1
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Wu X, Hu W, Song L, Chen W, Zhou Y, Zhou L, Ou Z, Qiu Z. Use of acoustic cardiography to assess left ventricular electromechanical synchronization during left bundle branch pacing. Heart Rhythm O2 2023; 4:632-640. [PMID: 37936667 PMCID: PMC10626181 DOI: 10.1016/j.hroo.2023.08.009] [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] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a physiological pacing that captures the main left bundle or its proximal branch. Electromechanical activation time (EMAT) is an acoustic cardiographic metric that provides a simple method for evaluating left ventricular (LV) synchrony. Prolonged EMAT reflects impaired LV electromechanical coupling. Objective The purpose of this study was to explore whether EMAT can confirm that LBBP produces more satisfactory LV electromechanical synchronization than conventional right ventricular pacing modalities. Methods Patients with standard pacing indications and narrow QRS duration were recruited for this study. Unipolar pacing under 3 different modalities-right ventricular apical pacing (RVAP), right ventricular high septal pacing (RVHSP), and LBBP-were successively performed in each patient. Pacing parameters, echocardiographic characteristics, and acoustic cardiographic parameters at different pacing modalities and during normal rhythm were collected. Results A total of 55 patients were enrolled, and all had successful LBBP. Left ventricular activation time (LVAT) was significantly associated with EMAT, with LVAT vs EMAT correlation coefficient of 0.665 (P <.001). LVAT during LBBP was shorter than that during RVHSP (51.93 ± 2.732 ms vs 85.59 ± 2.240 ms; P <.001). EMAT of LBBP was significantly lower than either RVAP or RVHSP (95.44 ± 1.794 ms vs 143.32 ± 2.376 ms, and 132.22 ± 1.872 ms; both P <.001) but was similar to that of intrinsic rhythm (95.37 ± 2.271 ms; P = .862). Conclusion We found EMAT significantly prolonged in RVHSP and RVAP but not in the LBBP mode. This finding indicates superior electromechanical synchronization in patients having LBBP. EMAT measurement could be an additional method for identifying the ideal pacing position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianhao Wu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Song
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanlan Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lihong Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ziming Ou
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaohui Qiu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Tong Ren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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2
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Dokuchaev A, Kursanov A, Balakina-Vikulova NA, Katsnelson LB, Solovyova O. The importance of mechanical conditions in the testing of excitation abnormalities in a population of electro-mechanical models of human ventricular cardiomyocytes. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1187956. [PMID: 37362439 PMCID: PMC10285544 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1187956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Populations of in silico electrophysiological models of human cardiomyocytes represent natural variability in cell activity and are thoroughly calibrated and validated using experimental data from the human heart. The models have been shown to predict the effects of drugs and their pro-arrhythmic risks. However, excitation and contraction are known to be tightly coupled in the myocardium, with mechanical loads and stretching affecting both mechanics and excitation through mechanisms of mechano-calcium-electrical feedback. However, these couplings are not currently a focus of populations of cell models. Aim: We investigated the role of cardiomyocyte mechanical activity under different mechanical conditions in the generation, calibration, and validation of a population of electro-mechanical models of human cardiomyocytes. Methods: To generate a population, we assumed 11 input parameters of ionic currents and calcium dynamics in our recently developed TP + M model as varying within a wide range. A History matching algorithm was used to generate a non-implausible parameter space by calibrating the action potential and calcium transient biomarkers against experimental data and rejecting models with excitation abnormalities. The population was further calibrated using experimental data on human myocardial force characteristics and mechanical tests involving variations in preload and afterload. Models that passed the mechanical tests were validated with additional experimental data, including the effects of drugs with high or low pro-arrhythmic risk. Results: More than 10% of the models calibrated on electrophysiological data failed mechanical tests and were rejected from the population due to excitation abnormalities at reduced preload or afterload for cell contraction. The final population of accepted models yielded action potential, calcium transient, and force/shortening outputs consistent with experimental data. In agreement with experimental and clinical data, the models demonstrated a high frequency of excitation abnormalities in simulations of Dofetilide action on the ionic currents, in contrast to Verapamil. However, Verapamil showed a high frequency of failed contractions at high concentrations. Conclusion: Our results highlight the importance of considering mechanoelectric coupling in silico cardiomyocyte models. Mechanical tests allow a more thorough assessment of the effects of interventions on cardiac function, including drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arsenii Dokuchaev
- Laboratory of Mathematical Physiology, Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Alexander Kursanov
- Laboratory of Mathematical Physiology, Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
- Laboratory of Mathematical Modeling in Physiology and Medicine Based on Supercomputers, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Nathalie A. Balakina-Vikulova
- Laboratory of Mathematical Physiology, Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
- Laboratory of Mathematical Modeling in Physiology and Medicine Based on Supercomputers, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Leonid B. Katsnelson
- Laboratory of Mathematical Physiology, Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
- Laboratory of Mathematical Modeling in Physiology and Medicine Based on Supercomputers, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Olga Solovyova
- Laboratory of Mathematical Physiology, Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
- Laboratory of Mathematical Modeling in Physiology and Medicine Based on Supercomputers, Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
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3
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Elbrønd VS, Thomsen MB, Isaksen JL, Lunde ED, Vincenti S, Wang T, Tranum-Jensen J, Calloe K. Intramural Purkinje fibers facilitate rapid ventricular activation in the equine heart. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2023; 237:e13925. [PMID: 36606541 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Purkinje fibers convey the electrical impulses at much higher speed than the working myocardial cells. Thus, the distribution of the Purkinje network is of paramount importance for the timing and coordination of ventricular activation. The Purkinje fibers are found in the subendocardium of all species of mammals, but some mammals also possess an intramural Purkinje fiber network that provides for relatively instantaneous, burst-like activation of the entire ventricular wall, and gives rise to an rS configuration in lead II of the ECG. AIM To relate the topography of the horse heart and the distribution and histology of the conduction system to the pattern of ventricular activation as a mechanism for the unique electrical axis of the equine heart. METHODS The morphology and distribution of the cardiac conduction system was determined by histochemistry. The electrical activity was measured using ECG in the Einthoven and orthogonal configuration. RESULTS The long axis of the equine heart is close to vertical. Outside the nodal regions the conduction system consisted of Purkinje fibers connected by connexin 43 and long, slender parallel running transitional cells. The Purkinje fiber network extended deep into the ventricular walls. ECGs recorded in an orthogonal configuration revealed a mean electrical axis pointing in a cranial-to-left direction indicating ventricular activation in an apex-to-base direction. CONCLUSION The direction of the mean electrical axis in the equine heart is determined by the architecture of the intramural Purkinje network, rather than being a reflection of ventricular mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vibeke S Elbrønd
- Section for Pathobiological Sciences, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Morten B Thomsen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jonas L Isaksen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ester D Lunde
- Section for Pathobiological Sciences, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Stefano Vincenti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tobias Wang
- Section for Zoophysiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Tranum-Jensen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kirstine Calloe
- Section for Pathobiological Sciences, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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4
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Fowler ED, Wang N, Hezzell MJ, Chanoit G, Hancox JC, Cannell MB. Improved Ca 2+ release synchrony following selective modification of I tof and phase 1 repolarization in normal and failing ventricular myocytes. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2022; 172:52-62. [PMID: 35908686 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Loss of ventricular action potential (AP) early phase 1 repolarization may contribute to the impaired Ca2+ release and increased risk of sudden cardiac death in heart failure. Therefore, restoring AP phase 1 by augmenting the fast transient outward K+ current (Itof) might be beneficial, but direct experimental evidence to support this proposition in failing cardiomyocytes is limited. Dynamic clamp was used to selectively modulate the contribution of Itof to the AP and Ca2+ transient in both normal (guinea pig and rabbit) and in failing rabbit cardiac myocytes. Opposing native Itof in non-failing rabbit myocytes increased Ca2+ release heterogeneity, late Ca2+ sparks (LCS) frequency and AP duration. (APD). In contrast, increasing Itof in failing myocytes and guinea pig myocytes (the latter normally lacking Itof) increased Ca2+ transient amplitude, Ca2+ release synchrony, and shortened APD. Computer simulations also showed faster Ca2+ transient decay (mainly due to fewer LCS), decreased inward Na+/Ca2+ exchange current and APD. When the Itof conductance was increased to ~0.2 nS/pF in failing cells (a value slightly greater than seen in typical human epicardial myocytes), Ca2+ release synchrony improved and AP duration decreased slightly. Further increases in Itof can cause Ca2+ release to decrease as the peak of the bell-shaped ICa-voltage relationship is passed and premature AP repolarization develops. These results suggest that there is an optimal range for Itof enhancement that may support Ca2+ release synchrony and improve electrical stability in heart failure with the caveat that uncontrolled Itof enhancement should be avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewan D Fowler
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Nan Wang
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Melanie J Hezzell
- University of Bristol Veterinary School, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
| | - Guillaume Chanoit
- University of Bristol Veterinary School, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
| | - Jules C Hancox
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Mark B Cannell
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK.
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5
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Abramochkin DV, Filatova TS, Pustovit KB, Voronina YA, Kuzmin VS, Vornanen M. Ionic currents underlying different patterns of electrical activity in working cardiac myocytes of mammals and non-mammalian vertebrates. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2022; 268:111204. [PMID: 35346823 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The orderly contraction of the vertebrate heart is determined by generation and propagation of cardiac action potentials (APs). APs are generated by the integrated activity of time- and voltage-dependent ionic channels which carry inward Na+ and Ca2+ currents, and outward K+ currents. This review compares atrial and ventricular APs and underlying ion currents between different taxa of vertebrates. We have collected literature data and attempted to find common electrophysiological features for two or more vertebrate groups, show differences between taxa and cardiac chambers, and indicate gaps in the existing data. Although electrical excitability of the heart in all vertebrates is based on the same superfamily of channels, there is a vast variability of AP waveforms between atrial and ventricular myocytes, between different species of the same vertebrate class and between endothermic and ectothermic animals. The wide variability of AP shapes is related to species-specific differences in animal size, heart rate, stage of ontogenetic development, excitation-contraction coupling, temperature and oxygen availability. Some of the differences between taxa are related to evolutionary development of genomes, which appear e.g. in the expression of different Na+ and K+ channel orthologues in cardiomyocytes of vertebrates. There is a wonderful variability of AP shapes and underlying ion currents with which electrical excitability of vertebrate heart can be generated depending on the intrinsic and extrinsic conditions of animal body. This multitude of ionic mechanisms provides excellent material for studying how the function of the vertebrate heart can adapt or acclimate to prevailing physiological and environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis V Abramochkin
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye gory, 1, 12, Moscow 119234, Russia.
