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Hegemann N, Barth L, Döring Y, Voigt N, Grune J. Implications for neutrophils in cardiac arrhythmias. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H441-H458. [PMID: 38099844 PMCID: PMC11219058 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00590.2023] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias commonly occur as a result of aberrant electrical impulse formation or conduction in the myocardium. Frequently discussed triggers include underlying heart diseases such as myocardial ischemia, electrolyte imbalances, or genetic anomalies of ion channels involved in the tightly regulated cardiac action potential. Recently, the role of innate immune cells in the onset of arrhythmic events has been highlighted in numerous studies, correlating leukocyte expansion in the myocardium to increased arrhythmic burden. Here, we aim to call attention to the role of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias and their expansion during myocardial ischemia and infectious disease manifestation. In addition, we will elucidate molecular mechanisms associated with neutrophil activation and discuss their involvement as direct mediators of arrhythmogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Hegemann
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany
| | - Lukas Barth
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany
| | - Yannic Döring
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Göttingen, Germany
| | - Niels Voigt
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jana Grune
- Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), Berlin, Germany
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Berlin, Germany
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2
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Tsuji Y, Ogata T, Mochizuki K, Tamura S, Morishita Y, Takamatsu T, Matoba S, Tanaka H. Myofibroblasts impair myocardial impulse propagation by heterocellular connexin43 gap-junctional coupling through micropores. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1352911. [PMID: 38465264 PMCID: PMC10920281 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1352911] [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: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim: Composite population of myofibroblasts (MFs) within myocardial tissue is known to alter impulse propagation, leading to arrhythmias. However, it remains unclear whether and how MFs alter their propagation patterns when contacting cardiomyocytes (CMs) without complex structural insertions in the myocardium. We attempted to unveil the effects of the one-sided, heterocellular CM-MF connection on the impulse propagation of CM monolayers without the spatial insertion of MFs as an electrical or mechanical obstacle. Methods and results: We evaluated fluo8-based spatiotemporal patterns in impulse propagation of neonatal rat CM monolayers cultured on the microporous membrane having 8-μm diameter pores with co-culture of MFs or CMs on the reverse membrane side (CM-MF model or CM-CM model, respectively). During consecutive pacing at 1 or 2 Hz, the CM monolayers exhibited forward impulse propagation from the pacing site with a slower conduction velocity (θ) and a larger coefficient of directional θ variation in the CM-MF model than that in the CM-CM model in a frequency-dependent manner (2 Hz >1 Hz). The localized placement of an MF cluster on the reverse side resulted in an abrupt segmental depression of the impulse propagation of the upper CM layer, causing a spatiotemporally non-uniform pattern. Dye transfer of the calcein loaded in the upper CM layer to the lower MF layer was attenuated by the gap-junction inhibitor heptanol. Immunocytochemistry identified definitive connexin 43 (Cx43) between the CMs and MFs in the membrane pores. MF-selective Cx43 knockdown in the MF layer improved both the velocity and uniformity of propagation in the CM monolayer. Conclusion: Heterocellular Cx43 gap junction coupling of CMs with MFs alters the spatiotemporal patterns of myocardial impulse propagation, even in the absence of spatially interjacent and mechanosensitive modulations by MFs. Moreover, MFs can promote pro-arrhythmogenic impulse propagation when in face-to-face contact with the myocardium that arises in the healing infarct border zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumika Tsuji
- Department of Pathology and Cell Regulation and, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takehiro Ogata
- Department of Pathology and Cell Regulation and, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kentaro Mochizuki
- Department of Pathology and Cell Regulation and, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shoko Tamura
- Department of Pathology and Cell Regulation and, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yuma Morishita
- Department of Pathology and Cell Regulation and, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Takamatsu
- Department of Pathology and Cell Regulation and, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Medical Photonics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoaki Matoba
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hideo Tanaka
- Department of Pathology and Cell Regulation and, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University of Advanced Science, Kyoto, Japan
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3
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Song Q, Alvarez-Laviada A, Schrup SE, Reilly-O'Donnell B, Entcheva E, Gorelik J. Opto-SICM framework combines optogenetics with scanning ion conductance microscopy for probing cell-to-cell contacts. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1131. [PMID: 37938652 PMCID: PMC10632396 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05509-3] [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: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
We present a novel framework, Opto-SICM, for studies of cellular interactions in live cells with high spatiotemporal resolution. The approach combines scanning ion conductance microscopy, SICM, and cell-type-specific optogenetic interrogation. Light-excitable cardiac fibroblasts (FB) and myofibroblasts (myoFB) were plated together with non-modified cardiomyocytes (CM) and then paced with periodic illumination. Opto-SICM reveals the extent of FB/myoFB-CM cell-cell contacts and the dynamic changes over time not visible by optical microscopy. FB-CM pairs have lower gap junctional expression of connexin-43 and higher contact dynamism compared to myoFB-CM pairs. The responsiveness of CM to pacing via FB/myoFB depends on the dynamics of the contact but not on the area. The non-responding pairs have higher net cell-cell movement at the contact. These findings are relevant to cardiac disease states, where adverse remodeling leads to abnormal electrical excitation of CM. The Opto-SICM framework can be deployed to offer new insights on cellular and subcellular interactions in various cell types, in real-time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Song
- Imperial College London, Du Cane road, W12 0NN, London, UK
| | | | - Sarah E Schrup
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Emilia Entcheva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Julia Gorelik
- Imperial College London, Du Cane road, W12 0NN, London, UK.
