A detailed characterization of the hyperpolarization-activated "funny" current (If) in human-induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes with pacemaker activity

iPSC-Derived Biological Pacemaker-From Bench to Bedside

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived biological pacemakers have emerged as an alternative to traditional electronic pacemakers for managing cardiac arrhythmias. While effective, electronic pacemakers face challenges such as device failure, lead complications, and surgical risks, particularly in children. iPSC-derived pacemakers offer a promising solution by mimicking the sinoatrial node's natural pacemaking function, providing a more physiological approach to rhythm control. These cells can differentiate into cardiomyocytes capable of autonomous electrical activity, integrating into heart tissue. However, challenges such as achieving cellular maturity, long-term functionality, and immune response remain significant barriers to clinical translation. Future research should focus on refining gene-editing techniques, optimizing differentiation, and developing scalable production processes to enhance the safety and effectiveness of these biological pacemakers. With further advancements, iPSC-derived pacemakers could offer a patient-specific, durable alternative for cardiac rhythm management. This review discusses key advancements in differentiation protocols and preclinical studies, demonstrating their potential in treating dysrhythmias.

Interleukin-6 Modulates the Expression and Function of HCN Channels: A Link Between Inflammation and Atrial Electrogenesis

Inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin 6 (IL6), are associated with ion channel remodeling and enhance the propensity to alterations in cardiac rhythm generation and propagation, in which the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels play a crucial role. Hence, we investigated the consequences of exposure to IL6 on HCN channels in cell models and human atrial biopsies. In murine atrial HL1 cells and in cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPS-CMs), IL6 elicited STAT3 phosphorylation, a receptor-mediated downstream signaling. Downregulation of HCN1,2,4 by IL6 was observed after 24-48 h; in hiPS-CMs, this effect was reverted by 24 h of application of tocilizumab, a human IL6 receptor antagonist. In parallel, hiPS-CM action potentials (APs) showed a reduced spontaneous frequency. Moreover, we assessed IL6 and HCN expression in dilated left atrial samples from patients with mitral valve disease, an AF-prone condition. IL6 levels were increased in dilated atria compared to controls and positively correlated with echocardiographic atrial dimensions. Interestingly, the highest IL6 transcript levels and the lowest HCN4 and HCN2 expression were in these samples. In conclusion, our data uncovered a novel link between IL6 and cardiac HCN channels, potentially contributing to atrial electrical disturbances and a higher risk of dysrhythmias in conditions with elevated IL6 levels.

Modelling hemodynamics regulation in rats and dogs to facilitate drugs safety risk assessment

Pharmaceutical companies routinely screen compounds for hemodynamics related safety risk. In vitro secondary pharmacology is initially used to prioritize compounds while in vivo studies are later used to quantify and translate risk to humans. This strategy has shown limitations but could be improved via the incorporation of molecular findings in the animal-based toxicological risk assessment. The aim of this study is to develop a mathematical model for rat and dog species that can integrate secondary pharmacology modulation and therefore facilitate the overall pre-clinical safety translation assessment. Following an extensive literature review, we built two separate models recapitulating known regulation processes in dogs and rats. We describe the resulting models and show that they can reproduce a variety of interventions in both species. We also show that the models can incorporate the mechanisms of action of a pre-defined list of 50 pharmacological mechanisms whose modulation predict results consistent with known pharmacology. In conclusion, a mechanistic model of hemodynamics regulations in rat and dog species has been developed to support mechanism-based safety translation in drug discovery and development.

Stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte heterogeneity confounds electrophysiological insights

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) offer potential as an in vitro model for studying drug cardiotoxicity and patient-specific cardiovascular disease. The inherent electrophysiological heterogeneity of these cells limits the depth of insights that can be drawn from well-designed experiments. In this review, we provide our perspective on some sources and the consequences of iPSC-CM heterogeneity. We demonstrate the extent of heterogeneity in the literature and explain how such heterogeneity is exacerbated by patch-clamp experimental artifacts in the manual and automated set-up. Finally, we discuss how this heterogeneity, caused by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, limits our ability to build digital twins of patient-derived cardiomyocytes.

