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Clark AP, Wei S, Fullerton K, Krogh-Madsen T, Christini DJ. Single-cell ionic current phenotyping explains stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte action potential morphology. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H1146-H1154. [PMID: 38488520 PMCID: PMC11380975 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00063.2024] [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: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) are a promising tool to study arrhythmia-related factors, but the variability of action potential (AP) recordings from these cells limits their use as an in vitro model. In this study, we use recently published brief (10 s), dynamic voltage-clamp (VC) data to provide mechanistic insights into the ionic currents contributing to AP heterogeneity; we call this approach rapid ionic current phenotyping (RICP). Features of this VC data were correlated to AP recordings from the same cells, and we used computational models to generate mechanistic insights into cellular heterogeneity. This analysis uncovered several interesting links between AP morphology and ionic current density: both L-type calcium and sodium currents contribute to upstroke velocity, rapid delayed rectifier K+ current is the main determinant of the maximal diastolic potential, and an outward current in the activation range of slow delayed rectifier K+ is the main determinant of AP duration. Our analysis also identified an outward current in several cells at 6 mV that is not reproduced by iPSC-CM mathematical models but contributes to determining AP duration. RICP can be used to explain how cell-to-cell variability in ionic currents gives rise to AP heterogeneity. Because of its brief duration (10 s) and ease of data interpretation, we recommend the use of RICP for single-cell patch-clamp experiments that include the acquisition of APs.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We present rapid ionic current phenotyping (RICP), a current quantification approach based on an optimized voltage-clamp protocol. The method captures a rich snapshot of the ionic current dynamics, providing quantitative information about multiple currents (e.g., ICa,L, IKr) in the same cell. The protocol helped to identify key ionic determinants of cellular action potential heterogeneity in iPSC-CMs. This included unexpected results, such as the critical role of IKr in establishing the maximum diastolic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander P Clark
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States
| | - Siyu Wei
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, United States
| | - Kristin Fullerton
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States
| | - Trine Krogh-Madsen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States
- Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, United States
| | - David J Christini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York, United States
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Verkerk AO, Wilders R. Human Sinoatrial Node Pacemaker Activity: Role of the Slow Component of the Delayed Rectifier K + Current, I Ks. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:7264. [PMID: 37108427 PMCID: PMC10138838 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The pacemaker activity of the sinoatrial node (SAN) has been studied extensively in animal species but is virtually unexplored in humans. Here we assess the role of the slowly activating component of the delayed rectifier K+ current (IKs) in human SAN pacemaker activity and its dependence on heart rate and β-adrenergic stimulation. HEK-293 cells were transiently transfected with wild-type KCNQ1 and KCNE1 cDNA, encoding the α- and β-subunits of the IKs channel, respectively. KCNQ1/KCNE1 currents were recorded both during a traditional voltage clamp and during an action potential (AP) clamp with human SAN-like APs. Forskolin (10 µmol/L) was used to increase the intracellular cAMP level, thus mimicking β-adrenergic stimulation. The experimentally observed effects were evaluated in the Fabbri-Severi computer model of an isolated human SAN cell. Transfected HEK-293 cells displayed large IKs-like outward currents in response to depolarizing voltage clamp steps. Forskolin significantly increased the current density and significantly shifted the half-maximal activation voltage towards more negative potentials. Furthermore, forskolin significantly accelerated activation without affecting the rate of deactivation. During an AP clamp, the KCNQ1/KCNE1 current was substantial during the AP phase, but relatively small during diastolic depolarization. In the presence of forskolin, the KCNQ1/KCNE1 current during both the AP phase and diastolic depolarization increased, resulting in a clearly active KCNQ1/KCNE1 current during diastolic depolarization, particularly at shorter cycle lengths. Computer simulations demonstrated that IKs reduces the intrinsic beating rate through its slowing effect on diastolic depolarization at all levels of autonomic tone and that gain-of-function mutations in KCNQ1 may exert a marked bradycardic effect during vagal tone. In conclusion, IKs is active during human SAN pacemaker activity and has a strong dependence on heart rate and cAMP level, with a prominent role at all levels of autonomic tone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arie O. Verkerk
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Heart Center, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald Wilders
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands;
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Ricci E, Bartolucci C, Severi S. The virtual sinoatrial node: What did computational models tell us about cardiac pacemaking? PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 177:55-79. [PMID: 36374743 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Since its discovery, the sinoatrial node (SAN) has represented a fascinating and complex matter of research. Despite over a century of discoveries, a full comprehension of pacemaking has still to be achieved. Experiments often produced conflicting evidence that was used either in support or against alternative theories, originating intense debates. In this context, mathematical descriptions of the phenomena underlying the heartbeat have grown in importance in the last decades since they helped in gaining insights where experimental evaluation could not reach. This review presents the most updated SAN computational models and discusses their contribution to our understanding of cardiac pacemaking. Electrophysiological, structural and pathological aspects - as well as the autonomic control over the SAN - are taken into consideration to reach a holistic view of SAN activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugenio Ricci
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Cesena (FC), Italy
| | - Chiara Bartolucci
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Cesena (FC), Italy
| | - Stefano Severi
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Cesena (FC), Italy.