| | - Tatiana S Filatova
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye gory, 1, 12, Moscow 119234, Russia
| | - Ksenia B Pustovit
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye gory, 1, 12, Moscow 119234, Russia
| | - Yana A Voronina
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye gory, 1, 12, Moscow 119234, Russia; Laboratory of Cardiac Electrophysiology, National Medical Research Center for Cardiology, 3(rd) Cherepkovskaya str., 15A, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladislav S Kuzmin
- Department of Human and Animal Physiology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskiye gory, 1, 12, Moscow 119234, Russia; Department of Physiology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ostrovityanova str., 1, Moscow, Russia
| | - Matti Vornanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
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6
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Louch WE, Perdreau-Dahl H, Edwards AG. Image-Driven Modeling of Nanoscopic Cardiac Function: Where Have We Come From, and Where Are We Going? Front Physiol 2022; 13:834211. [PMID: 35356084 PMCID: PMC8959215 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.834211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Complementary developments in microscopy and mathematical modeling have been critical to our understanding of cardiac excitation–contraction coupling. Historically, limitations imposed by the spatial or temporal resolution of imaging methods have been addressed through careful mathematical interrogation. Similarly, limitations imposed by computational power have been addressed by imaging macroscopic function in large subcellular domains or in whole myocytes. As both imaging resolution and computational tractability have improved, the two approaches have nearly merged in terms of the scales that they can each be used to interrogate. With this review we will provide an overview of these advances and their contribution to understanding ventricular myocyte function, including exciting developments over the last decade. We specifically focus on experimental methods that have pushed back limits of either spatial or temporal resolution of nanoscale imaging (e.g., DNA-PAINT), or have permitted high resolution imaging on large cellular volumes (e.g., serial scanning electron microscopy). We also review the progression of computational approaches used to integrate and interrogate these new experimental data sources, and comment on near-term advances that may unify understanding of the underlying biology. Finally, we comment on several outstanding questions in cardiac physiology that stand to benefit from a concerted and complementary application of these new experimental and computational methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- William 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
| | - Harmonie Perdreau-Dahl
- 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
| | - Andrew G. Edwards
- Simula Research Laboratory, Lysaker, Norway
- *Correspondence: Andrew G. Edwards,
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7
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Charisopoulou D, Koulaouzidis G, Rydberg A, Henein MY. Reversed Apico-Basal Myocardial Relaxation Sequence During Exercise in Long QT Syndrome Mutations Carriers With History of Previous Cardiac Events. Front Physiol 2022; 12:780448. [PMID: 35197859 PMCID: PMC8859439 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.780448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recent echocardiography studies in inherited long QT syndrome (LQTS) have shown left ventricular (LV) myocardial relaxation disturbances to follow markedly prolonged and dispersed mechanical contraction. Aim We used speckle-tracking echocardiography to assess disturbances in LV myocardial relaxation sequence during exercise and their relationship to symptoms. Methods Forty seven LQTS patients (45 ± 15 years, 25 female and 20 symptomatic, LVEF: 65 ± 6%) and 35 controls underwent exercise echocardiogram using Bruce protocol. ECG and echo parameters were recorded at rest, peak exercise (p.e.) and recovery. Results Between patients and controls there were no differences in age, gender, HR or LVEF. At p.e, patients had longer time to LV longitudinal ESR (tESR) at all three LV segments; basal (p < 0.0001), mid- cavity (p = 0.03) and apical (p = 0.03) whereas at rest such difference was noted only at base (p = 0.0007). Patients showed reversed apico-basal relaxation sequence (ΔtESRbase–apex) with early relaxation onset occurring later at base than at apex, both at rest (49 ± 43 vs. –29 ± 19 ms, p < 0.0001) and at p.e. (46 ± 38 vs. –40 ± 22 ms, p < 0.0001), particularly in symptomatic patients (69 ± 44 vs. 32 ± 26, p < 0.0007). ΔtESRbase–apex correlated with longer QTc interval, lower ESR and attenuated LV stroke volume. Conclusion LQTS patients show reversed longitudinal relaxation sequence, which worsens with exercise, particularly in those with previous cardiac events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafni Charisopoulou
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, Umeå, Sweden.,Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Amalia Children's Hospital, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands.,Academic Centre for Congenital Heart Disease, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - George Koulaouzidis
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Annika Rydberg
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Paediatrics, Umea University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Michael Y Henein
- Institute of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umea University, Umeå, Sweden
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8
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Colli Franzone P, Pavarino LF, Scacchi S. Numerical evaluation of cardiac mechanical markers as estimators of the electrical activation time. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2021; 37:e3285. [PMID: 31808301 DOI: 10.1002/cnm.3285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in the development of noninvasive cardiac imaging technologies have made it possible to measure longitudinal and circumferential strains at a high spatial resolution also at intramural level. Local mechanical activation times derived from these strains can be used as noninvasive estimates of electrical activation, in order to determine, eg, the origin of premature ectopic beats during focal arrhythmias or the pathway of reentrant circuits. The aim of this work is to assess the reliability of mechanical activation time markers derived from longitudinal and circumferential strains, denoted by ATell and ATecc , respectively, by means of three-dimensional cardiac electromechanical simulations. These markers are compared against the electrical activation time (ATv ), computed from the action potential waveform, and the reference mechanical activation markers derived from the active tension and fiber strain waveforms, denoted by ATta and ATeff , respectively. Our numerical simulations are based on a strongly coupled electromechanical model, including bidomain representation of the cardiac tissue, mechanoelectric (ie, stretch-activated channels) and geometric feedbacks, transversely isotropic strain energy function for the description of passive mechanics and detailed membrane and excitation-contraction coupling models. The results have shown that, during endocardial and epicardial ectopic stimulations, all the mechanical markers considered are highly correlated with ATv , exhibiting correlation coefficients larger than 0.8. However, during multiple endocardial stimulations, mimicking the ventricular sinus rhythm, the mechanical markers are less correlated with the electrical activation time, because of the more complex resulting excitation sequence. Moreover, the inspection of the endocardial and epicardial isochrones has shown that the ATell and ATecc mechanical activation sequences reproduce only some qualitative features of the electrical activation sequence, such as the areas of early and late activation, but in some cases, they might yield wrong excitation sources and significantly different isochrones patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luca F Pavarino
- Dipartimento di Matematica, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Simone Scacchi
- Dipartimento di Matematica, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy
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9
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Qauli AI, Marcellinus A, Lim KM. Sensitivity Analysis of Ion Channel Conductance on Myocardial Electromechanical Delay: Computational Study. Front Physiol 2021; 12:697693. [PMID: 34512377 PMCID: PMC8430256 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.697693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well known that cardiac electromechanical delay (EMD) can cause dyssynchronous heart failure (DHF), a prominent cardiovascular disease (CVD). This work computationally assesses the conductance variation of every ion channel on the cardiac cell to give rise to EMD prolongation. The electrical and mechanical models of human ventricular tissue were simulated, using a population approach with four conductance reductions for each ion channel. Then, EMD was calculated by determining the difference between the onset of action potential and the start of cell shortening. Finally, EMD data were put into the optimized conductance dimensional stacking to show which ion channel has the most influence in elongating the EMD. We found that major ion channels, such as L-type calcium (CaL), slow-delayed rectifier potassium (Ks), rapid-delayed rectifier potassium (Kr), and inward rectifier potassium (K1), can significantly extend the action potential duration (APD) up to 580 ms. Additionally, the maximum intracellular calcium (Cai) concentration is greatly affected by the reduction in channel CaL, Ks, background calcium, and Kr. However, among the aforementioned major ion channels, only the CaL channel can play a superior role in prolonging the EMD up to 83 ms. Furthermore, ventricular cells with long EMD have been shown to inherit insignificant mechanical response (in terms of how strong the tension can grow and how far length shortening can go) compared with that in normal cells. In conclusion, despite all variations in every ion channel conductance, only the CaL channel can play a significant role in extending EMD. In addition, cardiac cells with long EMD tend to have inferior mechanical responses due to a lack of Cai compared with normal conditions, which are highly likely to result in a compromised pump function of the heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Ikhsanul Qauli
- Department of IT Convergence Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi, South Korea
| | - Aroli Marcellinus
- Department of IT Convergence Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi, South Korea
| | - Ki Moo Lim
- Department of IT Convergence Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Gumi, South Korea
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10
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Støylen A, Daae AS. Physiological significance of pre- and post-ejection left ventricular tissue velocities and relations to mitral and aortic valve closures. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2021; 41:443-451. [PMID: 34184410 DOI: 10.1111/cpf.12721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tissue Doppler shows short duration velocity spikes during pre- and post-ejection (protodiastole). They have been assumed to be isovolumic contraction and relaxation movements, but this is not in accordance with newer studies. METHODS We examined 22 healthy volunteers. Valve closures and openings were determined from spectral Doppler from LVOT and mitral inflow and transferred to colour tissue Doppler recordings for comparison with tissue velocities, colour M-mode and strain rate (SR). RESULTS Pre-ejection positive velocity spikes were simultaneous in both walls, starting ca. 24.8 ± 10.1 ms after start QRS, duration 51.5 ± 10.8 ms, ending 10.2 ± 11.5 ms after mitral valve closure (MVC) (p < 0.001). There were corresponding colour tracings and negative strain rate. Protodiastolic lengthening was predominant in the septum. Negative velocity spikes had a duration of 35.5 ± 10.7 ms, ending 9.5 ± 14.7 ms after aortic valve closure (AVC, p < 0.001) in septum. During isovolumic relaxation, strain rate showed apical lengthening (Peak SR-0.72 ± 0.50 s-1 ) and basal shortening (Peak SR 0.44 ± 0.63 s-1 ). CONCLUSION Electromechanical activation of the LV is simultaneous in septum and lateral wall, occurs before MVC, is terminated by MVC itself and is thus not isovolumic. Protodiastole is a short event of lengthening, predominantly in the septum. It may be the mechanism for valve closure and ends by AVC itself. Isovolumic relaxation occurs after this velocity spike, and is characterized by elongation of the apex, shortening of the base, thus showing a volume shift from base towards apex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asbjørn Støylen
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Cardiology, St. Olav Hospital/Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Annichen Søyland Daae
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Cardiology, St. Olav Hospital/Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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11
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Dries E, Bardi I, Nunez-Toldra R, Meijlink B, Terracciano CM. CaMKII inhibition reduces arrhythmogenic Ca2+ events in subendocardial cryoinjured rat living myocardial slices. J Gen Physiol 2021; 153:212078. [PMID: 33956073 PMCID: PMC8105719 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202012737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spontaneous Ca2+ release (SCR) can cause triggered activity and initiate arrhythmias. Intrinsic transmural heterogeneities in Ca2+ handling and their propensity to disease remodeling may differentially modulate SCR throughout the left ventricular (LV) wall and cause transmural differences in arrhythmia susceptibility. Here, we aimed to dissect the effect of cardiac injury on SCR in different regions in the intact LV myocardium using cryoinjury on rat living myocardial slices (LMS). We studied SCR under proarrhythmic conditions using a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator and high-resolution imaging in LMS from the subendocardium (ENDO) and subepicardium (EPI). Cryoinjury caused structural remodeling, with loss in T-tubule density and an increased time of Ca2+ transients to peak after injury. In ENDO LMS, the Ca2+ transient amplitude and decay phase were reduced, while these were not affected in EPI LMS after cryoinjury. The frequency of spontaneous whole-slice contractions increased in ENDO LMS without affecting EPI LMS after injury. Cryoinjury caused an increase in foci that generates SCR in both ENDO and EPI LMS. In ENDO LMS, SCRs were more closely distributed and had reduced latencies after cryoinjury, whereas this was not affected in EPI LMS. Inhibition of CaMKII reduced the number, distribution, and latencies of SCR, as well as whole-slice contractions in ENDO LMS, but not in EPI LMS after cryoinjury. Furthermore, CaMKII inhibition did not affect the excitation–contraction coupling in cryoinjured ENDO or EPI LMS. In conclusion, we demonstrate increased arrhythmogenic susceptibility in the injured ENDO. Our findings show involvement of CaMKII and highlight the need for region-specific targeting in cardiac therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eef Dries