Effective suppression of Ih and INa caused by capsazepine, known to be a blocker of TRPV1 receptor

A synthetic inhibitor of capsaicin-induced TRPV1 channel activation is called capsazepine (CPZ). In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of CPZ on hyperpolarization-activated cationic current (Ih) and voltage-gated Na + current (INa) in pituitary tumor (GH3) cells. Through patch-clamp recordings, we found that CPZ concentration-dependently inhibited Ih amplitude and slowed its activation time course. The IC50 and KD values were 3.1 and 3.16 μM, respectively. CPZ also shifted the steady-state activation curve of Ih towards a more hyperpolarized potential. However, there was no change in the gating charge of the curve. A modified Markovian model predicted the CPZ-induced decrease in the voltage-dependent hysteresis of Ih. CPZ suppressed INa in GH3 cells, without altering its activation or inactivation time course. Additionally, exposure to CPZ reduced spontaneous firing. These findings suggest that CPZ's inhibitory effects on Ih and INa are direct and not dependent on vanilloid receptor binding. This could provide light on an unidentified ionic mechanism influencing the membrane excitability of neurons and endocrine or neuroendocrine cells in vivo.

Differentiation of Sinoatrial-like Cardiomyocytes as a Biological Pacemaker Model

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are widely used for disease modeling and pharmacological screening. However, their application has mainly focused on inherited cardiopathies affecting ventricular cardiomyocytes, leading to extensive knowledge on generating ventricular-like hiPSC-CMs. Electronic pacemakers, despite their utility, have significant disadvantages, including lack of hormonal responsiveness, infection risk, limited battery life, and inability to adapt to changes in heart size. Therefore, developing an in vitro multiscale model of the human sinoatrial node (SAN) pacemaker using hiPSC-CM and SAN-like cardiomyocyte differentiation protocols is essential. This would enhance the understanding of SAN-related pathologies and support targeted therapies. Generating SAN-like cardiomyocytes offers the potential for biological pacemakers and specialized conduction tissues, promising significant benefits for patients with conduction system defects. This review focuses on arrythmias related to pacemaker dysfunction, examining protocols' advantages and drawbacks for generating SAN-like cardiomyocytes from hESCs/hiPSCs, and discussing therapeutic approaches involving their engraftment in animal models.

Striatin knock out induces a gain of function of INa and impaired Ca2+ handling in mESC-derived cardiomyocytes

AIM

Striatin (Strn) is a scaffold protein expressed in cardiomyocytes (CMs) and alteration of its expression are described in various cardiac diseases. However, the alteration underlying its pathogenicity have been poorly investigated.

METHODS

We studied the role(s) of cardiac Strn gene (STRN) by comparing the functional properties of CMs, generated from Strn-KO and isogenic WT mouse embryonic stem cell lines.

RESULTS

The spontaneous beating rate of Strn-KO CMs was faster than WT cells, and this correlated with a larger fast INa conductance and no changes in If. Paced (2-8 Hz) Strn-KO CMs showed prolonged action potential (AP) duration in comparison with WT CMs and this was not associated with changes in ICaL and IKr. Motion video tracking analysis highlighted an altered contraction in Strn-KO CMs; this was associated with a global increase in intracellular Ca2+, caused by an enhanced late Na+ current density (INaL) and a reduced Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) activity and expression. Immunofluorescence analysis confirmed the higher Na+ channel expression and a more dynamic microtubule network in Strn-KO CMs than in WT. Indeed, incubation of Strn-KO CMs with the microtubule stabilizer taxol, induced a rescue (downregulation) of INa conductance toward WT levels.

CONCLUSION

Loss of STRN alters CMs electrical and contractile profiles and affects cell functionality by a disarrangement of Strn-related multi-protein complexes. This leads to impaired microtubules dynamics and Na+ channels trafficking to the plasma membrane, causing a global Na+ and Ca2+ enhancement.

Stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes expressing a dominant negative pacemaker HCN4 channel do not reduce the risk of graft-related arrhythmias

Background

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) show tremendous promise for cardiac regeneration following myocardial infarction (MI), but their transplantation gives rise to transient ventricular tachycardia (VT) in large-animal MI models, representing a major hurdle to translation. Our group previously reported that these arrhythmias arise from a focal mechanism whereby graft tissue functions as an ectopic pacemaker; therefore, we hypothesized that hPSC-CMs engineered with a dominant negative form of the pacemaker ion channel HCN4 (dnHCN4) would exhibit reduced automaticity and arrhythmogenic risk following transplantation.

