL 2021; 11:bios11050137. [PMID: 33924783 PMCID: PMC8147076 DOI: 10.3390/bios11050137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, Synthetic Biology has emerged as a new discipline where functions that were traditionally performed by electronic devices are replaced by "cellular devices"; genetically encoded circuits constructed of DNA that are built from biological parts (aka bio-parts). The cellular devices can be used for sensing and responding to natural and artificial signals. However, a major challenge in the field is that the crosstalk between many cellular signaling pathways use the same signaling endogenous molecules that can result in undesired activation. To overcome this problem, we utilized a specific promoter that can activate genes with a natural, non-toxic ligand at a highly-induced transcription level with low background or undesirable off-target expression. Here we used the orphan aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor that upon activation binds to specific AHR response elements (AHRE) of the Cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily A, polypeptide 1 (CYP1A1) promoter. Flavonoids have been identified as AHR ligands. Data presented here show the successful creation of a synthetic gene "off" switch that can be monitored directly using an optical reporter gene. This is the first step towards bioengineering of a synthetic, nanoscale bio-part for constructing a sensor for molecular events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M. Desmet
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (N.M.D.); (K.D.); (W.Q.); (S.B.)
- Division of Synthetic Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Kalyani Dhusia
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (N.M.D.); (K.D.); (W.Q.); (S.B.)
| | - Wenjie Qi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (N.M.D.); (K.D.); (W.Q.); (S.B.)
| | - Andrea I. Doseff
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Sudin Bhattacharya
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (N.M.D.); (K.D.); (W.Q.); (S.B.)
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Assaf A. Gilad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; (N.M.D.); (K.D.); (W.Q.); (S.B.)
- Division of Synthetic Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Abstract
The electromechanical function of the heart involves complex, coordinated activity over time and space. Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias arise from asynchrony in these space-time events; therefore, therapies for prevention and treatment require fundamental understanding and the ability to visualize, perturb and control cardiac activity. Optogenetics combines optical and molecular biology (genetic) approaches for light-enabled sensing and actuation of electrical activity with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution and parallelism. The year 2020 marks a decade of developments in cardiac optogenetics since this technology was adopted from neuroscience and applied to the heart. In this Review, we appraise a decade of advances that define near-term (immediate) translation based on all-optical electrophysiology, including high-throughput screening, cardiotoxicity testing and personalized medicine assays, and long-term (aspirational) prospects for clinical translation of cardiac optogenetics, including new optical therapies for rhythm control. The main translational opportunities and challenges for optogenetics to be fully embraced in cardiology are also discussed.
Collapse
|
10
|
Cardiac Optogenetics in Atrial Fibrillation: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:8814092. [PMID: 33195698 PMCID: PMC7641281 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8814092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Although rarely life-threatening on short term, atrial fibrillation leads to increased mortality and decreased quality of life through its complications, including heart failure and stroke. Recent studies highlight the benefits of maintaining sinus rhythm. However, pharmacological long-term rhythm control strategies may be shadowed by associated proarrhythmic effects. At the same time, electrical cardioversion is limited to hospitals, while catheter ablation therapy, although effective, is invasive and is dedicated to specific patients, usually with low amounts of atrial fibrosis (preferably Utah I-II). Cardiac optogenetics allows influencing the heart's electrical activity by applying specific wavelength light pulses to previously engineered cardiomyocytes into expressing microbial derived light-sensitive proteins called opsins. The resulting ion influx may give rise to either hyperpolarizing or depolarizing currents, thus offering a therapeutic potential in cardiac electrophysiology, including pacing, resynchronization, and arrhythmia termination. Optogenetic atrial fibrillation cardioversion might be achieved by inducing a conduction block or filling of the excitable gap. The authors agree that transmural opsin expression and appropriate illumination with an exposure time longer than the arrhythmia cycle length are necessary to achieve successful arrhythmia termination. However, the efficiency and safety of biological cardioversion in humans remain to be seen, as well as side effects such as immune reactions and loss of opsin expression. The possibility of delivering pain-free shocks with out-of-hospital biological cardioversion is tempting; however, there are several issues that need to be addressed first: applicability and safety in humans, long-term behaviour, anticoagulation requirements, and fibrosis interactions.