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SHOX2 refines the identification of human sinoatrial nodal cell population in the in vitro cardiac differentiation. Regen Ther 2022; 21:239-249. [PMID: 36092505 PMCID: PMC9420958 DOI: 10.1016/j.reth.2022.07.012] [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: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Dysfunction of the sinoatrial node (SAN) cells causes arrhythmias, and many patients require artificial cardiac pacemaker implantation. However, the mechanism of impaired SAN automaticity remains unknown, and the generation of human SAN cells in vitro may provide a platform for understanding the pathogenesis of SAN dysfunction. The short stature homeobox 2 (SHOX2) and hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation channel 4 (HCN4) genes are specifically expressed in SAN cells and are important for SAN development and automaticity. In this study, we aimed to purify and characterize human SAN-like cells in vitro, using HCN4 and SHOX2 as SAN markers. Methods We developed an HCN4-EGFP/SHOX2-mCherry dual reporter cell line derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), and HCN4 and SHOX2 gene expressions were visualized using the fluorescent proteins EGFP and mCherry, respectively. The dual reporter cell line was established using an HCN4-EGFP bacterial artificial chromosome-based semi-knock-in system and a CRISPR-Cas9-dependent knock-in system with a SHOX2-mCherry targeting vector. Flow cytometry, RT-PCR, and whole-cell patch-clamp analyses were performed to identify SAN-like cells. Results Flow cytometry analysis and cell sorting isolated HCN4-EGFP single-positive (HCN4+/SHOX2-) and HCN4-EGFP/SHOX2-mCherry double-positive (HCN4+/SHOX2+) cells. RT-PCR analyses showed that SAN-related genes were enriched within the HCN4+/SHOX2+ cells. Further, electrophysiological analyses showed that approximately 70% of the HCN4+/SHOX2+ cells exhibited SAN-like electrophysiological characteristics, as defined by the action potential parameters of the maximum upstroke velocity and action potential duration. Conclusions The HCN4-EGFP/SHOX2-mCherry dual reporter hiPSC system developed in this study enabled the enrichment of SAN-like cells within a mixed HCN4+/SHOX2+ population of differentiating cardiac cells. This novel cell line is useful for the further enrichment of human SAN-like cells. It may contribute to regenerative medicine, for example, biological pacemakers, as well as testing for cardiotoxic and chronotropic actions of novel drug candidates.
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Schmid C, Abi-Gerges N, Leitner MG, Zellner D, Rast G. Ion Channel Expression and Electrophysiology of Singular Human (Primary and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived) Cardiomyocytes. Cells 2021; 10:3370. [PMID: 34943878 PMCID: PMC8699770 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Subtype-specific human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are promising tools, e.g., to assess the potential of drugs to cause chronotropic effects (nodal hiPSC-CMs), atrial fibrillation (atrial hiPSC-CMs), or ventricular arrhythmias (ventricular hiPSC-CMs). We used single-cell patch-clamp reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction to clarify the composition of the iCell cardiomyocyte population (Fujifilm Cellular Dynamics, Madison, WI, USA) and to compare it with atrial and ventricular Pluricytes (Ncardia, Charleroi, Belgium) and primary human atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes. The comparison of beating and non-beating iCell cardiomyocytes did not support the presence of true nodal, atrial, and ventricular cells in this hiPSC-CM population. The comparison of atrial and ventricular Pluricytes with primary human cardiomyocytes showed trends, indicating the potential to derive more subtype-specific hiPSC-CM models using appropriate differentiation protocols. Nevertheless, the single-cell phenotypes of the majority of the hiPSC-CMs showed a combination of attributes which may be interpreted as a mixture of traits of adult cardiomyocyte subtypes: (i) nodal: spontaneous action potentials and high HCN4 expression and (ii) non-nodal: prominent INa-driven fast inward current and high expression of SCN5A. This may hamper the interpretation of the drug effects on parameters depending on a combination of ionic currents, such as beat rate. However, the proven expression of specific ion channels supports the evaluation of the drug effects on ionic currents in a more realistic cardiomyocyte environment than in recombinant non-cardiomyocyte systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Schmid
- Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach, Germany; (M.G.L.); (G.R.)
- Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Department of Chemistry, University of Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | | | - Michael Georg Leitner
- Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach, Germany; (M.G.L.); (G.R.)
| | - Dietmar Zellner
- Non-Clinical Statistics, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach, Germany
| | - Georg Rast
- Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, 88397 Biberach, Germany; (M.G.L.); (G.R.)
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Varró A, Tomek J, Nagy N, Virág L, Passini E, Rodriguez B, Baczkó I. Cardiac transmembrane ion channels and action potentials: cellular physiology and arrhythmogenic behavior. Physiol Rev 2020; 101:1083-1176. [PMID: 33118864 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00024.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias are among the leading causes of mortality. They often arise from alterations in the electrophysiological properties of cardiac cells and their underlying ionic mechanisms. It is therefore critical to further unravel the pathophysiology of the ionic basis of human cardiac electrophysiology in health and disease. In the first part of this review, current knowledge on the differences in ion channel expression and properties of the ionic processes that determine the morphology and properties of cardiac action potentials and calcium dynamics from cardiomyocytes in different regions of the heart are described. Then the cellular mechanisms promoting arrhythmias in congenital or acquired conditions of ion channel function (electrical remodeling) are discussed. The focus is on human-relevant findings obtained with clinical, experimental, and computational studies, given that interspecies differences make the extrapolation from animal experiments to human clinical settings difficult. Deepening the understanding of the diverse pathophysiology of human cellular electrophysiology will help in developing novel and effective antiarrhythmic strategies for specific subpopulations and disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- András Varró
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,MTA-SZTE Cardiovascular Pharmacology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Jakub Tomek
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Norbert Nagy
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,MTA-SZTE Cardiovascular Pharmacology Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Virág
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Elisa Passini
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Blanca Rodriguez
- Department of Computer Science, British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - István Baczkó
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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7