Methods

We used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-editing to create transgenic dnHCN4 hPSC-CMs, and their electrophysiological behavior was evaluated in vitro by patch-clamp recordings and optical mapping. Next, we transplanted WT and homozygous dnHCN4 hPSC-CMs in a pig MI model and compared post-transplantation outcomes including the incidence of spontaneous arrhythmias and graft structure by immunohistochemistry.

Results

In vitro dnHCN4 hPSC-CMs exhibited significantly reduced automaticity and pacemaker funny current (I f ) density relative to wildtype (WT) cardiomyocytes. Following transplantation with either dnHCN4 or WT hPSC-CMs, all recipient hearts showed transmural infarct scar that was partially remuscularized by scattered islands of human myocardium. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, both dnHCN4 and WT hPSC-CM recipients exhibited frequent episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Conclusions

While genetic silencing of the pacemaker ion channel HCN4 suppresses the automaticity of hPSC-CMs in vitro, this intervention is insufficient to reduce VT risk post-transplantation in the pig MI model, implying more complex mechanism(s) are operational in vivo.

HRAS-Mutant Cardiomyocyte Model of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia

BACKGROUND

Germline HRAS gain-of-function pathogenic variants cause Costello syndrome (CS). During early childhood, 50% of patients develop multifocal atrial tachycardia, a treatment-resistant tachyarrhythmia of unknown pathogenesis. This study investigated how overactive HRAS activity triggers arrhythmogenesis in atrial-like cardiomyocytes (ACMs) derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells bearing CS-associated HRAS variants.

METHODS

HRAS Gly12 mutations were introduced into a human-induced pluripotent stem cells-ACM reporter line. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells were generated from patients with CS exhibiting tachyarrhythmia. Calcium transients and action potentials were assessed in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived ACMs. Automated patch clamping assessed funny currents. HCN inhibitors targeted pacemaker-like activity in mutant ACMs. Transcriptomic data were analyzed via differential gene expression and gene ontology. Immunoblotting evaluated protein expression associated with calcium handling and pacemaker-nodal expression.

RESULTS

ACMs harboring HRAS variants displayed higher beating rates compared with healthy controls. The hyperpolarization activated cyclic nucleotide gated potassium channel inhibitor ivabradine and the Nav1.5 blocker flecainide significantly decreased beating rates in mutant ACMs, whereas voltage-gated calcium channel 1.2 blocker verapamil attenuated their irregularity. Electrophysiological assessment revealed an increased number of pacemaker-like cells with elevated funny current densities among mutant ACMs. Mutant ACMs demonstrated elevated gene expression (ie, ISL1, TBX3, TBX18) related to intracellular calcium homeostasis, heart rate, RAS signaling, and induction of pacemaker-nodal-like transcriptional programming. Immunoblotting confirmed increased protein levels for genes of interest and suppressed MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) activity in mutant ACMs.

CONCLUSIONS

CS-associated gain-of-function HRASG12 mutations in induced pluripotent stem cells-derived ACMs trigger transcriptional changes associated with enhanced automaticity and arrhythmic activity consistent with multifocal atrial tachycardia. This is the first human-induced pluripotent stem cell model establishing the mechanistic basis for multifocal atrial tachycardia in CS.

Casein Kinase 1 Phosphomimetic Mutations Negatively Impact Connexin-43 Gap Junctions in Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

