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Rienmuller T, Shrestha N, Polz M, Stoppacher S, Ziesel D, Migliaccio L, Pelzmann B, Lang P, Zorn-Pauly K, Langthaler S, Opancar A, Baumgartner C, Ucal M, Schindl R, Derek V, Scheruebel S. Shedding Light on Cardiac Excitation: In Vitro and In Silico Analysis of Native Ca 2+ Channel Activation in Guinea Pig Cardiomyocytes Using Organic Photovoltaic Devices. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2024; 71:1980-1992. [PMID: 38498749 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2024.3358240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to explore the potential of organic electrolytic photocapacitors (OEPCs), an innovative photovoltaic device, in mediating the activation of native voltage-gated Cav1.2 channels (ICa,L) in Guinea pig ventricular cardiomyocytes. METHODS Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were employed to examine light-triggered OEPC mediated ICa,L activation, integrating the channel's kinetic properties into a multicompartment cell model to take intracellular ion concentrations into account. A multidomain model was additionally incorporated to evaluate effects of OEPC-mediated stimulation. The final model combines external stimulation, multicompartmental cell simulation, and a patch-clamp amplifier equivalent circuit to assess the impact on achievable intracellular voltage changes. RESULTS Light pulses activated ICa,L, with amplitudes similar to voltage-clamp activation and high sensitivity to the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, nifedipine. Light-triggered ICa,L inactivation exhibited kinetic parameters comparable to voltage-induced inactivation. CONCLUSION OEPC-mediated activation of ICa,L demonstrates their potential for nongenetic optical modulation of cellular physiology potentially paving the way for the development of innovative therapies in cardiovascular health. The integrated model proves the light-mediated activation of ICa,L and advances the understanding of the interplay between the patch-clamp amplifier and external stimulation devices. SIGNIFICANCE Treating cardiac conduction disorders by minimal-invasive means without genetic modifications could advance therapeutic approaches increasing patients' quality of life compared with conventional methods employing electronic devices.
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Alvarez JAE, Jafri MS, Ullah A. Local Control Model of a Human Ventricular Myocyte: An Exploration of Frequency-Dependent Changes and Calcium Sparks. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1259. [PMID: 37627324 PMCID: PMC10452762 DOI: 10.3390/biom13081259] [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: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium (Ca2+) sparks are the elementary events of excitation-contraction coupling, yet they are not explicitly represented in human ventricular myocyte models. A stochastic ventricular cardiomyocyte human model that adapts to intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) dynamics, spark regulation, and frequency-dependent changes in the form of locally controlled Ca2+ release was developed. The 20,000 CRUs in this model are composed of 9 individual LCCs and 49 RyRs that function as couplons. The simulated action potential duration at 1 Hz steady-state pacing is ~0.280 s similar to human ventricular cell recordings. Rate-dependence experiments reveal that APD shortening mechanisms are largely contributed by the L-type calcium channel inactivation, RyR open fraction, and [Ca2+]myo concentrations. The dynamic slow-rapid-slow pacing protocol shows that RyR open probability during high pacing frequency (2.5 Hz) switches to an adapted "nonconducting" form of Ca2+-dependent transition state. The predicted force was also observed to be increased in high pacing, but the SR Ca2+ fractional release was lower due to the smaller difference between diastolic and systolic [Ca2+]SR. Restitution analysis through the S1S2 protocol and increased LCC Ca2+-dependent activation rate show that the duration of LCC opening helps modulate its effects on the APD restitution at different diastolic intervals. Ultimately, a longer duration of calcium sparks was observed in relation to the SR Ca2+ loading at high pacing rates. Overall, this study demonstrates the spontaneous Ca2+ release events and ion channel responses throughout various stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M. Saleet Jafri
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 20201, USA
| | - Aman Ullah
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA;
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Agrawal A, Wang K, Polonchuk L, Cooper J, Hendrix M, Gavaghan DJ, Mirams GR, Clerx M. Models of the cardiac L-type calcium current: A quantitative review. WIREs Mech Dis 2023; 15:e1581. [PMID: 36028219 PMCID: PMC10078428 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The L-type calcium current (I CaL ) plays a critical role in cardiac electrophysiology, and models ofI CaL are vital tools to predict arrhythmogenicity of drugs and mutations. Five decades of measuring and modelingI CaL have resulted in several competing theories (encoded in mathematical equations). However, the introduction of new models has not typically been accompanied by a data-driven critical comparison with previous work, so that it is unclear which model is best suited for any particular application. In this review, we describe and compare 73 published mammalianI CaL models and use simulated experiments to show that there is a large variability in their predictions, which is not substantially diminished when grouping by species or other categories. We provide model code for 60 models, list major data sources, and discuss experimental and modeling work that will be required to reduce this huge list of competing theories and ultimately develop a community consensus model ofI CaL . This article is categorized under: Cardiovascular Diseases > Computational Models Cardiovascular Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Agrawal