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Li N, Kalyanasundaram A, Hansen BJ, Artiga EJ, Sharma R, Abudulwahed SH, Helfrich KM, Rozenberg G, Wu PJ, Zakharkin S, Gyorke S, Janssen PM, Whitson BA, Mokadam NA, Biesiadecki BJ, Accornero F, Hummel JD, Mohler PJ, Dobrzynski H, Zhao J, Fedorov VV. Impaired neuronal sodium channels cause intranodal conduction failure and reentrant arrhythmias in human sinoatrial node. Nat Commun 2020; 11:512. [PMID: 31980605 PMCID: PMC6981137 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-14039-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms for human sinoatrial node (SAN) dysfunction are poorly understood and whether human SAN excitability requires voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav) remains controversial. Here, we report that neuronal (n)Nav blockade and selective nNav1.6 blockade during high-resolution optical mapping in explanted human hearts depress intranodal SAN conduction, which worsens during autonomic stimulation and overdrive suppression to conduction failure. Partial cardiac (c)Nav blockade further impairs automaticity and intranodal conduction, leading to beat-to-beat variability and reentry. Multiple nNav transcripts are higher in SAN vs atria; heterogeneous alterations of several isoforms, specifically nNav1.6, are associated with heart failure and chronic alcohol consumption. In silico simulations of Nav distributions suggest that INa is essential for SAN conduction, especially in fibrotic failing hearts. Our results reveal that not only cNav but nNav are also integral for preventing disease-induced failure in human SAN intranodal conduction. Disease-impaired nNav may underlie patient-specific SAN dysfunctions and should be considered to treat arrhythmias. The role of of voltage-gated sodium channels (Nav) in pacemaking and conduction of the human sinoatrial node is unclear. Here, the authors investigate existence and function of neuronal and cardiac Nav in human sinoatrial nodes, and demonstrate their alterations in explanted human diseased hearts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Li
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Anuradha Kalyanasundaram
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Brian J Hansen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Esthela J Artiga
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Roshan Sharma
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Suhaib H Abudulwahed
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Katelynn M Helfrich
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Galina Rozenberg
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Pei-Jung Wu
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Stanislav Zakharkin
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Sandor Gyorke
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Paul Ml Janssen
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Bryan A Whitson
- Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Nahush A Mokadam
- Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Brandon J Biesiadecki
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Federica Accornero
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - John D Hummel
- Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Peter J Mohler
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Halina Dobrzynski
- Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Cracow, Poland
| | - Jichao Zhao
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Vadim V Fedorov
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA. .,Bob and Corrine Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia, Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
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Wilders R. Cellular Mechanisms of Sinus Node Dysfunction in Carriers of the SCN5A-E161K Mutation and Role of the H558R Polymorphism. Front Physiol 2018; 9:1795. [PMID: 30618807 PMCID: PMC6305593 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Carriers of the E161K mutation in the SCN5A gene, encoding the NaV1.5 pore-forming α-subunit of the ion channel carrying the fast sodium current (INa), show sinus bradycardia and occasional exit block. Voltage clamp experiments in mammalian expression systems revealed a mutation-induced 2.5- to 4-fold reduction in INa peak current density as well as a +19 mV shift and reduced steepness of the steady-state activation curve. The highly common H558R polymorphism in NaV1.5 limits this shift to +13 mV, but also introduces a -10 mV shift in steady-state inactivation. Aim: We assessed the cellular mechanism by which the E161K mutation causes sinus node dysfunction in heterozygous mutation carriers as well as the potential role of the H558R polymorphism. Methods: We incorporated the mutation-induced changes in INa into the Fabbri-Severi model of a single human sinoatrial node cell and the Maleckar et al. human atrial cell model, and carried out simulations under control conditions and over a wide range of acetylcholine levels. Results: In absence of the H558R polymorphism, the E161K mutation increased the basic cycle length of the sinoatrial node cell from 813 to 866 ms. In the simulated presence of 10 and 25 nM acetylcholine, basic cycle length increased from 1027 to 1131 and from 1448 to 1795 ms, respectively. The increase in cycle length was the result of a significant slowing of diastolic depolarization. The mutation-induced reduction in INa window current had reduced the contribution of the mutant component of INa to the net membrane current during diastolic depolarization to effectively zero. Highly similar results were obtained in presence of the H558R polymorphism. Atrial excitability was reduced, both in absence and presence of the H558R polymorphism, as reflected by an increase in threshold stimulus current and a concomitant decrease in capacitive current of the atrial cell. Conclusion: We conclude that the experimentally identified mutation-induced changes in INa can explain the clinically observed sinus bradycardia and potentially the occasional exit block. Furthermore, we conclude that the common H558R polymorphism does not significantly alter the effects of the E161K mutation and can thus not explain the reduced penetrance of the E161K mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald Wilders
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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9
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Canine and human sinoatrial node: differences and similarities in the structure, function, molecular profiles, and arrhythmia. J Vet Cardiol 2018; 22:2-19. [PMID: 30559056 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvc.2018.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The sinoatrial node (SAN) is the primary pacemaker in canine and human hearts. The SAN in both species has a unique three-dimensional heterogeneous structure characterized by small pacemaker myocytes enmeshed within fibrotic strands, which partially insulate the cells from aberrant atrial activation. The SAN pacemaker tissue expresses a unique signature of proteins and receptors that mediate SAN automaticity, ion channel currents, and cell-to-cell communication, which are predominantly similar in both species. Recent intramural optical mapping, integrated with structural and molecular studies, has revealed the existence of up to five specialized SAN conduction pathways that preferentially conduct electrical activation to atrial tissues. The intrinsic heart rate, intranodal leading pacemaker shifts, and changes in conduction in response to physiological and pathophysiological stimuli are similar. Structural and/or functional impairments due to cardiac diseases including heart failure cause SAN dysfunctions (SNDs) in both species. These dysfunctions are usually manifested as severe bradycardia, tachy-brady arrhythmias, and conduction abnormalities including exit block and SAN reentry, which could lead to atrial tachycardia and fibrillation, cardiac arrest, and heart failure. Pharmaceutical drugs and implantable pacemakers are only partially successful in managing SNDs, emphasizing a critical need to develop targeted mechanism-based therapies to treat SNDs. Because several structural and functional characteristics are similar between the canine and human SAN, research in these species may be mutually beneficial for developing novel treatment approaches. This review describes structural, functional, and molecular similarities and differences between the canine and human SAN, with special emphasis on arrhythmias and unique causal mechanisms of SND in diseased hearts.