The transplantation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) has shown promise in preclinical models of myocardial infarction, but graft myocardium exhibits incomplete host-graft electromechanical integration and a propensity for pro-arrhythmic behavior. Perhaps contributing to this situation, hPSC-CM grafts show low expression of connexin 43 (Cx43), the major gap junction (GJ) protein, in ventricular myocardia. We hypothesized that Cx43 expression and function could be rescued by engineering Cx43 in hPSC-CMs with a series of phosphatase-resistant mutations at three casein kinase 1 phosphorylation sites (Cx43-S3E) that have been previously reported to stabilize Cx43 GJs and reduce arrhythmias in transgenic mice. However, contrary to our predictions, transgenic Cx43-S3E hPSC-CMs exhibited reduced Cx43 expression relative to wild-type cells, both at baseline and following ischemic challenge. Cx43-S3E hPSC-CMs showed correspondingly slower conduction velocities, increased automaticity, and differential expression of other connexin isoforms and various genes involved in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling. Cx43-S3E hPSC-CMs also had phosphorylation marks associated with Cx43 GJ internalization, a finding that may account for their impaired GJ localization. Taken collectively, our data indicate that the Cx43-S3E mutation behaves differently in hPSC-CMs than in adult mouse ventricular myocytes and that multiple biological factors likely need to be addressed synchronously to ensure proper Cx43 expression, localization, and function.

Biophysical properties of NaV1.5 channels from atrial-like and ventricular-like cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells

Generating atrial-like cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is crucial for modeling and treating atrial-related diseases, such as atrial arrythmias including atrial fibrillations. However, it is essential to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the electrophysiological properties of these cells. The objective of the present study was to investigate the molecular, electrical, and biophysical properties of several ion channels, especially NaV1.5 channels, in atrial hiPSC cardiomyocytes. Atrial cardiomyocytes were obtained by the differentiation of hiPSCs treated with retinoic acid (RA). The quality of the atrial specification was assessed by qPCR, immunocytofluorescence, and western blotting. The electrophysiological properties of action potentials (APs), Ca2+ dynamics, K+ and Na+ currents were investigated using patch-clamp and optical mapping approaches. We evaluated mRNA transcript and protein expressions to show that atrial cardiomyocytes expressed higher atrial- and sinoatrial-specific markers (MYL7, CACNA1D) and lower ventricular-specific markers (MYL2, CACNA1C, GJA1) than ventricular cardiomyocytes. The amplitude, duration, and steady-state phase of APs in atrial cardiomyocytes decreased, and had a shape similar to that of mature atrial cardiomyocytes. Interestingly, NaV1.5 channels in atrial cardiomyocytes exhibited lower mRNA transcripts and protein expression, which could explain the lower current densities recorded by patch-clamp. Moreover, Na+ currents exhibited differences in activation and inactivation parameters. These differences could be explained by an increase in SCN2B regulatory subunit expression and a decrease in SCN1B and SCN4B regulatory subunit expressions. Our results show that a RA treatment made it possible to obtain atrial cardiomyocytes and investigate differences in NaV1.5 channel properties between ventricular- and atrial-like cells.

Diversity of cells and signals in the cardiovascular system

This white paper is the outcome of the seventh UC Davis Cardiovascular Research Symposium on Systems Approach to Understanding Cardiovascular Disease and Arrhythmia. This biannual meeting aims to bring together leading experts in subfields of cardiovascular biomedicine to focus on topics of importance to the field. The theme of the 2022 Symposium was 'Cell Diversity in the Cardiovascular System, cell-autonomous and cell-cell signalling'. Experts in the field contributed their experimental and mathematical modelling perspectives and discussed emerging questions, controversies, and challenges in examining cell and signal diversity, co-ordination and interrelationships involved in cardiovascular function. This paper originates from the topics of formal presentations and informal discussions from the Symposium, which aimed to develop a holistic view of how the multiple cell types in the cardiovascular system integrate to influence cardiovascular function, disease progression and therapeutic strategies. The first section describes the major cell types (e.g. cardiomyocytes, vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells, fibroblasts, neurons, immune cells, etc.) and the signals involved in cardiovascular function. The second section emphasizes the complexity at the subcellular, cellular and system levels in the context of cardiovascular development, ageing and disease. Finally, the third section surveys the technological innovations that allow the interrogation of this diversity and advancing our understanding of the integrated cardiovascular function and dysfunction.