- Computational Biology & Health Informatics, Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Ken Wang
- Pharma Research and Early Development, Innovation Center BaselF. Hoffmann‐La Roche Ltd.BaselSwitzerland
| | - Liudmila Polonchuk
- Pharma Research and Early Development, Innovation Center BaselF. Hoffmann‐La Roche Ltd.BaselSwitzerland
| | - Jonathan Cooper
- Centre for Advanced Research ComputingUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Maurice Hendrix
- Centre for Mathematical Medicine & Biology, School of Mathematical SciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
- Digital Research Service, Information SciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - David J. Gavaghan
- Computational Biology & Health Informatics, Department of Computer ScienceUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Gary R. Mirams
- Centre for Mathematical Medicine & Biology, School of Mathematical SciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
| | - Michael Clerx
- Centre for Mathematical Medicine & Biology, School of Mathematical SciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamUK
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Abstract
The CACNA1C gene encodes the pore-forming subunit of the CaV1.2 L-type Ca2+ channel, a critical component of membrane physiology in multiple tissues, including the heart, brain, and immune system. As such, mutations altering the function of these channels have the potential to impact a wide array of cellular functions. The first mutations identified within CACNA1C were shown to cause a severe, multisystem disorder known as Timothy syndrome (TS), which is characterized by neurodevelopmental deficits, long-QT syndrome, life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, craniofacial abnormalities, and immune deficits. Since this initial description, the number and variety of disease-associated mutations identified in CACNA1C have grown tremendously, expanding the range of phenotypes observed in affected patients. CACNA1C channelopathies are now known to encompass multisystem phenotypes as described in TS, as well as more selective phenotypes where patients may exhibit predominantly cardiac or neurological symptoms. Here, we review the impact of genetic mutations on CaV1.2 function and the resultant physiological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin G Herold
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John W Hussey
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ivy E Dick
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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5
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Kamelian Rad M, Ahmadi-Pajouh MA, Saviz M. Selective electrical stimulation of low versus high diameter myelinated fibers and its application in pain relief: a modeling study. J Math Biol 2022; 86:3. [PMID: 36436158 DOI: 10.1007/s00285-022-01833-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Electrical stimulation of peripheral nerve fibers has always been an attractive field of research. Due to the higher activation threshold, the stimulation of small fibers is accompanied by the stimulation of larger ones. It is therefore necessary to design a specific stimulation theme in order to only activate narrow fibers. There is evidence that stimulating Aδ fibers can activate endogenous pain-relieving mechanisms. However, both selective stimulation and reducing pain by activating small nociceptive fibers are still poorly investigated. In this study, using high-frequency stimulation waveforms (5-20 kHz), computational modeling provides a simple framework for activating narrow nociceptive fibers. Additionally, a model of myelinated nerve fibers is modified by including sodium-potassium pump and investigating its effects on neuronal stimulation. Besides, a modified mathematical model of pain processing circuits in the dorsal horn is presented that consists of supraspinal pain control mechanisms. Hence, by employing this pain-modulating model, the mechanism of the reduction of pain by activating nociceptive fibers is explored. In the case of two fibers with the same distance from the point source electrode, a single stimulation waveform is capable of blocking one large fiber and stimulating another small fiber. Noteworthy, the Na/K pump model demonstrated that it does not have a significant effect on the activation threshold and firing frequency of fiber. Ultimately, results suggest that the descending pathways of Locus coeruleus may effectively contribute to pain relief through stimulation of nociceptive fibers, which will be beneficial for clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Kamelian Rad
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mehrdad Saviz
