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Sönmez MI, Goldack S, Nurkkala E, Schulz C, Klampe B, Schulze T, Hansen A, Eschenhagen T, Koivumäki J, Christ T. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes recapitulate contribution of the slowly activating delayed rectifier currents IKs to repolarization in the human atrium. Europace 2024; 26:euae140. [PMID: 38788213 PMCID: PMC11167676 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euae140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-aCM) could be a helpful tool to study the physiology and diseases of the human atrium. To fulfil this expectation, the electrophysiology of hiPSC-aCM should closely resemble the situation in the human atrium. Data on the contribution of the slowly activating delayed rectifier currents (IKs) to repolarization are lacking for both human atrium and hiPSC-aCM. METHODS AND RESULTS Human atrial tissues were obtained from patients with sinus rhythm (SR) or atrial fibrillation (AF). Currents were measured in human atrial cardiomyocytes (aCM) and compared with hiPSC-aCM and used to model IKs contribution to action potential (AP) shape. Action potential was recorded by sharp microelectrodes. HMR-1556 (1 µM) was used to identify IKs and to estimate IKs contribution to repolarization. Less than 50% of hiPSC-aCM and aCM possessed IKs. Frequency of occurrence, current densities, activation/deactivation kinetics, and voltage dependency of IKs did not differ significantly between hiPSC-aCM and aCM, neither in SR nor AF. β-Adrenoceptor stimulation with isoprenaline did not increase IKs neither in aCM nor in hiPSC-aCM. In tissue from SR, block of IKs with HMR-1556 did not lengthen the action potential duration, even when repolarization reserve was reduced by block of the ultra-rapid repolarizing current with 4-aminopyridine or the rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium outward current with E-4031. CONCLUSION I Ks exists in hiPSC-aCM with biophysics not different from aCM. As in adult human atrium (SR and AF), IKs does not appear to relevantly contribute to repolarization in hiPSC-aCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammed Ikbal Sönmez
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Silvana Goldack
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Elina Nurkkala
- Tech Unit and Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finnland
| | - Carl Schulz
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Birgit Klampe
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Schulze
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Arne Hansen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Eschenhagen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jussi Koivumäki
- Tech Unit and Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finnland
| | - Torsten Christ
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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Cumberland MJ, Euchner J, Azad AJ, T N Vo N, Kirchhof P, Holmes AP, Denning C, Gehmlich K. Generation of a human iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte/fibroblast engineered heart tissue model. F1000Res 2024; 12:1224. [PMID: 38298530 PMCID: PMC10828555 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.139482.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal models have proven integral to broadening our understanding of complex cardiac diseases but have been hampered by significant species-dependent differences in cellular physiology. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have shown great promise in the modelling of cardiac diseases despite limitations in functional and structural maturity. 3D stem cell-derived cardiac models represent a step towards mimicking the intricate microenvironment present in the heart as an in vitro model. Incorporation of non-myocyte cell types, such as cardiac fibroblasts, into engineered heart tissue models (EHTs) can help better recapitulate the cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions present in the human myocardium. Integration of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac fibroblasts (hiPSC-CFs) and hiPSC-CM into EHT models enables the generation of a genetically homogeneous modelling system capable of exploring the abstruse structural and electrophysiological interplay present in cardiac pathophysiology. Furthermore, the construction of more physiologically relevant 3D cardiac models offers great potential in the replacement of animals in heart disease research. Here we describe efficient and reproducible protocols for the differentiation of hiPSC-CMs and hiPSC-CFs and their subsequent assimilation into EHTs. The resultant EHT consists of longitudinally arranged iPSC-CMs, incorporated alongside hiPSC-CFs. EHTs with both hiPSC-CMs and hiPSC-CFs exhibit slower beating frequencies and enhanced contractile force compared to those composed of hiPSC-CMs alone. The modified protocol may help better characterise the interplay between different cell types in the myocardium and their contribution to structural remodelling and cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max J Cumberland
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Jonas Euchner
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, B15 2TT, UK
- Centre of Membrane Proteins and Receptors, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Amar J Azad
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Nguyen T N Vo
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Paulus Kirchhof
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, Universitat Hamburg, Hamburg, Hamburg, 20251, Germany
| | - Andrew P Holmes
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, B15 2TT, UK
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Chris Denning
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, England, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Katja Gehmlich
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, B15 2TT, UK
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, OX3 9DU, UK
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Vinciguerra M, Dobrev D, Nattel S. Atrial fibrillation: pathophysiology, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. EUROPE 2024; 37:100785. [PMID: 38362554 PMCID: PMC10866930 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia affecting up to 1% of the general population. Its prevalence dramatically increases with age and could reach up to ∼10% in the elderly. The management of AF is a complex issue that is object of extensive ongoing basic and clinical research, it depends on its genetic and epigenetic causes, and it varies considerably geographically and also according to the ethnicity. Mechanistically, over the last decade, Genome Wide Association Studies have uncovered over 100 genetic loci associated with AF, and have shown that European ancestry is associated with elevated risk of AF. These AF-associated loci revolve around different types of disturbances, including inflammation, electrical abnormalities, and structural remodeling. Moreover, the discovery of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms, involving non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation and histone modification, has allowed unravelling what modifications reshape the processes leading to arrhythmias. Our review provides a current state of the field regarding the identification and functional characterization of AF-related genetic and epigenetic regulatory networks, including ethnic differences. We discuss clear and emerging connections between genetic regulation and pathophysiological mechanisms of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manlio Vinciguerra
- Department of Translational Stem Cell Biology, Research Institute, Medical University of Varna, Varna, Bulgaria