Collapse
|
11
|
Bub G, Daniels MJ. Feasibility of Using Adjunctive Optogenetic Technologies in Cardiomyocyte Phenotyping - from the Single Cell to the Whole Heart. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2020; 21:752-764. [PMID: 30961485 PMCID: PMC7527548 DOI: 10.2174/1389201020666190405182251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In 1791, Galvani established that electricity activated excitable cells. In the two centuries that followed, electrode stimulation of neuronal, skeletal and cardiac muscle became the adjunctive method of choice in experimental, electrophysiological, and clinical arenas. This approach underpins breakthrough technologies like implantable cardiac pacemakers that we currently take for granted. However, the contact dependence, and field stimulation that electrical depolarization delivers brings inherent limitations to the scope and experimental scale that can be achieved. Many of these were not exposed until reliable in vitro stem-cell derived experimental materials, with genotypes of interest, were produced in the numbers needed for multi-well screening platforms (for toxicity or efficacy studies) or the 2D or 3D tissue surrogates required to study propagation of depolarization within multicellular constructs that mimic clinically relevant arrhythmia in the heart or brain. Here the limitations of classical electrode stimulation are discussed. We describe how these are overcome by optogenetic tools which put electrically excitable cells under the control of light. We discuss how this enables studies in cardiac material from the single cell to the whole heart scale. We review the current commercial platforms that incorporate optogenetic stimulation strategies, and summarize the global literature to date on cardiac applications of optogenetics. We show that the advantages of optogenetic stimulation relevant to iPS-CM based screening include independence from contact, elimination of electrical stimulation artefacts in field potential measuring approaches such as the multi-electrode array, and the ability to print re-entrant patterns of depolarization at will on 2D cardiomyocyte monolayers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew J. Daniels
- Address correspondence to this author at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, 46 Grafton Street, Manchester, M13 9NT, UK; Tel: +441865234913; E-mails: ;
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Gruber A, Edri O, Gepstein L. Cardiac optogenetics: the next frontier. Europace 2019; 20:1910-1918. [PMID: 29315402 DOI: 10.1093/europace/eux371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging technology of optogenetics uses optical and genetic means to monitor and modulate the electrophysiological properties of excitable tissues. While transforming the field of neuroscience, the technology has recently gained popularity also in the cardiac arena. Here, we describe the basic principles of optogenetics, the available and evolving optogenetic tools, and the unique potential of this technology for basic and translational cardiac electrophysiology. Specifically, we discuss the ability to control (augment or suppress) the cardiac tissue's excitable properties using optogenetic actuators (microbial opsins), which are light-gated ion channels and pumps that can cause light-triggered membrane depolarization or hyperpolarization. We then focus on the potential clinical implications of this technology for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias by describing recent efforts for developing optogenetic-based cardiac pacing, resynchronization, and defibrillation experimental strategies. Finally, the significant obstacles and challenges that need to be overcome before any future clinical translation can be expected are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amit Gruber
- The Sohnis Family Reaserch Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Oded Edri
- The Sohnis Family Reaserch Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Lior Gepstein
- The Sohnis Family Reaserch Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion- Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.,Cardiology Department of Rambam Health Care Campus, HaAliya HaShniya St 8, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Jiang C, Li HT, Zhou YM, Wang X, Wang L, Liu ZQ. Cardiac optogenetics: a novel approach to cardiovascular disease therapy. Europace 2019; 20:1741-1749. [PMID: 29253159 DOI: 10.1093/europace/eux345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Optogenetics is a cell-type specific and high spatial-temporal resolution method that combines genetic encoding of light-sensitive proteins and optical manipulation techniques. Optogenetics technology provides a novel approach for research on cardiac arrhythmia treatment, including pacing, recovering the conduction system, and achieving cardiac resynchronization with precise and low-energy optical control. Photosensitive proteins, which usually act as ion channels, pumps, or receptors, are delivered to target cells, where they respond to light pulses of specific wavelengths, evoke transient flows of transmembrane ion currents, and induce signal transmission. With the development of gene technology, the in vivo efficiency of optogenetics in cardiology has been trialed, and in vitro experiments have been performed to test its potential in cardiac electrophysiology. Challenges for applying optogenetics in large animals and humans include the effectiveness, safety, and long-term expression of photosensitive proteins, unscattered and unattenuated exogenous light stimulation, and the need for implantable miniature light stimulators. Photosensitive proteins, genetic engineering technology, and light equipment are essential for experiments in cardiac optogenetics. Optogenetics may provide an alternative method for evaluating the mechanism of cardiac arrhythmias, testing hypotheses, and treating cardiovascular diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chan Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Hai Tao Li