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
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6
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Shexiang Baoxin Pills Could Alleviate Isoproterenol-Induced Heart Failure Probably through its Inhibition of CaV1.2 Calcium Channel Currents. Biochem Res Int 2022; 2022:5498023. [DOI: 10.1155/2022/5498023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) affects millions of patients in the world. Shexiang Baoxin Pills (SXB) are extensively applied to treat coronary artery diseases and HF in Chinese hospitals. However, there are still no explanations for why SXB protects against HF. To assess the protective role, we created the HF model in rats by isoproterenol (ISO) subcutaneous injection, 85 milligrams per kilogram body weight for seven days. Four groups were implemented: CON (control), ISO (HF disease group), CAP (captopril, positive drug treatment), and SXB groups. Echocardiography was used to evaluate rats’ HF in vivo. The human CaV1.2 (hCaV1.2) channel currents were detected in tsA-201 cells by patch clamp technique. Five different concentrations of SXB (5, 10, 30, 50, and 100 mg/L) were chosen in this study. The results showed that SXB increased cardiac systolic function and inhibited rats’ cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis induced by ISO. Subsequently, it was found that SXB was inhibited by the peak amplitudes of hCaV1.2 channel current (
). The SXB half inhibitory dosage was 9.09 mg/L. The steady-state activation curve was 22.8 mV depolarization shifted; while the inactivation curve and the recovery from inactivation were not affected significantly. In conclusion, these results indicated that SXB inhibited ISO-induced HF in rats and inhibited the hCaV1.2 channel current. The present study paved the way for SXB to protect itself from HF.
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Horváth B, Szentandrássy N, Dienes C, Kovács ZM, Nánási PP, Chen-Izu Y, Izu LT, Banyasz T. Exploring the Coordination of Cardiac Ion Channels With Action Potential Clamp Technique. Front Physiol 2022; 13:864002. [PMID: 35370800 PMCID: PMC8966222 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.864002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The patch clamp technique underwent continual advancement and developed numerous variants in cardiac electrophysiology since its introduction in the late 1970s. In the beginning, the capability of the technique was limited to recording one single current from one cell stimulated with a rectangular command pulse. Since that time, the technique has been extended to record multiple currents under various command pulses including action potential. The current review summarizes the development of the patch clamp technique in cardiac electrophysiology with special focus on the potential applications in integrative physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Horváth
- Department of Physiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Norbert Szentandrássy
- Department of Physiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Csaba Dienes
- Department of Physiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - Péter P. Nánási
- Department of Physiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Ye Chen-Izu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Leighton T. Izu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Tamas Banyasz
- Department of Physiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
- *Correspondence: Tamas Banyasz,
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Sarma H, Upadhyaya M, Gogoi B, Phukan M, Kashyap P, Das B, Devi R, Sharma HK. Cardiovascular Drugs: an Insight of In Silico Drug Design Tools. J Pharm Innov 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12247-021-09587-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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9
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Dalaman U, Özdoğan H, Sircan AK, Şengül SA, Yaraş N. Sulfur Dioxide Derivative Prevents the Prolongation of Action Potential During the Isoproterenol-Induced Hypertrophy of Rat Cardiomyocytes. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2021; 93:e20201664. [PMID: 34550202 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202120201664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Exogenous SO2 is toxic especially to the pulmonary and cardiovascular system, similar to nitric-oxide, carbon-monoxide, and hydrogen-sulfide. Endogenous SO2 is produced in many cell types. The SO2 content of the rat heart has been observed to substantially decrease during isoproterenol-induced hypertrophy. This study sought to determine whether an SO2 derivative could inhibit the prolongation of action potentials during the isoproterenol-induced hypertrophy of rat cardiomyocytes and explore the ionic currents. Alongside electrocardiogram recordings, the voltage and current-clamped measurements were conducted in the enzymatically isolated left ventricular cardiomyocytes of Wistar rats. The consistency of the results was evaluated by the novel mathematical electrophysiology model. Our results show that SO2 significantly blocked the prolongation of QT-interval and action potential duration. Furthermore, SO2 did not substantially affect the Na+ currents and did not improve the decreased steady-state and transient outward K+ currents, but it reverted the reduced L-type Ca2+ currents (I CaL) to the physiological levels. Altered inactivation of I CaL was remarkably recovered by SO2. Interestingly, SO2 significantly increased the Ca2+ transients in hypertrophic rat hearts. Our mathematical model also confirmed the mechanism of the SO2 effect. Our findings suggest that the shortening mechanism of SO2 is related to the Ca2+ dependent inactivation kinetics of the Ca2+ current.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uğur Dalaman