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,Lab of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ifigeneia Bardi
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Bram Meijlink
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
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12
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Clark JA, Sewanan LR, Schwan J, Kluger J, Campbell KS, Campbell SG. Fast-relaxing cardiomyocytes exert a dominant role in the relaxation behavior of heterogeneous myocardium. Arch Biochem Biophys 2020; 697:108711. [PMID: 33271148 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2020.108711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Substantial variation in relaxation rate exists among cardiomyocytes within small volumes of myocardium; however, it is unknown how this variability affects the overall relaxation mechanics of heart muscle. In this study, we sought to modulate levels of cellular heterogeneity in a computational model, then validate those predictions using an engineered heart tissue platform. We formulated an in silico tissue model composed of half-sarcomeres with varied relaxation rates, incorporating single-cell cardiomyocyte experimental data. These model tissues randomly sampled relaxation parameters from two offset distributions of fast- and slow-relaxing populations of half-sarcomeres. Isometric muscle twitch simulations predicted a complex relationship between relaxation time and the proportion of fast-versus slow-relaxing cells in heterogeneous tissues. Specifically, a 50/50 mixture of fast and slow cells did not lead to relaxation time that was the mean of the relaxation times associated with the two pure cases. Rather, the mean relaxation time was achieved at a ratio of 70:30 slow:fast relaxing cells, suggesting a disproportionate impact of fast-relaxing cells on overall tissue relaxation. To examine whether this behavior persists in vitro, we constructed engineered heart tissues from two lines of fast- and slow-relaxing human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Cell tracking via fluorescent nanocrystals confirmed the presence of both cell populations in the 50/50 mixed tissues at the time of mechanical characterization. Isometric muscle twitch relaxation times of these mixed-population engineered heart tissues showed agreement with the predictions from the model, namely that the measured relaxation rate of 50/50 mixed tissues more closely resembled that of tissues made with 100% fast-relaxing cells. Our observations suggest that cardiomyocyte diversity can play an important role in determining tissue-level relaxation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alexander Clark
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lorenzo R Sewanan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jonas Schwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jonathan Kluger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kenneth S Campbell
- Department of Physiology and Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Stuart G Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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13
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Gao B, Sutherland W, Vargas HM, Qu Y. Effects of omecamtiv mecarbil on calcium-transients and contractility in a translational canine myocyte model. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2020; 8:e00656. [PMID: 32969560 PMCID: PMC7512116 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a selective cardiac myosin activator (myotrope), currently in Phase 3 clinical investigation as a novel treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. OM increases cardiac contractility by enhancing interaction between myosin and actin in a calcium-independent fashion. This study aims to characterize the mechanism of action by evaluating its simultaneous effect on myocyte contractility and calcium-transients (CTs) in healthy canine ventricular myocytes. Left ventricular myocytes were isolated from canines and loaded with Fura-2 AM. With an IonOptix system, contractility parameters including amplitude and duration of sarcomere shortening, contraction and relaxation velocity, and resting sarcomere length were measured. CT parameters including amplitude at systole and diastole, velocity at systole and diastole, and duration at 50% from peak were simultaneously measured. OM was tested at 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, and 3 µmol\L concentrations to simulate therapeutic human plasma exposure levels. OM and isoproterenol (ISO) demonstrated differential effects on CTs and myocyte contractility. OM increased contractility mainly by prolonging duration of contraction while ISO increased contractility mainly by augmenting the amplitude of contraction. ISO increased the amplitude and velocity of CT, shortened duration of CT concurrent with increasing myocyte contraction, while OM did not change the amplitude, velocity, and duration of CT up to 1 µmol\L. Decreases in relaxation velocity and increases in duration were present only at 3 µmol\L. In this translational myocyte model study, therapeutically relevant concentrations of OM increased contractility but did not alter intracellular CTs, a mechanism of action distinct from traditional calcitropes.
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Affiliation(s)
- BaoXi Gao
- Translational Safety & Bioanalytical SciencesAmgen Inc.Thousand OaksCAUSA
| | - Weston Sutherland
- Translational Safety & Bioanalytical SciencesAmgen Inc.Thousand OaksCAUSA
| | - Hugo M. Vargas
- Translational Safety & Bioanalytical SciencesAmgen Inc.Thousand OaksCAUSA
| | - Yusheng Qu
- Translational Safety & Bioanalytical SciencesAmgen Inc.Thousand OaksCAUSA
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14
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Villemain O, Baranger J, Friedberg MK, Papadacci C, Dizeux A, Messas E, Tanter M, Pernot M, Mertens L. Ultrafast Ultrasound Imaging in Pediatric and Adult Cardiology. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2020; 13:1771-1791. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2019.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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15
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In-silico human electro-mechanical ventricular modelling and simulation for drug-induced pro-arrhythmia and inotropic risk assessment. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 159:58-74. [PMID: 32710902 PMCID: PMC7848595 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2020.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Human-based computational modelling and simulation are powerful tools to accelerate the mechanistic understanding of cardiac patho-physiology, and to develop and evaluate therapeutic interventions. The aim of this study is to calibrate and evaluate human ventricular electro-mechanical models for investigations on the effect of the electro-mechanical coupling and pharmacological action on human ventricular electrophysiology, calcium dynamics, and active contraction. The most recent models of human ventricular electrophysiology, excitation-contraction coupling, and active contraction were integrated, and the coupled models were calibrated using human experimental data. Simulations were then conducted using the coupled models to quantify the effects of electro-mechanical coupling and drug exposure on electrophysiology and force generation in virtual human ventricular cardiomyocytes and tissue. The resulting calibrated human electro-mechanical models yielded active tension, action potential, and calcium transient metrics that are in agreement with experiments for endocardial, epicardial, and mid-myocardial human samples. Simulation results correctly predicted the inotropic response of different multichannel action reference compounds and demonstrated that the electro-mechanical coupling improves the robustness of repolarisation under drug exposure compared to electrophysiology-only models. They also generated additional evidence to explain the partial mismatch between in-silico and in-vitro experiments on drug-induced electrophysiology changes. The human calibrated and evaluated modelling and simulation framework constructed in this study opens new avenues for future investigations into the complex interplay between the electrical and mechanical cardiac substrates, its modulation by pharmacological action, and its translation to tissue and organ models of cardiac patho-physiology.
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16
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Wacker C, Dams N, Schauer A, Ritzer A, Volk T, Wagner M. Region-specific mechanisms of corticosteroid-mediated inotropy in rat cardiomyocytes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11604. [PMID: 32665640 PMCID: PMC7360564 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68308-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Regional differences in ion channel activity in the heart control the sequence of repolarization and may contribute to differences in contraction. Corticosteroids such as aldosterone or corticosterone increase the L-type Ca2+ current (ICaL) in the heart via the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR). Here, we investigate the differential impact of corticosteroid-mediated increase in ICaL on action potentials (AP), ion currents, intracellular Ca2+ handling and contractility in endo- and epicardial myocytes of the rat left ventricle. Dexamethasone led to a similar increase in ICaL in endocardial and epicardial myocytes, while the K+ currents Ito and IK were unaffected. However, AP duration (APD) and AP-induced Ca2+ influx (QCa) significantly increased exclusively in epicardial myocytes, thus abrogating the normal differences between the groups. Dexamethasone increased Ca2+ transients, contractility and SERCA activity in both regions, the latter possibly due to a decrease in total phospholamban (PLB) and an increase PLBpThr17. These results suggest that corticosteroids are powerful modulators of ICaL, Ca2+ transients and contractility in both endo- and epicardial myocytes, while APD and QCa are increased in epicardial myocytes only. This indicates that increased ICaL and SERCA activity rather than QCa are the primary drivers of contractility by adrenocorticoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Wacker
- Institut für Zelluläre und Molekulare Physiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Waldstraße 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Niklas Dams
- Institut für Zelluläre und Molekulare Physiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Waldstraße 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alexander Schauer
- Institut für Zelluläre und Molekulare Physiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Waldstraße 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Anne Ritzer
- Institut für Zelluläre und Molekulare Physiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Waldstraße 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tilmann Volk
- Institut für Zelluläre und Molekulare Physiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Waldstraße 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany. .,Muscle Research Center Erlangen (MURCE), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Michael Wagner
- Institut für Zelluläre und Molekulare Physiologie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Waldstraße 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany. .,Abteilung für Rhythmologie, Herzzentrum Dresden, Fetscherstraße 76, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
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17
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Kula R, Bébarová M, Matejovič P, Šimurda J, Pásek M. Distribution of data in cellular electrophysiology: Is it always normal? PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 157:11-17. [PMID: 32621819 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2020.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The distribution of data presented in many electrophysiological studies is presumed to be normal without any convincing evidence. To test this presumption, the cell membrane capacitance and magnitude of inward rectifier potassium currents were recorded by the whole-cell patch clamp technique in rat atrial myocytes. Statistical analysis of the data showed that these variables were not distributed normally. Instead, a positively skewed distribution appeared to be a better approximation of the real data distribution. Consequently, the arithmetic mean, used inappropriately in such data, may substantially overestimate the true mean value characterizing the central tendency of the data. Moreover, a large standard deviation describing the variance of positively skewed data allowed 95% confidence interval to include unrealistic negative values. We therefore conclude that the normality of the electrophysiological data should be tested in every experiment and, if rejected, the positively skewed data should be more accurately characterized by the median and interpercentile range or, if justified (namely in the case of log-normal and gamma data distribution), by the geometric mean and the geometric standard deviation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Kula
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Markéta Bébarová
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Matejovič
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šimurda
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Pásek
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic; Institute of Thermomechanics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Dolejškova 5, 182 00, Prague, Czech Republic.