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4
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Gruber A, Edri O, Glatstein S, Goldfracht I, Huber I, Arbel G, Gepstein A, Chorna S, Gepstein L. Optogenetic Control of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiac Tissue Models. J Am Heart Assoc 2022; 11:e021615. [PMID: 35112880 PMCID: PMC9245811 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.121.021615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Background Optogenetics, using light‐sensitive proteins, emerged as a unique experimental paradigm to modulate cardiac excitability. We aimed to develop high‐resolution optogenetic approaches to modulate electrical activity in 2‐ and 3‐dimensional cardiac tissue models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)‐derived cardiomyocytes. Methods and Results To establish light‐controllable cardiac tissue models, opsin‐carrying HEK293 cells, expressing the light‐sensitive cationic‐channel CoChR, were mixed with hiPSC‐cardiomyocytes to generate 2‐dimensional hiPSC‐derived cardiac cell‐sheets or 3‐dimensional engineered heart tissues. Complex illumination patterns were designed with a high‐resolution digital micro‐mirror device. Optical mapping and force measurements were used to evaluate the tissues' electromechanical properties. The ability to optogenetically pace and shape the tissue's conduction properties was demonstrated by using single or multiple illumination stimulation sites, complex illumination patterns, or diffuse illumination. This allowed to establish in vitro models for optogenetic‐based cardiac resynchronization therapy, where the electrical activation could be synchronized (hiPSC‐derived cardiac cell‐sheets and engineered heart tissue models) and contractile properties improved (engineered heart tissues). Next, reentrant activity (rotors) was induced in the hiPSC‐derived cardiac cell‐sheets and engineered heart tissue models through optogenetics programmed‐ or cross‐field stimulations. Diffuse illumination protocols were then used to terminate arrhythmias, demonstrating the potential to study optogenetics cardioversion mechanisms and to identify optimal illumination parameters for arrhythmia termination. Conclusions By combining optogenetics and hiPSC technologies, light‐controllable human cardiac tissue models could be established, in which tissue excitability can be modulated in a functional, reversible, and localized manner. This approach may bring a unique value for physiological/pathophysiological studies, for disease modeling, and for developing optogenetic‐based cardiac pacing, resynchronization, and defibrillation approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Gruber
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Oded Edri
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Shany Glatstein
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Idit Goldfracht
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Irit Huber
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Gil Arbel
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Amira Gepstein
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Snizhanna Chorna
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Lior Gepstein
- Sohnis Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative MedicineThe Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research InstituteTechnion‒Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
- Cardiology DepartmentRambam Health Care CampusHaifaIsrael
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5
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Müllenbroich MC, Kelly A, Acker C, Bub G, Bruegmann T, Di Bona A, Entcheva E, Ferrantini C, Kohl P, Lehnart SE, Mongillo M, Parmeggiani C, Richter C, Sasse P, Zaglia T, Sacconi L, Smith GL. Novel Optics-Based Approaches for Cardiac Electrophysiology: A Review. Front Physiol 2021; 12:769586. [PMID: 34867476 PMCID: PMC8637189 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.769586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Optical techniques for recording and manipulating cellular electrophysiology have advanced rapidly in just a few decades. These developments allow for the analysis of cardiac cellular dynamics at multiple scales while largely overcoming the drawbacks associated with the use of electrodes. The recent advent of optogenetics opens up new possibilities for regional and tissue-level electrophysiological control and hold promise for future novel clinical applications. This article, which emerged from the international NOTICE workshop in 2018, reviews the state-of-the-art optical techniques used for cardiac electrophysiological research and the underlying biophysics. The design and performance of optical reporters and optogenetic actuators are reviewed along with limitations of current probes. The physics of light interaction with cardiac tissue is detailed and associated challenges with the use of optical sensors and actuators are presented. Case studies include the use of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and super-resolution microscopy to explore the micro-structure of cardiac cells and a review of two photon and light sheet technologies applied to cardiac tissue. The emergence of cardiac optogenetics is reviewed and the current work exploring the potential clinical use of optogenetics is also described. Approaches which combine optogenetic manipulation and optical voltage measurement are discussed, in terms of platforms that allow real-time manipulation of whole heart electrophysiology in open and closed-loop systems to study optimal ways to terminate spiral arrhythmias. The design and operation of optics-based approaches that allow high-throughput cardiac electrophysiological assays is presented. Finally, emerging techniques of photo-acoustic imaging and stress sensors are described along with strategies for future development and establishment of these techniques in mainstream electrophysiological research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allen Kelly
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Corey Acker
- Center for Cell Analysis and Modeling, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, United States
| | - Gil Bub
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Tobias Bruegmann
- Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Anna Di Bona