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10
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Tsutsui K, Monfredi OJ, Sirenko-Tagirova SG, Maltseva LA, Bychkov R, Kim MS, Ziman BD, Tarasov KV, Tarasova YS, Zhang J, Wang M, Maltsev AV, Brennan JA, Efimov IR, Stern MD, Maltsev VA, Lakatta EG. A coupled-clock system drives the automaticity of human sinoatrial nodal pacemaker cells. Sci Signal 2018; 11:eaap7608. [PMID: 29895616 PMCID: PMC6138244 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aap7608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The spontaneous rhythmic action potentials generated by the sinoatrial node (SAN), the primary pacemaker in the heart, dictate the regular and optimal cardiac contractions that pump blood around the body. Although the heart rate of humans is substantially slower than that of smaller experimental animals, current perspectives on the biophysical mechanisms underlying the automaticity of sinoatrial nodal pacemaker cells (SANCs) have been gleaned largely from studies of animal hearts. Using human SANCs, we demonstrated that spontaneous rhythmic local Ca2+ releases generated by a Ca2+ clock were coupled to electrogenic surface membrane molecules (the M clock) to trigger rhythmic action potentials, and that Ca2+-cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) signaling regulated clock coupling. When these clocks became uncoupled, SANCs failed to generate spontaneous action potentials, showing a depolarized membrane potential and disorganized local Ca2+ releases that failed to activate the M clock. β-Adrenergic receptor (β-AR) stimulation, which increases cAMP concentrations and clock coupling in other species, restored spontaneous, rhythmic action potentials in some nonbeating "arrested" human SANCs by increasing intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and synchronizing diastolic local Ca2+ releases. When β-AR stimulation was withdrawn, the clocks again became uncoupled, and SANCs reverted to a nonbeating arrested state. Thus, automaticity of human pacemaker cells is driven by a coupled-clock system driven by Ca2+-cAMP-PKA signaling. Extreme clock uncoupling led to failure of spontaneous action potential generation, which was restored by recoupling of the clocks. Clock coupling and action potential firing in some of these arrested cells can be restored by β-AR stimulation-induced augmentation of Ca2+-cAMP-PKA signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Tsutsui
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Oliver J Monfredi
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
- Department of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, 1800 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | | | - Larissa A Maltseva
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Rostislav Bychkov
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Mary S Kim
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Bruce D Ziman
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Kirill V Tarasov
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Yelena S Tarasova
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Mingyi Wang
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Alexander V Maltsev
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Jaclyn A Brennan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Igor R Efimov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - Michael D Stern
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Victor A Maltsev
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Edward G Lakatta
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Science, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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Sinus Bradycardia in Carriers of the SCN5A-1795insD Mutation: Unraveling the Mechanism through Computer Simulations. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020634. [PMID: 29473904 PMCID: PMC5855856 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 02/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The SCN5A gene encodes the pore-forming α-subunit of the ion channel that carries the cardiac fast sodium current (INa). The 1795insD mutation in SCN5A causes sinus bradycardia, with a mean heart rate of 70 beats/min in mutation carriers vs. 77 beats/min in non-carriers from the same family (lowest heart rate 41 vs. 47 beats/min). To unravel the underlying mechanism, we incorporated the mutation-induced changes in INa into a recently developed comprehensive computational model of a single human sinoatrial node cell (Fabbri–Severi model). The 1795insD mutation reduced the beating rate of the model cell from 74 to 69 beats/min (from 49 to 43 beats/min in the simulated presence of 20 nmol/L acetylcholine). The mutation-induced persistent INa per se resulted in a substantial increase in beating rate. This gain-of-function effect was almost completely counteracted by the loss-of-function effect of the reduction in INa conductance. The further loss-of-function effect of the shifts in steady-state activation and inactivation resulted in an overall loss-of-function effect of the 1795insD mutation. We conclude that the experimentally identified mutation-induced changes in INa can explain the clinically observed sinus bradycardia. Furthermore, we conclude that the Fabbri–Severi model may prove a useful tool in understanding cardiac pacemaker activity in humans.
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Chen K, Zuo D, Wang SY, Chen H. Kir2 inward rectification-controlled precise and dynamic balances between Kir2 and HCN currents initiate pacemaking activity. FASEB J 2018; 32:3047-3057. [PMID: 29401592 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201701260r] [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] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Spontaneous rhythmic action potential or pacemaking activity of pacemaker cells controls rhythmic signaling such as heartbeat. The mechanism underlying the origin of pacemaking activity is not well understood. In this study, we created human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells that show pacemaking activity through heterologous expression of strong inward rectifier K+ subfamily 2 isoform 1 (Kir2.1) channels, hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated isoform 2 (HCN2) nonselective cation channels, and voltage-gated Na+ subfamily 1 isoform 5 or Ca2+ subfamily 3 isoform 1 (Nav1.5 or Cav3.1) channels. A range of relative levels of Kir2.1 and HCN2 currents dynamically counterbalance, generating spontaneous rhythmic oscillation of resting membrane potential between -64 and -34 mV and determining oscillation rates. Each oscillation cycle begins with an autodepolarization phase, which slowly proceeds to the threshold potential that activates Nav1.5 or Cav3.1 channels and triggers action potential, causing engineered HEK293 cells to exhibit pacemaking activity at a rate of ≤67 beats/min. Engineered HEK293 cells with Kir2.1 and either HCN3 or HCN4 also show the oscillation. Engineered HEK293 cells expressing HCN2 and other Kir2 channels, which lack Kir2.1-like complete inward rectification, do not show the oscillation. Therefore, Kir2.1-like inward rectification-controlled precise and dynamic balances between Kir2 and HCN currents initiate spontaneous rhythmic action potential and form an origin of pacemaking activity; Kir2 and HCN channels play essential roles in pacemaking activity.-Chen, K., Zuo, D., Wang, S.-Y. Chen, H. Kir2 inward rectification-controlled precise and dynamic balances between Kir2 and HCN currents initiate pacemaking activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuihao Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Dongchuan Zuo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Sho-Ya Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Haijun Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, New York, USA
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Biophysical comparison of sodium currents in native cardiac myocytes and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2017; 90:19-30. [PMID: 29128504 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2017.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are used for safety pharmacology and to investigate genetic diseases affecting cardiac ion channels. It is unclear whether adult myocytes or hiPSC-CMs are the better platform for cardiac safety pharmacology. We examined the biophysical and molecular properties of INa in adult myocytes and hiPSC-CMs. METHODS hiPSC-CMs were plated at low density. Atrial and ventricular cells were obtained from dog hearts. Whole cell patch clamp was used to record INa. RESULTS Voltage clamp recordings showed a large INa in all three cell types but different densities. Small differences in steady-state inactivation and recovery from inactivation were noted in the three cell types. Application of lidocaine to the three cell types showed a similar pattern of block of INa under voltage clamp; however, lidocaine produced different effects on AP waveform under current clamp. AP clamp experiments showed that application of ventricular or atrial cell waveforms to the same hiPSC-CM elicited a large INa while application of a sinoatrial node waveform elicited no INa. Molecular analysis of Na+ channel subunits showed SCN5A and SCN1B-4B were expressed in adult cells and iPSC-CMs. However, iPSC-CMs express both fetal (exon 6A) and adult (exon 6) isoforms of SCN5A. DISCUSSION There are major differences in INa density and smaller differences in other biophysical properties of INa in adult atrial, ventricular, and hiPSC-CMs. The depolarized maximum diastolic potential coupled with the presence of phase 4 depolarization limits the contribution of INa in hiPSC-CM action potentials. Our results suggest that hiPSC-CMs may be useful for drug screening of Na+ channel inhibitors under voltage clamp but not current clamp.