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18
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Impact of Decreased Transmural Conduction Velocity on the Function of the Human Left Ventricle: A Simulation Study. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:2867865. [PMID: 32337235 PMCID: PMC7160730 DOI: 10.1155/2020/2867865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates the impact of reduced transmural conduction velocity (TCV) on output parameters of the human heart. In a healthy heart, the TCV contributes to synchronization of the onset of contraction in individual layers of the left ventricle (LV). However, it is unclear whether the clinically observed decrease of TCV contributes significantly to a reduction of LV contractility. The applied three-dimensional finite element model of isovolumic contraction of the human LV incorporates transmural gradients in electromechanical delay and myocyte shortening velocity and evaluates the impact of TCV reduction on pressure rise (namely, (dP/dt)max) and on isovolumic contraction duration (IVCD) in a healthy LV. The model outputs are further exploited in the lumped “Windkessel” model of the human cardiovascular system (based on electrohydrodynamic analogy of respective differential equations) to simulate the impact of changes of (dP/dt)max and IVCD on chosen systemic parameters (ejection fraction, LV power, cardiac output, and blood pressure). The simulations have shown that a 50% decrease in TCV prolongs substantially the isovolumic contraction, decelerates slightly the LV pressure rise, increases the LV energy consumption, and reduces the LV power. These negative effects increase progressively with further reduction of TCV. In conclusion, these results suggest that the pumping efficacy of the human LV decreases with lower TCV due to a higher energy consumption and lower LV power. Although the changes induced by the clinically relevant reduction of TCV are not critical for a healthy heart, they may represent an important factor limiting the heart function under disease conditions.
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19
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Comparison of Electromechanical Delay during Ventricular Tachycardia and Fibrillation under Different Conductivity Conditions Using Computational Modeling. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2020; 2020:9501985. [PMID: 32300375 PMCID: PMC7146094 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9501985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Electromechanical delay (EMD) is the time interval between local myocyte depolarization and the onset of myofiber shortening. Previously, researchers measured EMD during sinus rhythm and ectopic pacing in normal and heart failure conditions. However, to our knowledge, there are no reports regarding EMD during another type of rhythms or arrhythmia. The goal of this study was to quantify EMD during sinus rhythm, tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation conditions. We hypothesized that EMD under sinus rhythm is longer due to isovolumetric contraction which is imprecise during arrhythmia. We used a realistic model of 3D electromechanical ventricles. During sinus rhythm, EMD was measured in the last cycle of cardiac systole under steady conditions. EMD under tachycardia and fibrillation conditions was measured during the entire simulation, resulting in multiple EMD values. We assessed EMD for the following 3 conduction velocities (CVs): 31 cm/s, 51 cm/s, and 69 cm/s. The average EMD during fibrillation condition was the shortest corresponding to 53.45 ms, 55.07 ms, and 50.77 ms, for the CVs of 31 cm/s, 51 cm/s, and 69 cm/s, respectively. The average EMD during tachycardia was 58.61 ms, 58.33 ms, and 52.50 ms for the three CVs. Under sinus rhythm with action potential duration restitution (APDR) slope 0.7, the average EMD was 66.35 ms, 66.41 ms, and 66.60 ms in line with the three CVs. This result supports our hypothesis that EMD under sinus rhythm is longer than that under tachyarrhythmia conditions. In conclusion, this study observed and quantified EMD under tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation conditions. This simulation study has widened our understanding of EMD in 3D ventricles under chaotic conditions.
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20
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Intact myocardial preparations reveal intrinsic transmural heterogeneity in cardiac mechanics. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2020; 141:11-16. [PMID: 32201175 PMCID: PMC7246333 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Determining transmural mechanical properties in the heart provides a foundation to understand physiological and pathophysiological cardiac mechanics. Although work on mechanical characterisation has begun in isolated cells and permeabilised samples, the mechanical profile of living individual cardiac layers has not been examined. Myocardial slices are 300 μm-thin sections of heart tissue with preserved cellular stoichiometry, extracellular matrix, and structural architecture. This allows for cardiac mechanics assays in the context of an intact in vitro organotypic preparation. In slices obtained from the subendocardium, midmyocardium and subepicardium of rats, a distinct pattern in transmural contractility is found that is different from that observed in other models. Slices from the epicardium and midmyocardium had a higher active tension and passive tension than the endocardium upon stretch. Differences in total myocyte area coverage, and aspect ratio between layers underlined the functional readouts, while no differences were found in total sarcomeric protein and phosphoprotein between layers. Such intrinsic heterogeneity may orchestrate the normal pumping of the heart in the presence of transmural strain and sarcomere length gradients in the in vivo heart. The myocardial slice preparation is an intact cardiac model allowing the study of transmural properties. Mechanical behaviour is cardiac layer dependent. Structural differences in cardiomyocyte density, orientation, and aspect ratio may contribute to these findings.
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21
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Khokhlova A, Konovalov P, Iribe G, Solovyova O, Katsnelson L. The Effects of Mechanical Preload on Transmural Differences in Mechano-Calcium-Electric Feedback in Single Cardiomyocytes: Experiments and Mathematical Models. Front Physiol 2020; 11:171. [PMID: 32256377 PMCID: PMC7091561 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmural differences in ventricular myocardium are maintained by electromechanical coupling and mechano-calcium/mechano-electric feedback. In the present study, we experimentally investigated the influence of preload on the force characteristics of subendocardial (Endo) and subepicardial (Epi) single ventricular cardiomyocytes stretched by up to 20% from slack sarcomere length (SL) and analyzed the results with the help of mathematical modeling. Mathematical models of Endo and Epi cells, which accounted for regional heterogeneity in ionic currents, Ca2+ handling, and myofilament contractile mechanisms, showed that a greater slope of the active tension–length relationship observed experimentally in Endo cardiomyocytes could be explained by greater length-dependent Ca2+ activation in Endo cells compared with Epi ones. The models also predicted that greater length dependence of Ca2+ activation in Endo cells compared to Epi ones underlies, via mechano-calcium-electric feedback, the reduction in the transmural gradient in action potential duration (APD) at a higher preload. However, the models were unable to reproduce the experimental data on a decrease of the transmural gradient in the time to peak contraction between Endo and Epi cells at longer end-diastolic SL. We hypothesize that preload-dependent changes in viscosity should be involved alongside the Frank–Starling effects to regulate the transmural gradient in length-dependent changes in the time course of contraction of Endo and Epi cardiomyocytes. Our experimental data and their analysis based on mathematical modeling give reason to believe that mechano-calcium-electric feedback plays a critical role in the modulation of electrophysiological and contractile properties of myocytes across the ventricular wall.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Khokhlova
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia.,Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Pavel Konovalov
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Gentaro Iribe
- Department of Physiology, Asahikawa Medical University, Hokkaido, Japan.,Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Olga Solovyova
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia.,Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Leonid Katsnelson
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russia.,Institute of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
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22
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Pitoulis FG, Terracciano CM. Heart Plasticity in Response to Pressure- and Volume-Overload: A Review of Findings in Compensated and Decompensated Phenotypes. Front Physiol 2020; 11:92. [PMID: 32116796 PMCID: PMC7031419 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.00092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The adult human heart has an exceptional ability to alter its phenotype to adapt to changes in environmental demand. This response involves metabolic, mechanical, electrical, and structural alterations, and is known as cardiac plasticity. Understanding the drivers of cardiac plasticity is essential for development of therapeutic agents. This is particularly important in contemporary cardiology, which uses treatments with peripheral effects (e.g., on kidneys, adrenal glands). This review focuses on the effects of different hemodynamic loads on myocardial phenotype. We examine mechanical scenarios of pressure- and volume overload, from the initial insult, to compensated, and ultimately decompensated stage. We discuss how different hemodynamic conditions occur and are underlined by distinct phenotypic and molecular changes. We complete the review by exploring how current basic cardiac research should leverage available cardiac models to study mechanical load in its different presentations.