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Emilia Entcheva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | | | - Peter Kohl
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center and Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Stephan E. Lehnart
- Heart Research Center Göttingen, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence “Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells” (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marco Mongillo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Claudia Richter
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Sasse
- Institute of Physiology I, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Tania Zaglia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
| | - Leonardo Sacconi
- European Laboratory for Nonlinear Spectroscopy, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center and Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- National Institute of Optics, National Research Council, Florence, Italy
| | - Godfrey L. Smith
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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6
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Campostrini G, Meraviglia V, Giacomelli E, van Helden RW, Yiangou L, Davis RP, Bellin M, Orlova VV, Mummery CL. Generation, functional analysis and applications of isogenic three-dimensional self-aggregating cardiac microtissues from human pluripotent stem cells. Nat Protoc 2021; 16:2213-2256. [PMID: 33772245 PMCID: PMC7611409 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-021-00497-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Tissue-like structures from human pluripotent stem cells containing multiple cell types are transforming our ability to model and understand human development and disease. Here we describe a protocol to generate cardiomyocytes (CMs), cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and cardiac endothelial cells (ECs), the three principal cell types in the heart, from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and combine them in three-dimensional (3D) cardiac microtissues (MTs). We include details of how to differentiate, isolate, cryopreserve and thaw the component cells and how to construct and analyze the MTs. The protocol supports hiPSC-CM maturation and allows replacement of one or more of the three heart cell types in the MTs with isogenic variants bearing disease mutations. Differentiation of each cell type takes ~30 d, while MT formation and maturation requires another 20 d. No specialist equipment is needed and the method is inexpensive, requiring just 5,000 cells per MT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Campostrini
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Viviana Meraviglia
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Elisa Giacomelli
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ruben W.J. van Helden
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Loukia Yiangou
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Richard P. Davis
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Milena Bellin
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands,Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy,Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, 35129 Padua, Italy,Correspondence to , or
| | - Valeria V. Orlova
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands,Correspondence to , or
| | - Christine L. Mummery
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands,Department of Applied Stem Cell Technologies, University of Twente, The Netherlands,Correspondence to , or
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7
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Li J, Li H, Rao P, Luo J, Wang X, Wang L. Shining light on cardiac electrophysiology: From detection to intervention, from basic research to translational applications. Life Sci 2021; 274:119357. [PMID: 33737082 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias are an important group of cardiovascular diseases, which can occur alone or in association with other cardiovascular diseases. The development of cardiac arrhythmias cannot be separated from changes in cardiac electrophysiology, and the investigation and clarification of cardiac electrophysiological changes are beneficial for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. However, electrical energy-based pacemakers and defibrillators, which are widely used to treat arrhythmias, still have certain disadvantages. Thereby, optics promises to be used for optical manipulation and its use in biomedicine is increasing. Since visible light is readily absorbed and scattered in living tissues and tissue penetration is shallow, optical modulation for cells and tissues requires conversion media that convert light energy into bioelectrical activity. In this regard, fluorescent dyes, light-sensitive ion channels, and optical nanomaterials can assume this role, the corresponding optical mapping technology, optogenetics technology, and optical systems based on luminescent nanomaterials have been introduced into the research in cardiovascular field and are expected to be new tools for the study and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. In addition, infrared and near-infrared light has strong tissue penetration, which is one of the excellent options of external trigger for achieving optical modulation, and is also widely used in the study of optical modulation of biological activities. Here, the advantages of optical applications are summarized, the research progresses and emerging applications of optical-based technologies as detection and intervention tools for cardiac electrophysiological are highlighted. Moreover, the prospects for future applications of optics in clinical diagnosis and treatment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianyi Li
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, PR China
| | - Haitao Li
- Department of Cardiology, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570311, PR China
| | - Panpan Rao
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, PR China
| | - Junmiao Luo
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, PR China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, PR China.
| | - Long Wang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Wuhan 430060, PR China; Department of Anesthesiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, PR China.