- Akdeniz University, Medical Faculty, Department of Biophysics, Dumlupınar Blv., 07070 Antalya, Turkey
| | - Hasan Özdoğan
- Akdeniz University, Medical Faculty, Department of Biophysics, Dumlupınar Blv., 07070 Antalya, Turkey.,Antalya Bilim University, Vocational School of Health Services, Akdeniz Blv. No: 90, 07085 Antalya, Turkey
| | - Ahmed K Sircan
- Antalya Bilim University, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Akdeniz Blv. No: 90, 07085 Antalya, Turkey
| | - Sevgi A Şengül
- Antalya Bilim University, Industrial Engineering, Akdeniz Blv. No: 90, 07085 Antalya, Turkey
| | - Nazmi Yaraş
- Akdeniz University, Medical Faculty, Department of Biophysics, Dumlupınar Blv., 07070 Antalya, Turkey
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10
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Amuzescu B, Airini R, Epureanu FB, Mann SA, Knott T, Radu BM. Evolution of mathematical models of cardiomyocyte electrophysiology. Math Biosci 2021; 334:108567. [PMID: 33607174 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2021.108567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Advanced computational techniques and mathematical modeling have become more and more important to the study of cardiac electrophysiology. In this review, we provide a brief history of the evolution of cardiomyocyte electrophysiology models and highlight some of the most important ones that had a major impact on our understanding of the electrical activity of the myocardium and associated transmembrane ion fluxes in normal and pathological states. We also present the use of these models in the study of various arrhythmogenesis mechanisms, particularly the integration of experimental pharmacology data into advanced humanized models for in silico proarrhythmogenic risk prediction as an essential component of the Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) drug safety paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan Amuzescu
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 050095, Romania; Life, Environmental and Earth Sciences Division, Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 050095, Romania.
| | - Razvan Airini
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 050095, Romania; Life, Environmental and Earth Sciences Division, Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 050095, Romania
| | - Florin Bogdan Epureanu
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 050095, Romania; Life, Environmental and Earth Sciences Division, Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 050095, Romania
| | - Stefan A Mann
- Cytocentrics Bioscience GmbH, Nattermannallee 1, 50829 Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Knott
- CytoBioScience Inc., 3463 Magic Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Beatrice Mihaela Radu
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 050095, Romania; Life, Environmental and Earth Sciences Division, Research Institute of the University of Bucharest (ICUB), 91-95 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 050095, Romania
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11
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Stefano M, Cordella F, Loppini A, Filippi S, Zollo L. A Multiscale Approach to Axon and Nerve Stimulation Modeling: A Review. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Eng 2021; 29:397-407. [PMID: 33497336 DOI: 10.1109/tnsre.2021.3054551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Electrical nerve fiber stimulation is a technique widely used in prosthetics and rehabilitation, and its study from a computational point of view can be a useful instrument to support experimental tests. In the last years, there was an increasing interest in computational modeling of neural cells and numerical simulations on nerve fibers stimulation because of its usefulness in forecasting the effect of electrical current stimuli delivered to tissues through implanted electrodes, in the design of optimal stimulus waveforms based on the specific application (i.e., inducing limb movements, sensory feedback or physiological function restoring), and in the evaluation of the current stimuli properties according to the characteristics of the nerves surrounding tissue. Therefore, a review study on the main modeling and computational frameworks adopted to investigate peripheral nerve stimulation is an important instrument to support and drive future research works. To this aim, this paper deals with mathematical models of neural cells with a detailed description of ion channels and numerical simulations using finite element methods to describe the dynamics of electrical stimulation by implanted electrodes in peripheral nerve fibers. In particular, we evaluate different nerve cell models considering different ion channels present in neurons and provide a guideline on multiscale numerical simulations of electrical nerve fibers stimulation.