- Department of Cardiology, Hainan General Hospital, Haikou, PR China
| | - Yong Ming Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Long Wang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan, PR China.,Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China
| | - Zi Qiang Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, PR China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zaglia T, Di Bona A, Mongillo M. A Light Wand to Untangle the Myocardial Cell Network. Methods Protoc 2019; 2:E34. [PMID: 31164614 PMCID: PMC6632158 DOI: 10.3390/mps2020034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of optogenetics has revolutionized research in neuroscience by providing the tools for noninvasive, cell-type selective modulation of membrane potential and cellular function in vitro and in vivo. Rhodopsin-based optogenetics has later been introduced in experimental cardiology studies and used as a tool to photoactivate cardiac contractions or to identify the sites, timing, and location most effective for defibrillating impulses to interrupt cardiac arrhythmias. The exploitation of cell-selectivity of optogenetics, and the generation of model organisms with myocardial cell type targeted expression of opsins has started to yield novel and sometimes unexpected notions on myocardial biology. This review summarizes the main results, the different uses, and the prospective developments of cardiac optogenetics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tania Zaglia
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35122 Padova, Italy.
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Via Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy.
| | - Anna Di Bona
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Via Orus 2, 35129 Padova, Italy.
| | - Marco Mongillo
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35122 Padova, Italy.
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Viale G. Colombo 3, 35121 Padova, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
O’Shea C, Holmes AP, Winter J, Correia J, Ou X, Dong R, He S, Kirchhof P, Fabritz L, Rajpoot K, Pavlovic D. Cardiac Optogenetics and Optical Mapping - Overcoming Spectral Congestion in All-Optical Cardiac Electrophysiology. Front Physiol 2019; 10:182. [PMID: 30899227 PMCID: PMC6416196 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Optogenetic control of the heart is an emergent technology that offers unparalleled spatio-temporal control of cardiac dynamics via light-sensitive ion pumps and channels (opsins). This fast-evolving technique holds broad scope in both clinical and basic research setting. Combination of optogenetics with optical mapping of voltage or calcium fluorescent probes facilitates 'all-optical' electrophysiology, allowing precise optogenetic actuation of cardiac tissue with high spatio-temporal resolution imaging of action potential and calcium transient morphology and conduction patterns. In this review, we provide a synopsis of optogenetics and discuss in detail its use and compatibility with optical interrogation of cardiac electrophysiology. We briefly discuss the benefits of all-optical cardiac control and electrophysiological interrogation compared to traditional techniques, and describe mechanisms, unique features and limitations of optically induced cardiac control. In particular, we focus on state-of-the-art setup design, challenges in light delivery and filtering, and compatibility of opsins with fluorescent reporters used in optical mapping. The interaction of cardiac tissue with light, and physical and computational approaches to overcome the 'spectral congestion' that arises from the combination of optogenetics and optical mapping are discussed. Finally, we summarize recent preclinical work applications of combined cardiac optogenetics and optical mapping approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher O’Shea
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Physical Sciences for Health, School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew P. Holmes
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - James Winter
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Joao Correia
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Xianhong Ou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease/Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Ruirui Dong
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease/Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Shicheng He
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center for Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease/Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Paulus Kirchhof
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Cardiology, UHB NHS Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Larissa Fabritz
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Cardiology, UHB NHS Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Kashif Rajpoot
- School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Davor Pavlovic