Adapting to a new environment: postnatal maturation of the human cardiomyocyte

The postnatal mammalian heart undergoes remarkable developmental changes, which are stimulated by the transition from the intrauterine to extrauterine environment. With birth, increased oxygen levels promote metabolic, structural and biophysical maturation of cardiomyocytes, resulting in mature muscle with increased efficiency, contractility and electrical conduction. In this Topical Review article, we highlight key studies that inform our current understanding of human cardiomyocyte maturation. Collectively, these studies suggest that human atrial and ventricular myocytes evolve quickly within the first year but might not reach a fully mature adult phenotype until nearly the first decade of life. However, it is important to note that fetal, neonatal and paediatric cardiac physiology studies are hindered by a number of limitations, including the scarcity of human tissue, small sample size and a heavy reliance on diseased tissue samples, often without age-matched healthy controls. Future developmental studies are warranted to expand our understanding of normal cardiac physiology/pathophysiology and inform age-appropriate treatment strategies for cardiac disease.

Does Enhanced Structural Maturity of hiPSC-Cardiomyocytes Better for the Detection of Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity?

Human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are currently used following the Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmic Assay (CiPA) initiative and subsequent recommendations in the International Council for Harmonization (ICH) guidelines S7B and E14 Q&A, to detect drug-induced cardiotoxicity. Monocultures of hiPSC-CMs are immature compared to adult ventricular cardiomyocytes and might lack the native heterogeneous nature. We investigated whether hiPSC-CMs, treated to enhance structural maturity, are superior in detecting drug-induced changes in electrophysiology and contraction. This was achieved by comparing hiPSC-CMs cultured in 2D monolayers on the current standard (fibronectin matrix, FM), to monolayers on a coating known to promote structural maturity (CELLvo™ Matrix Plus, MM). Functional assessment of electrophysiology and contractility was made using a high-throughput screening approach involving the use of both voltage-sensitive fluorescent dyes for electrophysiology and video technology for contractility. Using 11 reference drugs, the response of the monolayer of hiPSC-CMs was comparable in the two experimental settings (FM and MM). The data showed no functionally relevant differences in electrophysiology between hiPSC-CMs in standard FM and MM, while contractility read-outs indicated an altered amplitude of contraction but not changes in time course. RNA profiling for cardiac proteins shows similarity of the RNA expression across the two forms of 2D culture, suggesting that cell-to-matrix adhesion differences may explain account for differences in contraction amplitude. The results support the view that hiPSC-CMs in both 2D monolayer FM and MM that promote structural maturity are equally effective in detecting drug-induced electrophysiological effects in functional safety studies.

Automated Patch-Clamp and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes: A Synergistic Approach in the Study of Brugada Syndrome

The development of high-throughput automated patch-clamp technology is a recent breakthrough in the field of Brugada syndrome research. Brugada syndrome is a heart disorder marked by abnormal electrocardiographic readings and an elevated risk of sudden cardiac death due to arrhythmias. Various experimental models, developed either in animals, cell lines, human tissue or computational simulation, play a crucial role in advancing our understanding of this condition, and developing effective treatments. In the perspective of the pathophysiological role of ion channels and their pharmacology, automated patch-clamp involves a robotic system that enables the simultaneous recording of electrical activity from multiple single cells at once, greatly improving the speed and efficiency of data collection. By combining this approach with the use of patient-derived cardiomyocytes, researchers are gaining a more comprehensive view of the underlying mechanisms of heart disease. This has led to the development of more effective treatments for those affected by cardiovascular conditions.

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes as an electrophysiological model: Opportunities and challenges-The Hamburg perspective

Models based on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) are proposed in almost any field of physiology and pharmacology. The development of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes is expected to become a step forward to increase the translational power of cardiovascular research. Importantly they should allow to study genetic effects on an electrophysiological background close to the human situation. However, biological and methodological issues revealed when human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes were used in experimental electrophysiology. We will discuss some of the challenges that should be considered when human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes will be used as a physiological model.

cAMP-PKA signaling modulates the automaticity of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes

Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have been used to screen and characterize drugs and to reveal mechanisms underlying cardiac diseases. However, before hiPSC-CMs can be used as a reliable experimental model, the physiological mechanisms underlying their normal function should be further explored. Accordingly, a major feature of hiPSC-CMs is automaticity, which is regulated by both Ca2+ and membrane clocks. To investigate the mechanisms coupling these clocks, we tested three hypotheses: (1) normal automaticity of spontaneously beating hiPSC-CMs is regulated by local Ca2+ releases (LCRs) and cAMP/PKA-dependent coupling of Ca2+ clock to M clock; (2) the LCR period indicates the level of crosstalk within the coupled-clock system; and (3) perturbing the activity of even one clock can lead to hiPSC-CM-altered automaticity due to diminished crosstalk within the coupled-clock system. By measuring the local and global Ca2+ transients, we found that the LCRs properties are correlated with the spontaneous beat interval. Changes in cAMP-dependent coupling of the Ca2+ and M clocks, caused by a pharmacological intervention that either activates the β-adrenergic or cholinergic receptor or upregulates/downregulates PKA signaling, affected LCR properties, which in turn altered hiPSC-CMs automaticity. Clocks' uncoupling by attenuating the pacemaker current If or the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ kinetics, decreased hiPSC-CMs beating rate, and prolonged the LCR period. Finally, LCR characteristics of spontaneously beating (at comparable rates) hiPSC-CMs and rabbit SAN are similar. In conclusion, hiPSC-CM automaticity is controlled by the coupled-clock system whose function is mediated by Ca2+-cAMP-PKA signaling.

Calcium handling maturation and adaptation to increased substrate stiffness in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes: The impact of full-length dystrophin deficiency

Cardiomyocytes differentiated from human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSC- CMs) are a unique source for modelling inherited cardiomyopathies. In particular, the possibility of observing maturation processes in a simple culture dish opens novel perspectives in the study of early-disease defects caused by genetic mutations before the onset of clinical manifestations. For instance, calcium handling abnormalities are considered as a leading cause of cardiomyocyte dysfunction in several genetic-based dilated cardiomyopathies, including rare types such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)-associated cardiomyopathy. To better define the maturation of calcium handling we simultaneously measured action potential and calcium transients (Ca-Ts) using fluorescent indicators at specific time points. We combined micropatterned substrates with long-term cultures to improve maturation of hiPSC-CMs (60, 75 or 90 days post-differentiation). Control-(hiPSC)-CMs displayed increased maturation over time (90 vs 60 days), with longer action potential duration (APD), increased Ca-T amplitude, faster Ca-T rise (time to peak) and Ca-T decay (RT50). The progressively increased contribution of the SR to Ca release (estimated by post-rest potentiation or Caffeine-induced Ca-Ts) appeared as the main determinant of the progressive rise of Ca-T amplitude during maturation. As an example of severe cardiomyopathy with early onset, we compared hiPSC-CMs generated from a DMD patient (DMD-ΔExon50) and a CRISPR-Cas9 genome edited cell line isogenic to the healthy control with deletion of a G base at position 263 of the DMD gene (c.263delG-CMs). In DMD-hiPSC-CMs, changes of Ca-Ts during maturation were less pronounced: indeed, DMD cells at 90 days showed reduced Ca-T amplitude and faster Ca-T rise and RT50, as compared with control hiPSC-CMs. Caffeine-Ca-T was reduced in amplitude and had a slower time course, suggesting lower SR calcium content and NCX function in DMD vs control cells. Nonetheless, the inotropic and lusitropic responses to forskolin were preserved. CRISPR-induced c.263delG-CM line recapitulated the same developmental calcium handling alterations observed in DMD-CMs. We then tested the effects of micropatterned substrates with higher stiffness. In control hiPSC-CMs, higher stiffness leads to higher amplitude of Ca-T with faster decay kinetics. In hiPSC-CMs lacking full-length dystrophin, however, stiffer substrates did not modify Ca-Ts but only led to higher SR Ca content. These findings highlighted the inability of dystrophin-deficient cardiomyocytes to adjust their calcium homeostasis in response to increases of extracellular matrix stiffness, which suggests a mechanism occurring during the physiological and pathological development (i.e. fibrosis).

An in silico-in vitro pipeline for drug cardiotoxicity screening identifies ionic pro-arrhythmia mechanisms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Before advancing to clinical trials, new drugs are screened for their pro-arrhythmic potential using a method that is overly conservative and provides limited mechanistic insight. The shortcomings of this approach can lead to the mis-classification of beneficial drugs as pro-arrhythmic.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

An in silico-in vitro pipeline was developed to circumvent these shortcomings. A computational human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (iPSC-CM) model was used as part of a genetic algorithm to design experiments, specifically electrophysiological voltage clamp (VC) protocols, to identify which of several cardiac ion channels were blocked during in vitro drug studies. Such VC data, along with dynamically clamped action potentials (AP), were acquired from iPSC-CMs before and after treatment with a control solution or a low- (verapamil), intermediate- (cisapride or quinine) or high-risk (quinidine) drug.