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Faculty of Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Dobromir Dobrev
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
- Department of Medicine and Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Stanley Nattel
- Institute of Pharmacology, West German Heart and Vascular Center, University Duisburg-Essen, Duisburg, Germany
- Department of Medicine and Research Center, Montreal Heart Institute and Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- IHU LIRYC and Fondation Bordeaux Université, Bordeaux, France
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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Jonker T, Barnett P, Boink GJJ, Christoffels VM. Role of Genetic Variation in Transcriptional Regulatory Elements in Heart Rhythm. Cells 2023; 13:4. [PMID: 38201209 PMCID: PMC10777909 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic predisposition to cardiac arrhythmias has been a field of intense investigation. Research initially focused on rare hereditary arrhythmias, but over the last two decades, the role of genetic variation (single nucleotide polymorphisms) in heart rate, rhythm, and arrhythmias has been taken into consideration as well. In particular, genome-wide association studies have identified hundreds of genomic loci associated with quantitative electrocardiographic traits, atrial fibrillation, and less common arrhythmias such as Brugada syndrome. A significant number of associated variants have been found to systematically localize in non-coding regulatory elements that control the tissue-specific and temporal transcription of genes encoding transcription factors, ion channels, and other proteins. However, the identification of causal variants and the mechanism underlying their impact on phenotype has proven difficult due to the complex tissue-specific, time-resolved, condition-dependent, and combinatorial function of regulatory elements, as well as their modest conservation across different model species. In this review, we discuss research efforts aimed at identifying and characterizing-trait-associated variant regulatory elements and the molecular mechanisms underlying their impact on heart rate or rhythm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timo Jonker
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
| | - Phil Barnett
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
| | - Gerard J. J. Boink
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent M. Christoffels
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (T.J.); (P.B.); (G.J.J.B.)
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Schulz C, Sönmez M, Krause J, Schwedhelm E, Bangfen P, Alihodzic D, Hansen A, Eschenhagen T, Christ T. A critical role of retinoic acid concentration for the induction of a fully human-like atrial action potential phenotype in hiPSC-CM. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:2096-2107. [PMID: 37922915 PMCID: PMC10679650 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) induces an atrial phenotype in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), but expression of atrium-selective currents such as the ultrarapid (IKur) and acetylcholine-stimulated K+ current is variable and less than in the adult human atrium. We suspected methodological issues and systematically investigated the concentration dependency of RA. RA treatment increased IKur concentration dependently from 1.1 ± 0.54 pA/pF (0 RA) to 3.8 ± 1.1, 5.8 ± 2.5, and 12.2 ± 4.3 at 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μM, respectively. Only 1 μM RA induced enough IKur to fully reproduce human atrial action potential (AP) shape and a robust shortening of APs upon carbachol. We found that sterile filtration caused substantial loss of RA. We conclude that 1 μM RA seems to be necessary and sufficient to induce a full atrial AP shape in hiPSC-CM in EHT format. RA concentrations are prone to methodological issues and may profoundly impact the success of atrial differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Schulz
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Muhammed Sönmez
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Krause
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Edzard Schwedhelm
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Pan Bangfen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dzenefa Alihodzic
- Hospital Pharmacy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Arne Hansen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Eschenhagen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Torsten Christ
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany.
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Benzoni P, Da Dalt L, Elia N, Popolizio V, Cospito A, Giannetti F, Dell’Era P, Olesen MS, Bucchi A, Baruscotti M, Norata GD, Barbuti A. PITX2 gain-of-function mutation associated with atrial fibrillation alters mitochondrial activity in human iPSC atrial-like cardiomyocytes. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1250951. [PMID: 38028792 PMCID: PMC10679737 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1250951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide; however, the underlying causes of AF initiation are still poorly understood, particularly because currently available models do not allow in distinguishing the initial causes from maladaptive remodeling that induces and perpetuates AF. Lately, the genetic background has been proven to be important in the AF onset. iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, being patient- and mutation-specific, may help solve this diatribe by showing the initial cell-autonomous changes underlying the development of the disease. Transcription factor paired-like homeodomain 2 (PITX2) has been identified as a key regulator of atrial development/differentiation, and the PITX2 genomic locus has the highest association with paroxysmal AF. PITX2 influences mitochondrial activity, and alterations in either its expression or function have been widely associated with AF. In this work, we investigate the activity of mitochondria in iPSC-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (aCMs) obtained from a young patient (24 years old) with paroxysmal AF, carrying a gain-of-function mutation in PITX2 (rs138163892) and from its isogenic control (CTRL) in which the heterozygous point mutation has been reverted to WT. PITX2 aCMs show a higher mitochondrial content, increased mitochondrial activity, and superoxide production under basal conditions when compared to CTRL aCMs. However, increasing mitochondrial workload by FCCP or β-adrenergic stimulation allows us to unmask mitochondrial defects in PITX2 aCMs, which are incapable of responding efficiently to the higher energy demand, determining ATP deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Benzoni
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Da Dalt
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Noemi Elia
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
- Cell Factory, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano, Italy
| | - Vera Popolizio
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cospito
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Giannetti
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
- Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Patrizia Dell’Era
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Morten S. Olesen
- The Heart Centre, Rigshospitalet, Laboratory for Molecular Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Annalisa Bucchi
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Mirko Baruscotti
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Danilo Norata
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Barbuti
- The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
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