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23
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Abstract
Computational modeling based on experimental data remains an important component in cardiac electrophysiological research, especially because clinical data such as human action potential (AP) dynamics are scarce or limited by practical or ethical concerns. Such modeling has been used to develop and test a variety of mechanistic hypotheses, with the majority of these studies involving the rate dependence of AP duration (APD) including APD restitution and conduction velocity (CV). However, there is very little information regarding the complex dynamics at the boundary of repolarization (or refractoriness) and reexcitability. Here, we developed a "minimal" ionic model of the human AP, based on in vivo human monophasic AP (MAP) recordings obtained during clinical programmed electrical stimulation (PES) to address the progressive decrease in AP take-off potential (TOP) and associated CV slowing seen during three tightly spaced extrastimuli. Recent voltage-clamp data demonstrating the effect of intracellular calcium on sodium current availability were incorporated and were required to reproduce large (>15 mV) elevations in take-off potential and progressive encroachment. Introducing clinically observed APD gradients into the model enabled us to replicate the dynamic response to PES in patients leading to conduction block and reentry formation for the positive, but not the negative, APD gradient. Finally, we modeled the dynamics of reentry and show that spiral waves follow a meandering trajectory with a period of ~180 ms. We conclude that our model reproduces a variety of electrophysiological behavior including the response to sequential premature stimuli and provides a basis for studies of the initiation of reentry in human ventricular tissue.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This work presents a new model of the action potential of the human which reproduces the complex dynamics during premature stimulation in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard A Gray
- Division of Biomedical Physics, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
| | - Michael R Franz
- Cardiology Division of Cardiology, Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia.,Department of Pharmacology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia
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24
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Zhang H, Zhang H, Wang C, Wang Y, Zou R, Shi C, Guan B, Gamper N, Xu Y. Auxiliary subunits control biophysical properties and response to compound NS5806 of the Kv4 potassium channel complex. FASEB J 2019; 34:807-821. [PMID: 31914636 PMCID: PMC6972550 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201902010rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Kv4 pore‐forming subunits co‐assemble with β‐subunits including KChIP2 and DPP6 and the resultant complexes conduct cardiac transient outward K+ current (Ito). Compound NS5806 has been shown to potentate Ito in canine cardiomyocytes; however, its effects on Ito in other species yet to be determined. We found that NS5806 inhibited native Ito in a concentration‐dependent manner (0.1~30 μM) in both mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes and human‐induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC‐CMs), but potentiated Ito in the canine cardiomyocytes. In HEK293 cells co‐transfected with cloned Kv4.3 (or Kv4.2) and β‐subunit KChIP2, NS5806 significantly increased the peak current amplitude and slowed the inactivation. In contrast, NS5806 suppressed the current and accelerated inactivation of the channels when cells were co‐transfected with Kv4.3 (or Kv4.2), KChIP2 and another β‐subunit, DPP6‐L (long isoform). Western blot analysis showed that DPP6‐L was dominantly expressed in both mouse ventricular myocardium and hiPSC‐CMs, while it was almost undetectable in canine ventricular myocardium. In addition, low level of DPP6‐S expression was found in canine heart, whereas levels of KChIP2 expression were comparable among all three species. siRNA knockdown of DPP6 antagonized the Ito inhibition by NS5806 in hiPSC‐CMs. Molecular docking simulation suggested that DPP6‐L may associate with KChIP2 subunits. Mutations of putative KChIP2‐interacting residues of DPP6‐L reversed the inhibitory effect of NS5806 into potentiation of the current. We conclude that a pharmacological modulator can elicit opposite regulatory effects on Kv4 channel complex among different species, depending on the presence of distinct β‐subunits. These findings provide novel insight into the molecular design and regulation of cardiac Ito. Since Ito is a potential therapeutic target for treatment of multiple cardiovascular diseases, our data will facilitate the development of new therapeutic Ito modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxue Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Chanjuan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yuhong Wang
- Institute of Masteria Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ruya Zou
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Chenxia Shi
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Bingcai Guan
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Nikita Gamper
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Yanfang Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of New Drug Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Neural and Vascular Biology, Ministry of Education, Shijiazhuang, China
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25
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Atmanli A, Hu D, Deiman FE, van de Vrugt AM, Cherbonneau F, Black LD, Domian IJ. Multiplex live single-cell transcriptional analysis demarcates cellular functional heterogeneity. eLife 2019; 8:49599. [PMID: 31591966 PMCID: PMC6861004 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental goal in the biological sciences is to determine how individual cells with varied gene expression profiles and diverse functional characteristics contribute to development, physiology, and disease. Here, we report a novel strategy to assess gene expression and cell physiology in single living cells. Our approach utilizes fluorescently labeled mRNA-specific anti-sense RNA probes and dsRNA-binding protein to identify the expression of specific genes in real-time at single-cell resolution via FRET. We use this technology to identify distinct myocardial subpopulations expressing the structural proteins myosin heavy chain α and myosin light chain 2a in real-time during early differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells. We combine this live-cell gene expression analysis with detailed physiologic phenotyping to capture the functional evolution of these early myocardial subpopulations during lineage specification and diversification. This live-cell mRNA imaging approach will have wide ranging application wherever heterogeneity plays an important biological role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayhan Atmanli
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, United States
| | - Dongjian Hu
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, United States
| | - Frederik Ernst Deiman
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Annebel Marjolein van de Vrugt
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - François Cherbonneau
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States
| | - Lauren Deems Black
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, United States.,Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, United States
| | - Ibrahim John Domian
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, United States.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, United States
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26
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Grondin J, Wang D, Grubb CS, Trayanova N, Konofagou EE. 4D cardiac electromechanical activation imaging. Comput Biol Med 2019; 113:103382. [PMID: 31476587 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2019.103382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac abnormalities, a major cause of morbidity and mortality, affect millions of people worldwide. Despite the urgent clinical need for early diagnosis, there is currently no noninvasive technique that can infer to the electrical function of the whole heart in 3D and thereby localize abnormalities at the point of care. Here we present a new method for noninvasive 4D mapping of the cardiac electromechanical activity in a single heartbeat for heart disease characterization such as arrhythmia and infarction. Our novel technique captures the 3D activation wave of the heart in vivo using high volume-rate (500 volumes per second) ultrasound with a 32 × 32 matrix array. Electromechanical activation maps are first presented in a normal and infarcted cardiac model in silico and in canine heart during pacing and re-entrant ventricular tachycardia in vivo. Noninvasive 4D electromechanical activation mapping in a healthy volunteer and a heart failure patient are also determined. The technique described herein allows for direct, simultaneous and noninvasive visualization of electromechanical activation in 3D, which provides complementary information on myocardial viability and/or abnormality to clinical imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Grondin
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, 630 W 168th, Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Dafang Wang
- Institute of Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Christopher S Grubb
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, 630 W 168th, Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Natalia Trayanova
- Institute of Computational Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Elisa E Konofagou
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, 630 W 168th, Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, 1210 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
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27
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López Alarcón MM, Rodríguez de Yurre A, Felice JI, Medei E, Escobar AL. Phase 1 repolarization rate defines Ca 2+ dynamics and contractility on intact mouse hearts. J Gen Physiol 2019; 151:771-785. [PMID: 31000581 PMCID: PMC6571993 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201812269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Intact heart physiology assessed by local-field optical techniques helps decipher cardiac function at the organ level. Here, we found that the phase 1 repolarization rate of the mouse ventricular action potential defines contractility by regulating the deactivation of an L-type Ca2+ current. In the heart, Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels triggers Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In most mammals, this influx occurs during the ventricular action potential (AP) plateau phase 2. However, in murine models, the influx through L-type Ca2+ channels happens in early repolarizing phase 1. The aim of this work is to assess if changes in the open probability of 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)–sensitive Kv channels defining the outward K+ current during phase 1 can modulate Ca2+ currents, Ca2+ transients, and systolic pressure during the cardiac cycle in intact perfused beating hearts. Pulsed local-field fluorescence microscopy and loose-patch photolysis were used to test the hypothesis that a decrease in a transient K+ current (Ito) will enhance Ca2+ influx and promote a larger Ca2+ transient. Simultaneous recordings of Ca2+ transients and APs by pulsed local-field fluorescence microscopy and loose-patch photolysis showed that a reduction in the phase 1 repolarization rate increases the amplitude of Ca2+ transients due to an increase in Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels. Moreover, 4-AP induced an increase in the time required for AP to reach 30% repolarization, and the amplitude of Ca2+ transients was larger in epicardium than endocardium. On the other hand, the activation of Ito with NS5806 resulted in a reduction of Ca2+ current amplitude that led to a reduction of the amplitude of Ca2+ transients. Finally, the 4-AP effect on AP phase 1 was significantly smaller when the L-type Ca2+ current was partially blocked with nifedipine, indicating that the phase 1 rate of repolarization is defined by the competition between an outward K+ current and an inward Ca2+ current.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Juan Ignacio Felice
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Emiliano Medei
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ariel L Escobar
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, CA
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28
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Calloe K. Doctoral Dissertation: The transient outward potassium current in healthy and diseased hearts. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2019; 225 Suppl 717:e13225. [PMID: 30628199 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kirstine Calloe
- Section for Anatomy; Biochemistry and Physiology; Department for Veterinary and Animal Sciences; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences; University of Copenhagen; Frederiksberg C Denmark
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29
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Clark JA, Campbell SG. Diverse relaxation rates exist among rat cardiomyocytes isolated from a single myocardial region. J Physiol 2018; 597:711-722. [PMID: 30315728 DOI: 10.1113/jp276718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Prior studies have shown variation in the functional properties of cardiomyocytes isolated from different regions of the left ventricular myocardium. We found that these region-dependent variations vanish below a tissue volume of ∼7 mm3 in the adult rat myocardium, revealing a fixed level of intrinsic relaxation rate heterogeneity that is independent of tissue volume. Within these microscopically varying cell populations, fast-relaxing cells were shown to have elevated phosphorylated troponin I compared to slow-relaxing cells. Relaxation rate was also correlated with cardiomyocyte length, in that slow-relaxing cells were longer than fast-relaxing cells. These results show a new relationship between cardiomyocyte morphology and myofilament relaxation, and suggest that functional diversity among individual myocytes at the microscale may contribute to bulk relaxation of the myocardium. ABSTRACT The mean contractility and calcium handling properties of cardiomyocytes isolated from different regions of the ventricular myocardium are known to vary significantly. We designed experiments to quantify the variance in contractile properties among cells within the same myocardial region. Longitudinal strips of myocardial tissue were excised from the epicardial left ventricular free walls of adult Sprague-Dawley rats and then treated with collagenase to isolate individual myocytes. Cardiomyocytes were characterized by measuring sarcomere length changes and calcium transients during electrical pacing. Variance of the time from peak sarcomere shortening to 50% re-lengthening (RT50 ) was assessed in each cell population. Isolating cells from progressively shorter strips allowed an estimate of the myocardial volume below which regional variation vanished and only microscale heterogeneity remained (∼7 mm3 ). The SD of RT50 within this myocardial volume was 28% of the mean. In a series of follow-up experiments, RT50 was shown to correlate significantly with resting myocyte length, suggesting a connection between cell morphology and intrinsic relaxation behaviour. To explore the mechanistic basis of varying RT50 , a novel single-cell aspirator was employed to collect small batches of cardiomyocytes grouped according to their relaxation rates (fast or slow). Western blot analysis of the two groups revealed significantly elevated troponin I phosphorylation in fast-relaxing cells. Our observations suggest that cell-to-cell heterogeneity of active contractile properties is substantial, with implications for how we understand myocardial relaxation and design drug therapies intended to alter relaxation rate.
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30
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Decreased contractility and altered responses to inotropic agents in myocytes from tachypacing-induced heart failure canines. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2018; 93:98-107. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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31
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Wen Q, Gandhi K, Capel RA, Hao G, O'Shea C, Neagu G, Pearcey S, Pavlovic D, Terrar DA, Wu J, Faggian G, Camelliti P, Lei M. Transverse cardiac slicing and optical imaging for analysis of transmural gradients in membrane potential and Ca 2+ transients in murine heart. J Physiol 2018; 596:3951-3965. [PMID: 29928770 PMCID: PMC6117587 DOI: 10.1113/jp276239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Key points A robust cardiac slicing approach was developed for optical mapping of transmural gradients in transmembrane potential (Vm) and intracellular Ca2+ transient (CaT) of murine heart. Significant transmural gradients in Vm and CaT were observed in the left ventricle. Frequency‐dependent action potentials and CaT alternans were observed in all ventricular regions with rapid pacing, with significantly greater incidence in the endocardium than epicardium. The observations demonstrate the feasibility of our new approach to cardiac slicing for systematic analysis of intrinsic transmural and regional gradients in Vm and CaT.