KEY RESULTS

Significant AP prolongation (a pro-arrhythmia marker) was seen in response to quinidine and quinine. The VC protocol identified block of IKr (a source of arrhythmias) by all strong IKr blockers, including cisapride, quinidine and quinine. The protocol also detected block of ICaL by verapamil and Ito by quinidine. Further demonstrating the power of the approach, the VC data uncovered a previously unidentified If block by quinine, which was confirmed with experiments using a HEK-293 expression system and automated patch-clamp.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

We developed an in silico-in vitro pipeline that simultaneously identifies pro-arrhythmia risk and mechanism of ion channel-blocking drugs. The approach offers a new tool for evaluating cardiotoxicity during preclinical drug screening.

Adventures and Advances in Time Travel With Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells and Automated Patch Clamp

In the Hollywood blockbuster “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” a fantastical fable unfolds of a man’s life that travels through time reversing the aging process; as the tale progresses, the frail old man becomes a vigorous, vivacious young man, then man becomes boy and boy becomes baby. The reality of cellular time travel, however, is far more wondrous: we now have the ability to both reverse and then forward time on mature cells. Four proteins were found to rewind the molecular clock of adult cells back to their embryonic, “blank canvas” pluripotent stem cell state, allowing these pluripotent stem cells to then be differentiated to fast forward their molecular clocks to the desired adult specialist cell types. These four proteins – the “Yamanaka factors” – form critical elements of this cellular time travel, which deservedly won Shinya Yamanaka the Nobel Prize for his lab’s work discovering them. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) hold much promise in our understanding of physiology and medicine. They encapsulate the signaling pathways of the desired cell types, such as cardiomyocytes or neurons, and thus act as model cells for defining the critical ion channel activity in healthy and disease states. Since hiPSCs can be derived from any patient, highly specific, personalized (or stratified) physiology, and/or pathophysiology can be defined, leading to exciting developments in personalized medicines and interventions. As such, hiPSC married with high throughput automated patch clamp (APC) ion channel recording platforms provide a foundation for significant physiological, medical and drug discovery advances. This review aims to summarize the current state of affairs of hiPSC and APC: the background and recent advances made; and the pros, cons and challenges of these technologies. Whilst the authors have yet to finalize a fully functional time traveling machine, they will endeavor to provide plausible future projections on where hiPSC and APC are likely to carry us. One future projection the authors are confident in making is the increasing necessity and adoption of these technologies in the discovery of the next blockbuster, this time a life-enhancing ion channel drug, not a fantastical movie.

The funny current: Even funnier than 40 years ago. Uncanonical expression and roles of HCN/f channels all over the body

Discovered some 40 years ago, the I_f current has since been known as the "pacemaker" current due to its role in the initiation and modulation of the heartbeat and of neuronal excitability. But this is not all, the funny current keeps entertaining the researchers; indeed, several data discovering novel and uncanonical roles of f/HCN channel are quickly accumulating. In the present review, we provide an overview of the expression and cellular functions of HCN/f channels in a variety of systems/organs, and particularly in sour taste transduction, hormones secretion, activation of astrocytes and microglia, inhibition of osteoclastogenesis, renal ammonium excretion, and peristalsis in the gastrointestinal and urine systems. We also analyzed the role of HCN channels in sustaining cellular respiration in mitochondria and their participation to mitophagy under specific conditions. The relevance of HCN currents in undifferentiated cells, and specifically in the control of stem cell cycle and in bioelectrical signals driving left/right asymmetry during zygote development, is also considered. Finally, we present novel data concerning the expression of HCN mRNA in human leukocytes. We can thus conclude that the emerging evidence presented in this review clearly points to an increasing interest and importance of the "funny" current that goes beyond its role in cardiac sinoatrial and neuronal excitability regulation.