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Fabbri A, Fantini M, Wilders R, Severi S. Computational analysis of the human sinus node action potential: model development and effects of mutations. J Physiol 2017; 595:2365-2396. [PMID: 28185290 PMCID: PMC5374121 DOI: 10.1113/jp273259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2016] [Accepted: 02/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS We constructed a comprehensive mathematical model of the spontaneous electrical activity of a human sinoatrial node (SAN) pacemaker cell, starting from the recent Severi-DiFrancesco model of rabbit SAN cells. Our model is based on electrophysiological data from isolated human SAN pacemaker cells and closely matches the action potentials and calcium transient that were recorded experimentally. Simulated ion channelopathies explain the clinically observed changes in heart rate in corresponding mutation carriers, providing an independent qualitative validation of the model. The model shows that the modulatory role of the 'funny current' (If ) in the pacing rate of human SAN pacemaker cells is highly similar to that of rabbit SAN cells, despite its considerably lower amplitude. The model may prove useful in the design of experiments and the development of heart-rate modulating drugs. ABSTRACT The sinoatrial node (SAN) is the normal pacemaker of the mammalian heart. Over several decades, a large amount of data on the ionic mechanisms underlying the spontaneous electrical activity of SAN pacemaker cells has been obtained, mostly in experiments on single cells isolated from rabbit SAN. This wealth of data has allowed the development of mathematical models of the electrical activity of rabbit SAN pacemaker cells. The present study aimed to construct a comprehensive model of the electrical activity of a human SAN pacemaker cell using recently obtained electrophysiological data from human SAN pacemaker cells. We based our model on the recent Severi-DiFrancesco model of a rabbit SAN pacemaker cell. The action potential and calcium transient of the resulting model are close to the experimentally recorded values. The model has a much smaller 'funny current' (If ) than do rabbit cells, although its modulatory role is highly similar. Changes in pacing rate upon the implementation of mutations associated with sinus node dysfunction agree with the clinical observations. This agreement holds for both loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations in the HCN4, SCN5A and KCNQ1 genes, underlying ion channelopathies in If , fast sodium current and slow delayed rectifier potassium current, respectively. We conclude that our human SAN cell model can be a useful tool in the design of experiments and the development of drugs that aim to modulate heart rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Fabbri
- Computational Physiopathology Unit, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi”University of BolognaCesenaItaly
| | - Matteo Fantini
- Computational Physiopathology Unit, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi”University of BolognaCesenaItaly
| | - Ronald Wilders
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Physiology, Academic Medical CenterUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Stefano Severi
- Computational Physiopathology Unit, Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering “Guglielmo Marconi”University of BolognaCesenaItaly
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Du Y, Zhang J, Xi Y, Wu G, Han K, Huang X, Ma A, Wang T. β1-Adrenergic blocker bisoprolol reverses down-regulated ion channels in sinoatrial node of heart failure rats. J Physiol Biochem 2016; 72:293-302. [DOI: 10.1007/s13105-016-0481-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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The genetic basis for inherited forms of sinoatrial dysfunction and atrioventricular node dysfunction. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2015; 43:121-34. [PMID: 25863800 PMCID: PMC4486151 DOI: 10.1007/s10840-015-9998-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 03/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The sinoatrial node (SAN) and the atrioventricular node (AVN) are the anatomical and functional regions of the heart which play critical roles in the generation and conduction of the electrical impulse. Their functions are ensured by peculiar structural cytological properties and specific collections of ion channels. Impairment of SAN and AVN activity is generally acquired,but in some cases familial inheritance has been established and therefore a genetic cause is involved. In recent years, combined efforts of clinical practice and experimental basic science studies have identified and characterized several causative gene mutations associated with the nodal syndromes. Channelopathies, i.e., diseases associated with defective ion channels, remain the major cause of genetically determined nodal arrhythmias; however, it is becoming increasingly evident that mutations in other classes of regulatory and structural proteins also have profound pathophysiological roles. In this review, we will present some aspects of the genetic identification of the molecular mechanism underlying both SAN and AVN dysfunctions with a particular focus on mutations of the Na, pacemaker (HCN), and Ca channels. Genetic defects in regulatory proteins and calcium-handling proteins will be also considered. In conclusion, the identification of the genetic defects associated with familial nodal dysfunction is an essential step for implementing an appropriate therapeutic treatment.
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Dobrzynski H, Anderson RH, Atkinson A, Borbas Z, D'Souza A, Fraser JF, Inada S, Logantha SJRJ, Monfredi O, Morris GM, Moorman AFM, Nikolaidou T, Schneider H, Szuts V, Temple IP, Yanni J, Boyett MR. Structure, function and clinical relevance of the cardiac conduction system, including the atrioventricular ring and outflow tract tissues. Pharmacol Ther 2013; 139:260-88. [PMID: 23612425 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2013.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
It is now over 100years since the discovery of the cardiac conduction system, consisting of three main parts, the sinus node, the atrioventricular node and the His-Purkinje system. The system is vital for the initiation and coordination of the heartbeat. Over the last decade, immense strides have been made in our understanding of the cardiac conduction system and these recent developments are reviewed here. It has been shown that the system has a unique embryological origin, distinct from that of the working myocardium, and is more extensive than originally thought with additional structures: atrioventricular rings, a third node (so called retroaortic node) and pulmonary and aortic sleeves. It has been shown that the expression of ion channels, intracellular Ca(2+)-handling proteins and gap junction channels in the system is specialised (different from that in the ordinary working myocardium), but appropriate to explain the functioning of the system, although there is continued debate concerning the ionic basis of pacemaking. We are beginning to understand the mechanisms (fibrosis and remodelling of ion channels and related proteins) responsible for dysfunction of the system (bradycardia, heart block and bundle branch block) associated with atrial fibrillation and heart failure and even athletic training. Equally, we are beginning to appreciate how naturally occurring mutations in ion channels cause congenital cardiac conduction system dysfunction. Finally, current therapies, the status of a new therapeutic strategy (use of a specific heart rate lowering drug) and a potential new therapeutic strategy (biopacemaking) are reviewed.