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Watanabe M, Feola I, Majumder R, Jangsangthong W, Teplenin AS, Ypey DL, Schalij MJ, Zeppenfeld K, de Vries AAF, Pijnappels DA. Optogenetic manipulation of anatomical re-entry by light-guided generation of a reversible local conduction block. Cardiovasc Res 2017; 113:354-366. [PMID: 28395022 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvx003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims Anatomical re-entry is an important mechanism of ventricular tachycardia, characterized by circular electrical propagation in a fixed pathway. It's current investigative and therapeutic approaches are non-biological, rather unspecific (drugs), traumatizing (electrical shocks), or irreversible (ablation). Optogenetics is a new biological technique that allows reversible modulation of electrical function with unmatched spatiotemporal precision using light-gated ion channels. We therefore investigated optogenetic manipulation of anatomical re-entry in ventricular cardiac tissue. Methods and results Transverse, 150-μm-thick ventricular slices, obtained from neonatal rat hearts, were genetically modified with lentiviral vectors encoding Ca2+-translocating channelrhodopsin (CatCh), a light-gated depolarizing ion channel, or enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) as control. Stable anatomical re-entry was induced in both experimental groups. Activation of CatCh was precisely controlled by 470-nm patterned illumination, while the effects on anatomical re-entry were studied by optical voltage mapping. Regional illumination in the pathway of anatomical re-entry resulted in termination of arrhythmic activity only in CatCh-expressing slices by establishing a local and reversible, depolarization-induced conduction block in the illuminated area. Systematic adjustment of the size of the light-exposed area in the re-entrant pathway revealed that re-entry could be terminated by either wave collision or extinction, depending on the depth (transmurality) of illumination. In silico studies implicated source-sink mismatches at the site of subtransmural conduction block as an important factor in re-entry termination. Conclusions Anatomical re-entry in ventricular tissue can be manipulated by optogenetic induction of a local and reversible conduction block in the re-entrant pathway, allowing effective re-entry termination. These results provide distinctively new mechanistic insight into re-entry termination and a novel perspective for cardiac arrhythmia management.
Collapse
|
17
|
Johnston CM, Rog-Zielinska EA, Wülfers EM, Houwaart T, Siedlecka U, Naumann A, Nitschke R, Knöpfel T, Kohl P, Schneider-Warme F. Optogenetic targeting of cardiac myocytes and non-myocytes: Tools, challenges and utility. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 130:140-149. [PMID: 28919131 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2017.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/09/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
In optogenetics, light-activated proteins are used to monitor and modulate cellular behaviour with light. Combining genetic targeting of distinct cellular populations with defined patterns of optical stimulation enables one to study specific cell classes in complex biological tissues. In the current study we attempted to investigate the functional relevance of heterocellular electrotonic coupling in cardiac tissue in situ. In order to do that, we used a Cre-Lox approach to express the light-gated cation channel Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) specifically in either cardiac myocytes or non-myocytes. Despite high specificity when using the same Cre driver lines in a previous study in combination with a different optogenetic probe, we found patchy off-target ChR2 expression in cryo-sections and extended z-stack imaging through the ventricular wall of hearts cleared using CLARITY. Based on immunohistochemical analysis, single-cell electrophysiological recordings and whole-genome sequencing, we reason that non-specificity is caused on the Cre recombination level. Our study highlights the importance of careful design and validation of the Cre recombination targets for reliable cell class specific expression of optogenetic tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Callum M Johnston
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, Medical Faculty of the University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Harefield, United Kingdom
| | - Eva A Rog-Zielinska
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, Medical Faculty of the University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Harefield, United Kingdom
| | - Eike M Wülfers
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, Medical Faculty of the University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Torsten Houwaart
- Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Urszula Siedlecka
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Harefield, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Naumann
- Life Imaging Center, Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Roland Nitschke
- Life Imaging Center, Center for Biological Systems Analysis, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Knöpfel
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Kohl
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, Medical Faculty of the University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Harefield, United Kingdom
| | - Franziska Schneider-Warme