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8
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Kostecki GM, Shi Y, Chen CS, Reich DH, Entcheva E, Tung L. Optogenetic current in myofibroblasts acutely alters electrophysiology and conduction of co-cultured cardiomyocytes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4430. [PMID: 33627695 PMCID: PMC7904933 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83398-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Interactions between cardiac myofibroblasts and myocytes may slow conduction and generate spontaneous beating in fibrosis, increasing the chance of life-threatening arrhythmia. While co-culture studies have shown that myofibroblasts can affect cardiomyocyte electrophysiology in vitro, the extent of myofibroblast-myocyte electrical conductance in a syncytium is unknown. In this neonatal rat study, cardiac myofibroblasts were transduced with Channelrhodopsin-2, which allowed acute and selective increase of myofibroblast current, and plated on top of cardiomyocytes. Optical mapping revealed significantly decreased conduction velocity (- 27 ± 6%, p < 10-3), upstroke rate (- 13 ± 4%, p = 0.002), and action potential duration (- 14 ± 7%, p = 0.004) in co-cultures when 0.017 mW/mm2 light was applied, as well as focal spontaneous beating in 6/7 samples and a decreased cycle length (- 36 ± 18%, p = 0.002) at 0.057 mW/mm2 light. In silico modeling of the experiments reproduced the experimental findings and suggested the light levels used in experiments produced excess current similar in magnitude to endogenous myofibroblast current. Fitting the model to experimental data predicted a tissue-level electrical conductance across the 3-D interface between myofibroblasts and cardiomyocytes of ~ 5 nS/cardiomyocyte, and showed how increased myofibroblast-myocyte conductance, increased myofibroblast/myocyte capacitance ratio, and increased myofibroblast current, which occur in fibrosis, can work in tandem to produce pro-arrhythmic increases in conduction and spontaneous beating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geran M Kostecki
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 720 Rutland Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Yu Shi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Christopher S Chen
- Biological Design Center, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel H Reich
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 21218, USA
| | - Emilia Entcheva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Leslie Tung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, 720 Rutland Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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9
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de Coulon E, Dellenbach C, Rohr S. Advancing mechanobiology by performing whole-cell patch clamp recording on mechanosensitive cells subjected simultaneously to dynamic stretch events. iScience 2021; 24:102041. [PMID: 33532717 PMCID: PMC7822953 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of mechano-electrical coupling requires continuous intracellular electrical recordings being performed on cells undergoing simultaneously in vivo like strain events. Here, we introduce a linear strain single-cell electrophysiology (LSSE) system that meets these requirements by delivering highly reproducible unidirectional strain events with magnitudes up to 12% and strain rates exceeding 200%s−1 to adherent cells kept simultaneously in whole-cell patch-clamp recording configuration. Proof-of-concept measurements with NIH3T3 cells demonstrate that stable recording conditions are maintained over tens of strain cycles at maximal amplitudes and strain rates thereby permitting a full electrophysiological characterization of mechanically activated ion currents. Because mechano-electrical responses to predefined strain patterns can be investigated using any adherent wild-type or genetically modified cell type of interest, the LSSE system offers the perspective of providing advanced insights into mechanosensitive ion channel function that can finally be compared quantitatively among different types of channels and cells. The methodology presented enables investigations of adherent mechanosensitive cells Whole-cell patch-clamp recording is performed while cells are dynamically stretched Continuous recording of sequences of physiological mechanical stimuli is practicable Experiments with NIH3T3 cells reveal a robust atypical mechanosensitive current
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne de Coulon
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bühlplatz 5, Bern, CH-3012, Switzerland
| | - Christian Dellenbach
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bühlplatz 5, Bern, CH-3012, Switzerland
| | - Stephan Rohr
- Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bühlplatz 5, Bern, CH-3012, Switzerland
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10
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Abstract
The electromechanical function of the heart involves complex, coordinated activity over time and space. Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias arise from asynchrony in these space-time events; therefore, therapies for prevention and treatment require fundamental understanding and the ability to visualize, perturb and control cardiac activity. Optogenetics combines optical and molecular biology (genetic) approaches for light-enabled sensing and actuation of electrical activity with unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution and parallelism. The year 2020 marks a decade of developments in cardiac optogenetics since this technology was adopted from neuroscience and applied to the heart. In this Review, we appraise a decade of advances that define near-term (immediate) translation based on all-optical electrophysiology, including high-throughput screening, cardiotoxicity testing and personalized medicine assays, and long-term (aspirational) prospects for clinical translation of cardiac optogenetics, including new optical therapies for rhythm control. The main translational opportunities and challenges for optogenetics to be fully embraced in cardiology are also discussed.
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