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Brugada J, Blom N, Sarquella-Brugada G, Blomstrom-Lundqvist C, Deanfield J, Janousek J, Abrams D, Bauersfeld U, Brugada R, Drago F, de Groot N, Happonen JM, Hebe J, Yen Ho S, Marijon E, Paul T, Pfammatter JP, Rosenthal E. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapy for arrhythmias in the pediatric population: EHRA and AEPC-Arrhythmia Working Group joint consensus statement. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 15:1337-82. [DOI: 10.1093/europace/eut082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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Calcium transient and sodium-calcium exchange current in human versus rabbit sinoatrial node pacemaker cells. ScientificWorldJournal 2013; 2013:507872. [PMID: 23606816 PMCID: PMC3621208 DOI: 10.1155/2013/507872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There is an ongoing debate on the mechanism underlying the pacemaker activity of sinoatrial node (SAN) cells, focusing on the relative importance of the “membrane clock” and the “Ca2+ clock” in the generation of the small net membrane current that depolarizes the cell towards the action potential threshold. Specifically, the debate centers around the question whether the membrane clock-driven hyperpolarization-activated current, If, which is also known as the “funny current” or “pacemaker current,” or the Ca2+ clock-driven sodium-calcium exchange current, INaCa, is the main contributor to diastolic depolarization. In our contribution to this journal's “Special Issue on Cardiac Electrophysiology,” we present a numerical reconstruction of If and
INaCa in isolated rabbit and human SAN pacemaker cells based on experimental data on action potentials, If, and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) that we have acquired from these cells. The human SAN pacemaker cells have a smaller If, a weaker [Ca2+]i transient, and a smaller INaCa than the rabbit cells. However, when compared to the diastolic net membrane current, INaCa is of similar size in human and rabbit SAN pacemaker cells, whereas If is smaller in human than in rabbit cells.
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Boink GJJ, Duan L, Nearing BD, Shlapakova IN, Sosunov EA, Anyukhovsky EP, Bobkov E, Kryukova Y, Ozgen N, Danilo P, Cohen IS, Verrier RL, Robinson RB, Rosen MR. HCN2/SkM1 gene transfer into canine left bundle branch induces stable, autonomically responsive biological pacing at physiological heart rates. J Am Coll Cardiol 2013; 61:1192-201. [PMID: 23395072 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2012.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study sought to test the hypothesis that hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN)-based biological pacing might be improved significantly by hyperpolarizing the action potential (AP) threshold via coexpression of the skeletal muscle sodium channel 1 (SkM1). BACKGROUND Gene-based biological pacemakers display effective in vivo pacemaker function. However, approaches used to date have failed to manifest optimal pacemaker properties, defined as basal beating rates of 60 to 90 beats/min, a brisk autonomic response achieving maximal rates of 130 to 160 beats/min, and low to absent electronic backup pacing. METHODS We implanted adenoviral SkM1, HCN2, or HCN2/SkM1 constructs into left bundle branches (LBB) or left ventricular (LV) epicardium of atrioventricular-blocked dogs. RESULTS During stable peak gene expression on days 5 to 7, HCN2/SkM1 LBB-injected dogs showed highly stable in vivo pacemaker activity superior to SkM1 or HCN2 alone and superior to LV-implanted dogs with regard to beating rates (resting approximately 80 beats/min; maximum approximately 130 beats/min), no dependence on electronic backup pacing, and enhanced modulation of pacemaker function during circadian rhythm or epinephrine infusion. In vitro isolated LV of dogs overexpressing SkM1 manifested a significantly more negative AP threshold. CONCLUSIONS LBB-injected HCN2/SkM1 potentially provides a more clinically suitable biological pacemaker strategy than other reported constructs. This superiority is attributable to the more negative AP threshold and injection into the LBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard J J Boink
- Department of Pharmacology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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Cai B, Mu X, Gong D, Jiang S, Li J, Meng Q, Bai Y, Liu Y, Wang X, Tan X, Yang B, Lu Y. Difference of sodium currents between pediatric and adult human atrial myocytes: evidence for developmental changes of sodium channels. Int J Biol Sci 2011; 7:708-14. [PMID: 21647304 PMCID: PMC3107490 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.7.708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2010] [Accepted: 05/25/2011] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated calcium currents and potassium currents were shown to undergo developmental changes in postnatal human and animal cardiomocytes. However, so far, there is no evidence whether sodium currents also presented the developmental changes in postnatal human atrial cells. The aim of this study was to observe age-related changes of sodium currents between pediatric and adult atrial myocytes. Human atrial myocytes were acutely isolated and the whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record sodium currents isolated from pediatric and adult atrial cardiomocytes. The peak amplitude of sodium currents recorded in adult atrial cells was significantly larger than that in pediatric atrial myocytes. However, there was no significant difference of the activation voltage for peak sodium currents between two kinds of atrial myocytes. The time constants for the activation and inactivation of sodium currents were smaller in adult atria than pediatric atria. The further study revealed that the voltage-dependent inactivation of sodium currents were more slow in adult atrial cardiomyocytes than pediatric atrial cells. A significant difference was also observed in the recovery process of sodium channel from inactivation. In summary, a few significant differences were demonstrated in sodium currents characteristics between pediatric and adult atrial myocytes, which indicates that sodium currents in human atria also undergo developmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benzhi Cai
- Department of Pharmacology, the State-Province Key Laboratory of Biomedicine, Ministry of Education, Harbin Medical University, and Department of Cardiosurgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