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg - Bad Krozingen, Medical Faculty of the University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, Harefield, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Crocini C, Ferrantini C, Pavone FS, Sacconi L. Optogenetics gets to the heart: A guiding light beyond defibrillation. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 130:132-139. [PMID: 28506694 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2017.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Optogenetics provides a tool for controlling the electrical activity of excitable cells by means of the interaction of light with light-gated ion channels. Despite the fact that optogenetics has been intensively utilized in the neurosciences, it has been more rarely employed as an instrument for studying cardiac pathophysiology. However, the advantages of optical approaches to perturb cardiac electrical activity are numerous, especially when the spatio-temporal qualities of light are utterly exploited. Here, we review the main breakthroughs employing optogenetics to perturb cardiac pathophysiology and attempt a comparison of methods and procedures that have employed optogenetics in the heart. We particularly focus on light-based defibrillation strategies that represent one of the latest achievements in this field. We highlight the important role of advanced optical methods for detecting and stimulating electrical activity for optimizing defibrillation strategies and, more generally, for dissecting novel insights in cardiac physiology. Finally, we discuss the main future perspectives that we envision for optogenetics in the heart, both in terms of translational applications and for addressing fundamental questions of cardiac function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Crocini
- European Laboratory for Non Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via Nello Carrara, 1 - 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; National Institute of Optic (CNR-INO), Via Nello Carrara, 1 - 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Cecilia Ferrantini
- Division of Physiology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco S Pavone
- European Laboratory for Non Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via Nello Carrara, 1 - 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; National Institute of Optic (CNR-INO), Via Nello Carrara, 1 - 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Leonardo Sacconi
- European Laboratory for Non Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Via Nello Carrara, 1 - 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy; National Institute of Optic (CNR-INO), Via Nello Carrara, 1 - 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Li Q, Ni RR, Hong H, Goh KY, Rossi M, Fast VG, Zhou L. Electrophysiological Properties and Viability of Neonatal Rat Ventricular Myocyte Cultures with Inducible ChR2 Expression. Sci Rep 2017; 7:1531. [PMID: 28484220 PMCID: PMC5431527 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-01723-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2)-based optogenetic technique has been increasingly applied to cardiovascular research. However, the potential effects of ChR2 protein overexpression on cardiomyocytes are not completely understood. The present work aimed to examine how the doxycycline-inducible lentiviral-mediated ChR2 expression may affect cell viability and electrophysiological property of neonatal rat ventricular myocyte (NRVM) cultures. Primary NVRMs were infected with lentivirus containing ChR2 or YFP gene and subjected to cytotoxicity analysis. ChR2-expressing cultures were then paced electrically or optically with a blue light-emitting diode, with activation spread recorded simultaneously using optical mapping. Results showed that ChR2 could be readily transduced to NRVMs by the doxycycline-inducible lentiviral system; however, high-level ChR2 (but not YFP) expression was associated with substantial cytotoxicity, which hindered optical pacing. Application of bromodeoxyuridine significantly reduced cell damage, allowing stimulation with light. Simultaneous optical Vm mapping showed that conduction velocity, action potential duration, and dVm/dtmax were similar in ChR2-expressing and control cultures. Finally, the ChR2-expressing cultures could be optically paced at multiple sites, with significantly reduced overall activation time. In summary, we demonstrated that inducible lentiviral-mediated ChR2 overexpression might cause cytotoxicity in NRVM cultures, which could be alleviated without impairing electrophysiological function, allowing simultaneous optical pacing and Vm mapping.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qince Li
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Blvd, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA.,Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA
| | - Rong Ruby Ni
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Blvd, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA.,Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA
| | - Huixian Hong
- Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA
| | - Kah Yong Goh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Blvd, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA.,Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA
| | - Michael Rossi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA
| | - Vladimir G Fast
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA. .,Cardiac Rhythm Management Laboratory, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA.