Abstract Transmural and regional gradients in membrane potential and Ca2+ transient in the murine heart are largely unexplored. Here, we developed and validated a robust approach which combines transverse ultra‐thin cardiac slices and high resolution optical mapping to enable systematic analysis of transmural and regional gradients in transmembrane potential (Vm) and intracellular Ca2+ transient (CaT) across the entire murine ventricles. The voltage dye RH237 or Ca2+ dye Rhod‐2 AM were loaded through the coronary circulation using a Langendorff perfusion system. Short‐axis slices (300 μm thick) were prepared from the entire ventricles (from the apex to the base) by using a high‐precision vibratome. Action potentials (APs) and CaTs were recorded with optical mapping during steady‐state baseline and rapid pacing. Significant transmural gradients in Vm and CaT were observed in the left ventricle, with longer AP duration (APD50 and APD75) and CaT duration (CaTD50 and CaTD75) in the endocardium compared with that in the epicardium. No significant regional gradients were observed along the apico‐basal axis of the left ventricle. Interventricular gradients were detected with significantly shorter APD50, APD75 and CaTD50 in the right ventricle compared with left ventricle and ventricular septum. During rapid pacing, AP and CaT alternans were observed in most ventricular regions, with significantly greater incidence in the endocardium in comparison with epicardium. In conclusion, these observations demonstrate the feasibility of our new approach to cardiac slicing for systematic analysis of intrinsic transmural and regional gradients in Vm and CaT in murine ventricular tissue. A robust cardiac slicing approach was developed for optical mapping of transmural gradients in transmembrane potential (Vm) and intracellular Ca2+ transient (CaT) of murine heart. Significant transmural gradients in Vm and CaT were observed in the left ventricle. Frequency‐dependent action potentials and CaT alternans were observed in all ventricular regions with rapid pacing, with significantly greater incidence in the endocardium than epicardium. The observations demonstrate the feasibility of our new approach to cardiac slicing for systematic analysis of intrinsic transmural and regional gradients in Vm and CaT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Wen
- Institution of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - K Gandhi
- Medical School, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Rebecca A Capel
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - G Hao
- 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, 6400, China
| | - C O'Shea
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - G Neagu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - S Pearcey
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - D Pavlovic
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Derek A Terrar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - J Wu
- Institution of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - G Faggian
- Medical School, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - M Lei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,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, 6400, China
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32
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Khokhlova A, Balakina-Vikulova N, Katsnelson L, Iribe G, Solovyova O. Transmural cellular heterogeneity in myocardial electromechanics. J Physiol Sci 2018; 68:387-413. [PMID: 28573594 PMCID: PMC10717105 DOI: 10.1007/s12576-017-0541-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Myocardial heterogeneity is an attribute of the normal heart. We have developed integrative models of cardiomyocytes from the subendocardial (ENDO) and subepicardial (EPI) ventricular regions that take into account experimental data on specific regional features of intracellular electromechanical coupling in the guinea pig heart. The models adequately simulate experimental data on the differences in the action potential and contraction between the ENDO and EPI cells. The modeling results predict that heterogeneity in the parameters of calcium handling and myofilament mechanics in isolated ENDO and EPI cardiomyocytes are essential to produce the differences in Ca2+ transients and contraction profiles via cooperative mechanisms of mechano-calcium-electric feedback and may further slightly modulate transmural differences in the electrical properties between the cells. Simulation results predict that ENDO cells have greater sensitivity to changes in the mechanical load than EPI cells. These data are important for understanding the behavior of cardiomyocytes in the intact heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Khokhlova
- Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia.
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 106 Pervomayskaya, Ekaterinburg, 620049, Russia.
| | - Nathalie Balakina-Vikulova
- Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 106 Pervomayskaya, Ekaterinburg, 620049, Russia
| | - Leonid Katsnelson
- Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 106 Pervomayskaya, Ekaterinburg, 620049, Russia
| | - Gentaro Iribe
- Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Olga Solovyova
- Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 106 Pervomayskaya, Ekaterinburg, 620049, Russia
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33
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Vaverka J, Burša J, Šumbera J, Pásek M. Effect of Transmural Differences in Excitation-Contraction Delay and Contraction Velocity on Left Ventricle Isovolumic Contraction: A Simulation Study. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:4798512. [PMID: 29862273 PMCID: PMC5971307 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4798512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that left ventricle (LV) exhibits considerable transmural differences in active mechanical properties induced by transmural differences in electrical activity, excitation-contraction coupling, and contractile properties of individual myocytes. It was shown that the time between electrical and mechanical activation of myocytes (electromechanical delay: EMD) decreases from subendocardium to subepicardium and, on the contrary, the myocyte shortening velocity (MSV) increases in the same direction. To investigate the physiological importance of this inhomogeneity, we developed a new finite element model of LV incorporating the observed transmural gradients in EMD and MSV. Comparative simulations with the model showed that when EMD or MSV or both were set constant across the LV wall, the LV contractility during isovolumic contraction (IVC) decreased significantly ((dp/dt)max was reduced by 2 to 38% and IVC was prolonged by 18 to 73%). This was accompanied by an increase of transmural differences in wall stress. These results suggest that the transmural differences in EMD and MSV play an important role in physiological contractility of LV by synchronising the contraction of individual layers of ventricular wall during the systole. Reduction or enhancement of these differences may therefore impair the function of LV and contribute to heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Vaverka
- Institute of Solid Mechanics, Mechatronics and Biomechanics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - J Burša
- Institute of Solid Mechanics, Mechatronics and Biomechanics, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - J Šumbera
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - M Pásek
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Thermomechanics, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
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34
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Khokhlova A, Iribe G, Katsnelson L, Naruse K, Solovyova O. The effects of load on transmural differences in contraction of isolated mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2017; 114:276-287. [PMID: 29217431 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Mechanical properties of cardiomyocytes from different transmural regions are heterogeneous in the left ventricular wall. The cardiomyocyte mechanical environment affects this heterogeneity because of mechano-electric feedback mechanisms. In the present study, we investigated the effects of the mechanical load (preload and afterload) on transmural differences in contraction of subendocardial (ENDO) and subepicardial (EPI) single cells isolated from the murine left ventricle. Various preloads imposed via axial stretch and afterloads (unloaded and heavy loaded conditions) were applied to the cells using carbon fiber techniques for single myocytes. To simulate experimentally obtained results and to predict mechanisms underlying the cellular response to change in load, our mathematical models of the ENDO and EPI cells were used. Our major findings are the following. Our results show that ENDO and EPI cardiomyocytes have different mechanical responses to changes in preload to the cells. Under auxotonic contractions at low preload (unstretched cells), time to peak contraction (Tmax) and the time constant of [Ca2+]i transient decay were significantly longer in ENDO cells than in EPI cells. An increase in preload (stretched cells) prolonged Tmax in both cell types; however, the prolongation was greater in EPI cells, resulting in a decrease in the transmural gradient in Tmax at high preload. Comparing unloaded and heavy loaded (isometric) contractions of the cells we found that transmural gradient in the time course of contraction is independent of the loading conditions. Our mathematical cell models were able to reproduce the experimental results on the distinct cellular responses to changes in the mechanical load when we accounted for an ENDO/EPI difference in the parameters of cooperativity of calcium activation of myofilaments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Khokhlova
- Ural Federal University, Mira 19, 620002 Ekaterinburg, Russia; Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pervomajskaya 106, 620049 Ekaterinburg, Russia.
| | - Gentaro Iribe
- Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shikata cho 2-5-1, 1700-8558 Okayama, Japan
| | - Leonid Katsnelson
- Ural Federal University, Mira 19, 620002 Ekaterinburg, Russia; Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pervomajskaya 106, 620049 Ekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Keiji Naruse
- Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shikata cho 2-5-1, 1700-8558 Okayama, Japan
| | - Olga Solovyova
- Ural Federal University, Mira 19, 620002 Ekaterinburg, Russia; Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pervomajskaya 106, 620049 Ekaterinburg, Russia; Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kovalevskaya 16, 620990 Ekaterinburg, Russia
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35
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Watson SA, Scigliano M, Bardi I, Ascione R, Terracciano CM, Perbellini F. Preparation of viable adult ventricular myocardial slices from large and small mammals. Nat Protoc 2017; 12:2623-2639. [PMID: 29189769 DOI: 10.1038/nprot.2017.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This protocol describes the preparation of highly viable adult ventricular myocardial slices from the hearts of small and large mammals, including rodents, pigs, dogs and humans. Adult ventricular myocardial slices are 100- to 400-μm-thick slices of living myocardium that retain the native multicellularity, architecture and physiology of the heart. This protocol provides a list of the equipment and reagents required alongside a detailed description of the methodology for heart explantation, tissue preparation, slicing with a vibratome and handling of myocardial slices. Supplementary videos are included to visually demonstrate these steps. A number of critical steps are addressed that must be followed in order to prepare highly viable myocardial slices. These include identification of myocardial fiber direction and fiber alignment within the tissue block, careful temperature control, use of an excitation-contraction uncoupler, optimal vibratome settings and correct handling of myocardial slices. Many aspects of cardiac structure and function can be studied using myocardial slices in vitro. Typical results obtained with hearts from a small mammal (rat) and a large mammal (human) with heart failure are shown, demonstrating myocardial slice viability, maximum contractility, Ca2+ handling and structure. This protocol can be completed in ∼4 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A Watson
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Myocardial Function, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Martina Scigliano
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Myocardial Function, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Ifigeneia Bardi
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Myocardial Function, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Raimondo Ascione
- Translational Biomedical Research Centre, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Cesare M Terracciano
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Myocardial Function, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Filippo Perbellini
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Myocardial Function, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Costet A, Melki L, Sayseng V, Hamid N, Nakanishi K, Wan E, Hahn R, Homma S, Konofagou E. Electromechanical wave imaging and electromechanical wave velocity estimation in a large animal model of myocardial infarction. Phys Med Biol 2017; 62:9341-9356. [PMID: 29083316 PMCID: PMC5958905 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6560/aa96d0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Echocardiography is often used in the clinic for detection and characterization of myocardial infarction. Electromechanical wave imaging (EWI) is a non-invasive ultrasound-based imaging technique based on time-domain incremental motion and strain estimation that can evaluate changes in contractility in the heart. In this study, electromechanical activation is assessed in infarcted heart to determine whether EWI is capable of detecting and monitoring infarct formation. Additionally, methods for estimating electromechanical wave (EW) velocity are presented, and changes in the EW propagation velocity after infarct formation are studied. Five (n = 5) adult mongrels were used in this study. Successful infarct formation was achieved in three animals by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Dogs were survived for a few days after LAD ligation and monitored daily with EWI. At the end of the survival period, dogs were sacrificed and TTC (tetrazolium chloride) staining confirmed the formation and location of the infarct. In all three dogs, as soon as day 1 EWI was capable of detecting late-activated and non-activated regions, which grew over the next few days. On final day images, the extent of these regions corresponded to the location of infarct as confirmed by staining. EW velocities in border zones of infarct were significantly lower post-infarct formation when compared to baseline, whereas velocities in healthy tissues were not. These results indicate that EWI and EW velocity might help with the detection of infarcts and their border zones, which may be useful for characterizing arrhythmogenic substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Costet