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Amin AS, Boink GJJ, Atrafi F, Spanjaart AM, Asghari-Roodsari A, Molenaar RJ, Ruijter JM, Wilde AAM, Tan HL. Facilitatory and inhibitory effects of SCN5A mutations on atrial fibrillation in Brugada syndrome. Europace 2011; 13:968-75. [PMID: 21273195 DOI: 10.1093/europace/eur011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Brugada syndrome (BrS) is associated with increased risk for atrial fibrillation (AFib). However, the role of SCN5A mutations in the occurrence of AFib remains unclear. Cardiac sodium current reduction caused by SCN5A mutations may facilitate AFib by slowing intra-atrial conduction and inducing structural changes, but also prevent it by suppressing atrial ectopic activity. Here, we examined the relation between SCN5A mutations, atrial conduction velocity, atrial structural changes, and atrial ectopic activity in BrS. METHODS AND RESULTS Data from 214 BrS patients [78 with an SCN5A mutation (patients with an SCN5A mutation, BrSSCN5A+) and 136 without an SCN5A mutation (patients without an SCN5A mutation, BrSSCN5A-)] were collected. Intra-atrial conduction velocity was assessed by measuring P-wave durations at baseline and during sodium channel provocation testing. Atrial structural changes were assessed by measuring atrial dimensions using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Atrial ectopic activity was assessed by determining the incidence of atrial ectopic beats using 24 h Holter recordings. Clinical characteristics (including AFib occurrence) did not differ between BrSSCN5A+ and BrSSCN5A-. Baseline P-wave durations were longer in BrSSCN5A+ than in BrSSCN5A-, but lengthened markedly in BrSSCN5A- during provocation testing. Atrial dimensions did not differ. Atrial ectopic beats occurred more often in BrSSCN5A-, and the proportion of patients experiencing one or more atrial ectopic beats was larger in BrSSCN5A- than in BrSSCN5A+. CONCLUSION In BrS, the presence of an SCN5A mutation is associated with intra-atrial conduction slowing and suppressed atrial ectopic activity. Intra-atrial conduction slowing may provide a plausible substrate for AFib maintenance, while reduced atrial ectopic activity may constitute inhibition of the trigger for AFib initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad S Amin
- Heart Failure Research Center, Department of Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Monfredi O, Dobrzynski H, Mondal T, Boyett MR, Morris GM. The anatomy and physiology of the sinoatrial node--a contemporary review. PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY: PACE 2010; 33:1392-406. [PMID: 20946278 DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2010.02838.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The sinoatrial node is the primary pacemaker of the heart. Nodal dysfunction with aging, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and even endurance athletic training can lead to a wide variety of pathological clinical syndromes. Recent work utilizing molecular markers to map the extent of the node, along with the delineation of a novel paranodal area intermediate in characteristics between the node and the surrounding atrial muscle, has shown that pacemaker tissue is more widely spread in the right atrium than previously appreciated. This can explain the phenomenon of a "wandering pacemaker" and concomitant changes in the P-wave morphology. Extensive knowledge now exists regarding the molecular architecture of the node (in particular, the expression of ion channels) and how this relates to pacemaking. This review is an up-to-date summary of the current state of our appreciation of the above topics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Monfredi
- Cardiovascular Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Core Technology Facility, Manchester, United Kingdom
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Amin AS, Asghari-Roodsari A, Tan HL. Cardiac sodium channelopathies. Pflugers Arch 2010; 460:223-37. [PMID: 20091048 PMCID: PMC2883928 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-009-0761-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2009] [Revised: 11/09/2009] [Accepted: 11/11/2009] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac sodium channel are protein complexes that are expressed in the sarcolemma of cardiomyocytes to carry a large inward depolarizing current (INa) during phase 0 of the cardiac action potential. The importance of INa for normal cardiac electrical activity is reflected by the high incidence of arrhythmias in cardiac sodium channelopathies, i.e., arrhythmogenic diseases in patients with mutations in SCN5A, the gene responsible for the pore-forming ion-conducting alpha-subunit, or in genes that encode the ancillary beta-subunits or regulatory proteins of the cardiac sodium channel. While clinical and genetic studies have laid the foundation for our understanding of cardiac sodium channelopathies by establishing links between arrhythmogenic diseases and mutations in genes that encode various subunits of the cardiac sodium channel, biophysical studies (particularly in heterologous expression systems and transgenic mouse models) have provided insights into the mechanisms by which INa dysfunction causes disease in such channelopathies. It is now recognized that mutations that increase INa delay cardiac repolarization, prolong action potential duration, and cause long QT syndrome, while mutations that reduce INa decrease cardiac excitability, reduce electrical conduction velocity, and induce Brugada syndrome, progressive cardiac conduction disease, sick sinus syndrome, or combinations thereof. Recently, mutation-induced INa dysfunction was also linked to dilated cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation, and sudden infant death syndrome. This review describes the structure and function of the cardiac sodium channel and its various subunits, summarizes major cardiac sodium channelopathies and the current knowledge concerning their genetic background and underlying molecular mechanisms, and discusses recent advances in the discovery of mutation-specific therapies in the management of these channelopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad S. Amin
- Heart Failure Research Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Alaleh Asghari-Roodsari
- Heart Failure Research Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hanno L. Tan
- Department of Cardiology, Heart Failure Research Center, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Room K2-109, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ the Netherlands
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Multiple loss-of-function mechanisms contribute to SCN5A-related familial sick sinus syndrome. PLoS One 2010; 5:e10985. [PMID: 20539757 PMCID: PMC2881866 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2009] [Accepted: 04/26/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To identify molecular mechanisms underlying SCN5A-related sick sinus syndrome (SSS), a rare type of SSS, in parallel experiments we elucidated the electrophysiological properties and the cell surface localization of thirteen human Nav1.5 (hNav1.5) mutant channels previously linked to this disease. Methodology/Principal Findings Mutant hNav1.5 channels expressed by HEK293 cells and Xenopus oocytes were investigated by whole-cell patch clamp and two-microelectrode voltage clamp, respectively. HEK293 cell surface biotinylation experiments quantified the fraction of correctly targeted channel proteins. Our data suggested three distinct mutant channel subtypes: Group 1 mutants (L212P, P1298L, DelF1617, R1632H) gave peak current densities and cell surface targeting indistinguishable from wild-type hNav1.5. Loss-of-function of these mutants resulted from altered channel kinetics, including a negative shift of steady-state inactivation and a reduced voltage dependency of open-state inactivation. Group 2 mutants (E161K, T220I, D1275N) gave significantly reduced whole-cell currents due to impaired cell surface localization (D1275N), altered channel properties at unchanged cell surface localization (T220I), or a combination of both (E161K). Group 3 mutant channels were non-functional, due to an almost complete lack of protein at the plasma membrane (T187I, W1421X, K1578fs/52, R1623X) or a probable gating/permeation defect with normal surface localisation (R878C, G1408R). Conclusions/Significance This study indicates that multiple molecular mechanisms, including gating abnormalities, trafficking defects, or a combination of both, are responsible for SCN5A-related familial SSS.