| | - Lufang Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Disease, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1900 University Blvd, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA. .,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA. .,Cardiac Rhythm Management Laboratory, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA. .,Comprehensive Cardiovascular Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, 35294, Alabama, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Will cardiac optogenetics find the way through the obscure angles of heart physiology? Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 482:515-523. [PMID: 27871856 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.11.104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics is a technique exploded in the last 10 years, which revolutionized several areas of biological research. The brightest side of this technology is the use of light to modulate non-invasively, with high spatial resolution and millisecond time scale, excitable cells genetically modified to express light-sensitive microbial ion channels (opsins). Neuroscience has first benefited from such fascinating strategy, in intact organisms. By shining light to specific neuronal subpopulations, optogenetics allowed unearth the mechanisms involved in cell-to-cell communication within the context of intact organs, such as the brain, formed by complex neuronal circuits. More recently, scientists looked at optogenetics as a tool to answer some of the questions, remained in the dark, of cardiovascular physiology. In this review, we focus on the application of optogenetics in the study of the heart, a complex multicellular organ, homing different populations of excitable cells, spatially and functionally interconnected. Moving from the first proof-of-principle works, published in 2010, to the present time, we discuss the in vitro and in vivo applications of optogenetics for the study of electrophysiology of the different cardiac cell types, and for the dissection of cellular mechanisms underlying arrhythmias. We also present how molecular biology and technology foster the evolution of cardiac optogenetics, with the aim to further our understanding of fundamental questions in cardiac physiology and pathology. Finally, we confer about the therapeutic potential of such biotechnological strategy for the treatment of heart rhythm disturbances (e.g. cardiac pacing, cardioversion).
Collapse
|
21
|
Govorunova EG, Cunha SR, Sineshchekov OA, Spudich JL. Anion channelrhodopsins for inhibitory cardiac optogenetics. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33530. [PMID: 27628215 PMCID: PMC5024162 DOI: 10.1038/srep33530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Optical control of the heart muscle is a promising strategy for cardiology because it is more specific than traditional electrical stimulation, and allows a higher temporal resolution than pharmacological interventions. Anion channelrhodopsins (ACRs) from cryptophyte algae expressed in cultured neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes produced inhibitory currents at less than one-thousandth of the light intensity required by previously available optogenetic tools, such as the proton pump archaerhodopsin-3 (Arch). Because of their greater photocurrents, ACRs permitted complete inhibition of cardiomyocyte electrical activity under conditions in which Arch was inefficient. Most importantly, ACR expression allowed precisely controlled shortening of the action potential duration by switching on the light during its repolarization phase, which was not possible with previously used optogenetic tools. Optical shortening of cardiac action potentials may benefit pathophysiology research and the development of optogenetic treatments for cardiac disorders such as the long QT syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena G Govorunova
- Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry &Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston - McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Shane R Cunha
- Department of Integrative Biology &Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston - McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Oleg A Sineshchekov
- Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry &Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston - McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - John L Spudich
- Center for Membrane Biology, Department of Biochemistry &Molecular Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston - McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Holmes JW, Laksman Z, Gepstein L. Making better scar: Emerging approaches for modifying mechanical and electrical properties following infarction and ablation. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 120:134-48. [PMID: 26615948 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Following myocardial infarction (MI), damaged myocytes are replaced by collagenous scar tissue, which serves an important mechanical function - maintaining integrity of the heart wall against enormous mechanical forces - but also disrupts electrical function as structural and electrical remodeling in the infarct and borderzone predispose to re-entry and ventricular tachycardia. Novel emerging regenerative approaches aim to replace this scar tissue with viable myocytes. Yet an alternative strategy of therapeutically modifying selected scar properties may also prove important, and in some cases may offer similar benefits with lower risk or regulatory complexity. Here, we review potential goals for such modifications as well as recent proof-of-concept studies employing specific modifications, including gene therapy to locally increase conduction velocity or prolong the refractory period in and around the infarct scar, and modification of scar anisotropy to improve regional mechanics and pump function. Another advantage of scar modification techniques is that they have applications well beyond MI. In particular, ablation treats electrical abnormalities of the heart by intentionally generating scar to block aberrant conduction pathways. Yet in diseases such as atrial fibrillation (AF) where ablation can be extensive, treating the electrical disorder can significantly impair mechanical function. Creating smaller, denser scars that more effectively block conduction, and choosing the location of those lesions by balancing their electrical and mechanical impacts, could significantly improve outcomes for AF patients. We review some recent advances in this area, including the use of computational models to predict the mechanical effects of specific lesion sets and gene therapy for functional ablation. Overall, emerging techniques for modifying scar properties represents a potentially important set of tools for improving patient outcomes across a range of heart diseases, whether used in place of or as an adjunct to regenerative approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey W Holmes
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Medicine, Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States.
| | - Zachary Laksman
- Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lior Gepstein
- Departments of Cardiology (Ramban Health Care Campus) and Physiology, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| |
Collapse
|