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lea Melki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vincent Sayseng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nadira Hamid
- Department of Medicine - Division of Cardiology; College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. USA
| | - Koki Nakanishi
- Department of Medicine - Division of Cardiology; College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. USA
| | - Elaine Wan
- Department of Medicine - Division of Cardiology; College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. USA
| | - Rebecca Hahn
- Department of Medicine - Division of Cardiology; College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. USA
| | - Shunichi Homma
- Department of Medicine - Division of Cardiology; College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. USA
| | - Elisa Konofagou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Aboelkassem Y, Campbell SG. Acute Optogenetic Modulation of Cardiac Twitch Dynamics Explored Through Modeling. J Biomech Eng 2017; 138:2552973. [PMID: 27618140 DOI: 10.1115/1.4034655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetic approaches allow cellular membrane potentials to be perturbed by light. When applied to muscle cells, mechanical events can be controlled through a process that could be termed "optomechanics." Besides functioning as an optical on/off switch, we hypothesized that optomechanical control could include the ability to manipulate the strength and duration of contraction events. To explore this possibility, we constructed an electromechanical model of the human ventricular cardiomyocyte while adding a representation of channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), a light-activated channel commonly used in optogenetics. Two hybrid stimulus protocols were developed that combined light-based stimuli with traditional electrical current (all-or-none) excitation. The first protocol involved delivery of a subthreshold optical stimulus followed 50-90 ms later by an electrical stimulus. The result was a graded inhibition of peak cellular twitch force in concert with a prolongation of the intracellular Ca2+ transient. The second protocol was comprised of an electrical stimulus followed by a long light pulse (250-350 ms) that acted to prolong the cardiac action potential (AP). This created a pulse duration-dependent prolongation of the intracellular Ca2+ transient that in turn altered the rate of muscle relaxation without changing peak twitch force. These results illustrate the feasibility of acute, optomechanical manipulation of cardiomyocyte contraction and suggest that this approach could be used to probe the dynamic behavior of the cardiac sarcomere without altering its intrinsic properties. Other experimentally meaningful stimulus protocols could be designed by making use of the optomechanical cardiomyocyte model presented here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasser Aboelkassem
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 e-mail:
| | - Stuart G Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511 e-mail:
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Melki L, Costet A, Konofagou EE. Reproducibility and Angle Independence of Electromechanical Wave Imaging for the Measurement of Electromechanical Activation during Sinus Rhythm in Healthy Humans. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2017; 43:2256-2268. [PMID: 28778420 PMCID: PMC5562524 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2017.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Revised: 05/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Electromechanical wave imaging (EWI) is an ultrasound-based technique that can non-invasively map the transmural electromechanical activation in all four cardiac chambers in vivo. The objective of this study was to determine the reproducibility and angle independence of EWI for the assessment of electromechanical activation during normal sinus rhythm (NSR) in healthy humans. Acquisitions were performed transthoracically at 2000 frames/s on seven healthy human hearts in parasternal long-axis, apical four- and two-chamber views. EWI data was collected twice successively in each view in all subjects, while four successive acquisitions were obtained in one case. Activation maps were generated and compared (i) within the same acquisition across consecutive cardiac cycles; (ii) within same view across successive acquisitions; and (iii) within equivalent left-ventricular regions across different views. EWI was capable of characterizing electromechanical activation during NSR and of reliably obtaining similar patterns of activation. For consecutive heart cycles, the average 2-D correlation coefficient between the two isochrones across the seven subjects was 0.9893, with a mean average activation time fluctuation in LV wall segments across acquisitions of 6.19%. A mean activation time variability of 12% was obtained across different views with a measurement bias of only 3.2 ms. These findings indicate that EWI can map the electromechanical activation during NSR in human hearts in transthoracic echocardiography in vivo and results in reproducible and angle-independent activation maps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Melki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alexandre Costet
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elisa E Konofagou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA; Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
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Khokhlova A, Iribe G, Yamaguchi Y, Naruse K, Solovyova O. Effects of simulated ischemia on the transmural differences in the Frank-Starling relationship in isolated mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 130:323-332. [PMID: 28571718 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2017.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2017] [Revised: 05/25/2017] [Accepted: 05/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The electrical and mechanical functions of cardiomyocytes differ in relation to the spatial locations of cells in the ventricular wall. This physiological heterogeneity may change under pathophysiological conditions, providing substrates for arrhythmia and contractile dysfunctions. Previous studies have reported distinctions in the electrophysiological and mechanical responses to ischemia of unloaded subendocardial (ENDO) and subepicardial (EPI) single cardiomyocytes. In this paper, we briefly recapitulated the available experimental data on the ischemia effects on the transmural cellular gradient in the heart ventricles and for the first time evaluated the preload-dependent changes in passive and active forces in ENDO and EPI cardiomyocytes isolated from mouse hearts subjected to simulated ischemia. Combining the results obtained in mechanically loaded contracting cardiomyocytes with data from previous studies, we showed that left ventricular ENDO and EPI cardiomyocytes are different in their mechanical responses to metabolic inhibition. Simulated ischemia showed opposite effects on the stiffness of ENDO and EPI cells and greatly prolonged the time course of contraction in EPI cells than in ENDO cells, thereby changing the normal transmural gradient in the cellular mechanics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Khokhlova
- Ural Federal University, 620002, Mira 19, Ekaterinburg, Russia; Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 620049, Pervomajskaya 106, Ekaterinburg, Russia.
| | - Gentaro Iribe
- Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1700-8558, Shikata Cho 2-5-1, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yohei Yamaguchi
- Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1700-8558, Shikata Cho 2-5-1, Okayama, Japan
| | - Keiji Naruse
- Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1700-8558, Shikata Cho 2-5-1, Okayama, Japan
| | - Olga Solovyova
- Ural Federal University, 620002, Mira 19, Ekaterinburg, Russia; Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 620049, Pervomajskaya 106, Ekaterinburg, Russia
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40
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Cohen IS, Mathias RT. The renin-angiotensin system regulates transmural electrical remodeling in response to mechanical load. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 122:187-201. [PMID: 27645328 PMCID: PMC5161618 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ira S Cohen
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Institute for Molecular Cardiology, Stony Brook University, United States.
| | - Richard T Mathias
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, Institute for Molecular Cardiology, Stony Brook University, United States
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41
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Khokhlova AD, Iribe G. Transmural Differences in Mechanical Properties of Isolated Subendocardial and Subepicardial Cardiomyocytes. Bull Exp Biol Med 2016; 162:48-50. [PMID: 27878719 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-016-3542-8] [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] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We studied the differences in twitch force of subendocardial and subepicardial cardiomyocytes isolated from mouse left ventricular wall at different preloads using an original single cell stretch method recently developed by us. Then, we used our mathematical models of subendocardial and subepicardial cells to predict underlying cellular mechanisms. Transmural differences in the amplitudes of active tension of subendocardial and subepicardial cardiomyocytes were revealed that could be related to the differences in cooperative end-to-end interaction between the neighboring regulatory units of the thin filament.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D Khokhlova
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia. .,B. N. Yeltsin Ural Federal University, Ekaterinburg, Russia.
| | - G Iribe
- Okayama University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
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Carruth ED, McCulloch AD, Omens JH. Transmural gradients of myocardial structure and mechanics: Implications for fiber stress and strain in pressure overload. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 122:215-226. [PMID: 27845176 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2016.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Although a truly complete understanding of whole heart activation, contraction, and deformation is well beyond our current reach, a significant amount of effort has been devoted to discovering and understanding the mechanisms by which myocardial structure determines cardiac function to better treat patients with cardiac disease. Several experimental studies have shown that transmural fiber strain is relatively uniform in both diastole and systole, in contrast to predictions from traditional mechanical theory. Similarly, mathematical models have largely predicted uniform fiber stress across the wall. The development of this uniform pattern of fiber stress and strain during filling and ejection is due to heterogeneous transmural distributions of several myocardial structures. This review summarizes these transmural gradients, their contributions to fiber mechanics, and the potential functional effects of their remodeling during pressure overload hypertrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Carruth
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Andrew D McCulloch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
| | - Jeffrey H Omens
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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Costet A, Wan E, Bunting E, Grondin J, Garan H, Konofagou E. Electromechanical wave imaging (EWI) validation in all four cardiac chambers with 3D electroanatomic mapping in canines in vivo. Phys Med Biol 2016; 61:8105-8119. [PMID: 27782003 DOI: 10.1088/0031-9155/61/22/8105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Characterization and mapping of arrhythmias is currently performed through invasive insertion and manipulation of cardiac catheters. Electromechanical wave imaging (EWI) is a non-invasive ultrasound-based imaging technique, which tracks the electromechanical activation that immediately follows electrical activation. Electrical and electromechanical activations were previously found to be linearly correlated in the left ventricle, but the relationship has not yet been investigated in the three other chambers of the heart. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between electrical and electromechanical activations and validate EWI in all four chambers of the heart with conventional 3D electroanatomical mapping. Six (n = 6) normal adult canines were used in this study. The electrical activation sequence was mapped in all four chambers of the heart, both endocardially and epicardially using the St Jude's EnSite 3D mapping system (St. Jude Medical, Secaucus, NJ). EWI acquisitions were performed in all four chambers during normal sinus rhythm, and during pacing in the left ventricle. Isochrones of the electromechanical activation were generated from standard echocardiographic imaging views. Electrical and electromechanical activation maps were co-registered and compared, and electrical and electromechanical activation times were plotted against each other and linear regression was performed for each pair of activation maps. Electromechanical and electrical activations were found to be directly correlated with slopes of the correlation ranging from 0.77 to 1.83, electromechanical delays between 9 and 58 ms and R 2 values from 0.71 to 0.92. The linear correlation between electrical and electromechanical activations and the agreement between the activation maps indicate that the electromechanical activation follows the pattern of propagation of the electrical activation. This suggests that EWI may be used as a novel non-invasive method to accurately characterize and localize sources of arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Costet
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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McKinnon D, Rosati B. Transmural gradients in ion channel and auxiliary subunit expression. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 122:165-186. [PMID: 27702655 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2016.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Evolution has acted to shape the action potential in different regions of the heart in order to produce a maximally stable and efficient pump. This has been achieved by creating regional differences in ion channel expression levels within the heart as well as differences between equivalent cardiac tissues in different species. These region- and species-dependent differences in channel expression are established by regulatory evolution, evolution of the regulatory mechanisms that control channel expression levels. Ion channel auxiliary subunits are obvious targets for regulatory evolution, in order to change channel expression levels and/or modify channel function. This review focuses on the transmural gradients of ion channel expression in the heart and the role that regulation of auxiliary subunit expression plays in generating and shaping these gradients.