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Hossain MM, Shimizu E, Saito M, Rao SR, Yamaguchi Y, Tamiya E. Non-invasive characterization of mouse embryonic stem cell derived cardiomyocytes based on the intensity variation in digital beating video. Analyst 2010; 135:1624-30. [PMID: 20517541 DOI: 10.1039/c0an00208a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The interest in cardiomyocytes derived from differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells or induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells is increasing due to their potential for regenerative therapeutics and as a pharmaceutical model of drug screening. Characterization of ES or iPS derived cardiomyocytes is challenging and inevitable for the intended usage of such cells. In this paper we have outlined a novel, non-invasive method for evaluating in vitro beating properties of cardiomyocytes. The method is based on the analysis of time dependent variation in the total pixel intensities in derivative images obtained from the consecutive systolic and diastolic frames from the light microscopic video recordings of beating tissue. Fast Fourier transform (FFT) yielded the frequency domains for these images. The signal to noise ratio for the analysis met the Rose criterion. We have successfully applied our method for monitoring mouse ES cell (mESC) derived cardiac muscle cells to determine the initiation of beating, organization and maturation of beating tissue, calculating the beating rhythms in terms of beating interval or frequency and the strength of beating. We have shown the successful application of our image analysis method in direct monitoring of the responses of differentiated cardiomyocytes towards caffeine hydrate, p-hydroxyphenylacetamide and calcium chloride dehydrate - respectively as positive, neutral and negative inotropic agents. This non-invasive method of characterization will be useful in studying the response of these cells to various external stimulations, such as differentiation promoting agents or treatments, as well as in preliminary drug screening in a quick and inexpensive manner without needing much expertise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain
- Department of Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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Effects of tetrodotoxin on the mammalian cardiovascular system. Mar Drugs 2010; 8:741-62. [PMID: 20411124 PMCID: PMC2857368 DOI: 10.3390/md8030741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2010] [Revised: 02/11/2010] [Accepted: 03/18/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The human genome encodes nine functional voltage-gated Na+ channels. Three of them, namely Nav1.5, Nav1.8, and Nav1.9, are resistant to nanomolar concentrations of tetrodotoxin (TTX; IC50 ≥ 1 μM). The other isoforms, which are predominantly expressed in the skeletal muscle and nervous system, are highly sensitive to TTX (IC50 ~ 10 nM). During the last two decades, it has become evident that in addition to the major cardiac isoform Nav1.5, several of those TTX sensitive isoforms are expressed in the mammalian heart. Whereas immunohistochemical and electrophysiological methods demonstrated functional expression in various heart regions, the physiological importance of those isoforms for cardiac excitation in higher mammals is still debated. This review summarizes our knowledge on the systemic cardiovascular effects of TTX in animals and humans, with a special focus on cardiac excitation and performance at lower concentrations of this marine drug. Altogether, these data strongly suggest that TTX sensitive Na+ channels, detected more recently in various heart tissues, are not involved in excitation phenomena in the healthy adult heart of higher mammals.
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Ono K, Iijima T. Cardiac T-type Ca2+ channels in the heart. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2010; 48:65-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.08.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2009] [Revised: 08/05/2009] [Accepted: 08/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Protas L, Oren RV, Clancy CE, Robinson RB. Age-dependent changes in Na current magnitude and TTX-sensitivity in the canine sinoatrial node. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2009; 48:172-80. [PMID: 19665465 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2009] [Revised: 07/22/2009] [Accepted: 07/31/2009] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In rabbit, sodium current (I(Na)) contributes to newborn sinoatrial node (SAN) automaticity but is absent in adult SAN, where heart rate is slower. In contrast, heart rate is high and I(Na) is functional in adult mouse SAN. Given the slower heart rates of large mammals, we asked if I(Na) is functionally active in SAN of newborn or adult canine heart. SAN cells were isolated from newborn (6-10 days), young (40-43 days) and adult mongrels. I(Na) was observed in >80% of cells from each age. However, current density was markedly greater in newborn, decreasing with age. At all ages, I(Na) was sensitive to nanomolar tetrodotoxin (TTX); 100 nmol/L inhibited I(Na) by 46.7%, 59.9% and 90.7% in newborn, young and adult cells, respectively. While high TTX sensitivity suggested the presence of non-cardiac isoforms, steady-state inactivation was relatively negative (midpoints -89.7+/-0.7 mV, -95.1+/-1.2 mV and -93.4+/-1.9 mV from newborn to adult). Consequently, I(Na) should be unavailable at physiological potentials under normal conditions, and 100 nmol/L TTX did not change cycle length or action potential parameters of spontaneous adult SAN cells. However, computer modeling predicts the large newborn I(Na) protects against excess rate slowing from strong vagal stimulation. The results show that canine SAN cells have TTX-sensitive I(Na) which decreases with post-natal age. The current does not contribute to normal automaticity in isolated adult cells but can be recruited to sustain excitability if nodal cells are hyperpolarized. This is particularly relevant in newborn, where I(Na) is large and parasympathetic/sympathetic balance favors vagal tone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lev Protas
- Columbia University, Department of Pharmacology, 630 West 168 Street, PH7West-318, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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