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Affiliation(s)
- David McKinnon
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY, USA; Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Barbara Rosati
- Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY, USA; Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
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Grondin J, Costet A, Bunting E, Gambhir A, Garan H, Wan E, Konofagou EE. Validation of electromechanical wave imaging in a canine model during pacing and sinus rhythm. Heart Rhythm 2016; 13:2221-2227. [PMID: 27498277 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2016.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate determination of regional areas of arrhythmic triggers is of key interest to diagnose arrhythmias and optimize their treatment. Electromechanical wave imaging (EWI) is an ultrasound technique that can image the transient deformation in the myocardium after electrical activation and therefore has the potential to detect and characterize location of triggers of arrhythmias. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between the electromechanical and the electrical activation of the left ventricular (LV) endocardial surface during epicardial and endocardial pacing and during sinus rhythm as well as to map the distribution of electromechanical delays. METHODS In this study, 6 canines were investigated. Two external electrodes were sutured onto the epicardial surface of the LV. A 64-electrode basket catheter was inserted through the apex of the LV. Ultrasound channel data were acquired at 2000 frames/s during epicardial and endocardial pacing and during sinus rhythm. Electromechanical and electrical activation maps were synchronously obtained from the ultrasound data and the basket catheter, respectively. RESULTS The mean correlation coefficient between electromechanical and electrical activation was 0.81 for epicardial anterior pacing, 0.79 for epicardial lateral pacing, 0.69 for endocardial pacing, and 0.56 for sinus rhythm. CONCLUSION The electromechanical activation sequence determined by EWI follows the electrical activation sequence and more specifically in the case of pacing. This finding is of key interest in the role that EWI can play in the detection of the anatomical source of arrhythmias and the planning of pacing therapies such as cardiovascular resynchronization therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Alok Gambhir
- Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons
| | - Hasan Garan
- Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons
| | - Elaine Wan
- Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons
| | - Elisa E Konofagou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering; Department of Radiology, Columbia University, New York, New York.
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A dual potassium channel activator improves repolarization reserve and normalizes ventricular action potentials. Biochem Pharmacol 2016; 108:36-46. [PMID: 27002181 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2016.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A loss of repolarization reserve due to downregulation of K(+) currents has been observed in cultured ventricular myocytes. A similar reduction of K(+) currents is well documented under numerous pathophysiological conditions. We examined the extent of K(+) current downregulation in cultured canine cardiac myocytes and determined whether a dual K(+) current activator can normalize K(+) currents and restore action potential (AP) configuration. METHODS AND RESULTS Ventricular myocytes were isolated and cultured for up to 48 h. Current and voltage clamp recordings were made using patch electrodes. Application of NS3623 to coronary-perfused left ventricular wedges resulted in increased phase 1 magnitude, epicardial AP notch and J wave amplitude. Patch clamp measurements of IKr and Ito revealed an increase in the magnitude of both currents. Culturing of Mid ventricular cells resulted in a significant decrease in Ito and IKr density. NS3623 increased Ito from 16.4 ± 2.23 to 31.8 ± 4.5 pA/pF, and IKr from 0.28 ± 0.06 to 0.47 ± 0.09 pA/pF after 2 days in culture. AP recordings from 2 day cultured cells exhibited a reduced phase 1 repolarization, AP prolongation, and early afterdepolarizations (EADs). NS3623 restored the AP notch and was able to suppress EADs. CONCLUSIONS NS3623 is a dual Ito and IKr activator. Application of this compound to cells with a reduced repolarization reserve resulted in an increase in these currents and a shortening of AP duration, increase in phase 1 repolarization and suppression of EADs. Our results suggest a potential benefit of K(+) current activators under conditions of reduced repolarization reserve including heart failure.
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Liu J, Laksman Z, Backx PH. The electrophysiological development of cardiomyocytes. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2016; 96:253-73. [PMID: 26788696 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2015.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The generation of human cardiomyocytes (CMs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) has become an important resource for modeling human cardiac disease and for drug screening, and also holds significant potential for cardiac regeneration. Many challenges remain to be overcome however, before innovation in this field can translate into a change in the morbidity and mortality associated with heart disease. Of particular importance for the future application of this technology is an improved understanding of the electrophysiologic characteristics of CMs, so that better protocols can be developed and optimized for generating hPSC-CMs. Many different cell culture protocols are currently utilized to generate CMs from hPSCs and all appear to yield relatively “developmentally” immature CMs with highly heterogeneous electrical properties. These hPSC-CMs are characterized by spontaneous beating at highly variable rates with a broad range of depolarization-repolarization patterns, suggestive of mixed populations containing atrial, ventricular and nodal cells. Many recent studies have attempted to introduce approaches to promote maturation and to create cells with specific functional properties. In this review, we summarize the studies in which the electrical properties of CMs derived from stem cells have been examined. In order to place this information in a useful context, we also review the electrical properties of CMs as they transition from the developing embryo to the adult human heart. The signal pathways involved in the regulation of ion channel expression during development are also briefly considered.
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Amar A, Zlochiver S, Barnea O. Multiscale Interactions in a 3D Model of the Contracting Ventricle. Cardiovasc Eng Technol 2015; 6:401-11. [PMID: 26577475 DOI: 10.1007/s13239-015-0247-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
A biophysical detailed multiscale model of the myocardium is presented. The model was used to study the contribution of interrelated cellular mechanisms to global myocardial function. The multiscale model integrates cellular electrophysiology, excitation propagation dynamics and force development models into a geometrical fiber based model of the ventricle. The description of the cellular electrophysiology in this study was based on the Ten Tusscher-Noble-Noble-Panfilov heterogeneous model for human ventricular myocytes. A four-state model of the sarcomeric control of contraction developed by Negroni and Lascano was employed to model the intracellular mechanism of force generation. The propagation of electrical excitation was described by a reaction-diffusion equation. The 3D geometrical model of the ventricle, based on single fiber contraction was used as a platform for the evaluation of proposed models. The model represents the myocardium as an anatomically oriented array of contracting fibers with individual fiber parameters such as size, spatial location, orientation and mechanical properties. Moreover, the contracting ventricle model interacts with intraventricular blood elements linking the contractile elements to the heart's preload and afterload, thereby producing the corresponding pressure-volume loop. The results show that the multiscale ventricle model is capable of simulating mechanical contraction, pressure generation and load interactions as well as demonstrating the individual contribution of each ion current.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ani Amar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Sharon Zlochiver
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Ofer Barnea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel.
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Kim J, Gao J, Cohen IS, Mathias RT. Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor-Mediated Electrical Remodeling in Mouse Cardiac Myocytes. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138711. [PMID: 26430746 PMCID: PMC4591968 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently characterized an autocrine renin angiotensin system (RAS) in canine heart. Activation of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptors (AT1Rs) induced electrical remodeling, including inhibition of the transient outward potassium current Ito, prolongation of the action potential (AP), increased calcium entry and increased contractility. Electrical properties of the mouse heart are very different from those of dog heart, but if a similar system existed in mouse, it could be uniquely studied through genetic manipulations. To investigate the presence of a RAS in mouse, we measured APs and Ito in isolated myocytes. Application of angiotensin II (A2) for 2 or more hours reduced Ito magnitude, without affecting voltage dependence, and prolonged APs in a dose-dependent manner. Based on dose-inhibition curves, the fast and slow components of Ito (Ito,fast and IK,slow) appeared to be coherently regulated by [A2], with 50% inhibition at an A2 concentration of about 400 nM. This very high K0.5 is inconsistent with systemic A2 effects, but is consistent with an autocrine RAS in mouse heart. Pre-application of the microtubule destabilizing agent colchicine eliminated A2 effects on Ito and AP duration, suggesting these effects depend on intracellular trafficking. Application of the biased agonist SII ([Sar1-Ile4-Ile8]A2), which stimulates receptor internalization without G protein activation, caused Ito reduction and AP prolongation similar to A2-induced changes. These data demonstrate AT1R mediated regulation of Ito in mouse heart. Moreover, all measured properties parallel those measured in dog heart, suggesting an autocrine RAS may be a fundamental feedback system that is present across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Kim
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Junyuan Gao
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Ira S. Cohen
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Richard T. Mathias
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Liu J, Kim KH, Morales MJ, Heximer SP, Hui CC, Backx PH. Kv4.3-Encoded Fast Transient Outward Current Is Presented in Kv4.2 Knockout Mouse Cardiomyocytes. PLoS One 2015. [PMID: 26196737 PMCID: PMC4510596 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Gradients of the fast transient outward K+ current (Ito,f) contribute to heterogeneity of ventricular repolarization in a number of species. Cardiac Ito,f levels and gradients change notably with heart disease. Human cardiac Ito,f appears to be encoded by the Kv4.3 pore-forming α-subunit plus the auxiliary KChIP2 β-subunit while mouse cardiac Ito,f requires Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 α-subunits plus KChIP2. Regional differences in cardiac Ito,f are associated with expression differences in Kv4.2 and KChIP2. Although Ito,f was reported to be absent in mouse ventricular cardiomyocytes lacking the Kv4.2 gene (Kv4.2-/-) when short depolarizing voltage pulses were used to activate voltage-gated K+ currents, in the present study, we showed that the use of long depolarization steps revealed a heteropodatoxin-sensitive Ito,f (at ~40% of the wild-type levels). Immunohistological studies further demonstrated membrane expression of Kv4.3 in Kv4.2-/- cardiomyocytes. Transmural Ito,f gradients across the left ventricular wall were reduced by ~3.5-fold in Kv4.2-/- heart, compared to wild-type. The Ito,f gradient in Kv4.2-/- hearts was associated with gradients in KChIP2 mRNA expression while in wild-type there was also a gradient in Kv4.2 expression. In conclusion, we found that Kv4.3-based Ito,f exists in the absence of Kv4.2, although with a reduced transmural gradient. Kv4.2-/- mice may be a useful animal model for studying Kv4.3-based Ito,f as observed in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- The Departments of Physiology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kyoung-Han Kim
- The Departments of Physiology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael J. Morales
- Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Scott P. Heximer
- The Departments of Physiology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chi-chung Hui
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- The Departments of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail: (CCH); (PHB)
| | - Peter H. Backx
- The Departments of Physiology and Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail: (CCH); (PHB)
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