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Abstract
The treatment of individual patients in cardiology practice increasingly relies on advanced imaging, genetic screening and devices. As the amount of imaging and other diagnostic data increases, paralleled by the greater capacity to personalize treatment, the difficulty of using the full array of measurements of a patient to determine an optimal treatment seems also to be paradoxically increasing. Computational models are progressively addressing this issue by providing a common framework for integrating multiple data sets from individual patients. These models, which are based on physiology and physics rather than on population statistics, enable computational simulations to reveal diagnostic information that would have otherwise remained concealed and to predict treatment outcomes for individual patients. The inherent need for patient-specific models in cardiology is clear and is driving the rapid development of tools and techniques for creating personalized methods to guide pharmaceutical therapy, deployment of devices and surgical interventions.
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Mann SA, Heide J, Knott T, Airini R, Epureanu FB, Deftu AF, Deftu AT, Radu BM, Amuzescu B. Recording of multiple ion current components and action potentials in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes via automated patch-clamp. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2019; 100:106599. [PMID: 31228558 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2019.106599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) initiative proposes a three-step approach to evaluate proarrhythmogenic liability of drug candidates: effects on individual ion channels in heterologous expression systems, integrating these data into in-silico models of the electrical activity of human cardiomyocytes, and comparison with experiments on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM). Here we introduce patch-clamp electrophysiology techniques on hiPSC-CM to combine two of the CiPA steps in one assay. METHODS We performed automated patch-clamp experiments on hiPSC-CM (Cor.4U®, Ncardia) using the CytoPatch™2 platform in ruptured whole-cell and β-escin-perforated-patch configurations. A combination of three voltage-clamp protocols allowed recording of five distinct ion current components (voltage-gated Na+ current, L-type Ca2+ current, transient outward K+ current, delayed rectifier K+ current, and "funny" hyperpolarization-activated current) from the same cell. We proved their molecular identity by either Na+ replacement with choline or by applying specific blockers: nifedipine, cisapride, chromanol 293B, phrixotoxin-1, ZD7288. We developed a C++ script for automated analysis of voltage-clamp recordings and computation of ion current/conductance surface density for these five cardiac ion currents. RESULTS The distributions from n = 54 hiPSC-CM in "ruptured" patch-clamp vs. n = 35 hiPSC-CM in β-escin-perforated patch-clamp were similar for membrane capacitance, access resistance, and ion current/conductance surface densities. The β-escin-perforated configuration resulted in improved stability of action potential (AP) shape and duration over a 10-min interval, with APD90 decay rate 0.7 ± 1.6%/min (mean ± SD, n = 4) vs. 4.6 ± 1.1%/min. (n = 3) for "ruptured" approach (p = 0.0286, one-tailed Mann-Whitney test). DISCUSSION The improved stability obtained here will allow development of CiPA-compliant automated patch-clamp assays on hiPSC-CM. Future applications include the study of multi ion-channel blocking properties of drugs using dynamic-clamp protocols, adding a valuable new tool to the arsenal of safety-pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan A Mann
- Cytocentrics Bioscience GmbH, Nattermannallee 1, 50829 Cologne, Germany
| | - Juliane Heide
- Cytocentrics Bioscience GmbH, Nattermannallee 1, 50829 Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Knott
- CytoBioScience Inc., 3463 Magic Drive, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Razvan Airini
- Dept. Biophysics & Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91-95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Florin Bogdan Epureanu
- Dept. Biophysics & Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91-95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alexandru-Florian Deftu
- Dept. Biophysics & Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91-95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Antonia-Teona Deftu
- Dept. Biophysics & Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91-95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Beatrice Mihaela Radu
- Dept. Biophysics & Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91-95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Bogdan Amuzescu
- Dept. Biophysics & Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Splaiul Independentei 91-95, 050095 Bucharest, Romania.
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14
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Savoji H, Mohammadi MH, Rafatian N, Toroghi MK, Wang EY, Zhao Y, Korolj A, Ahadian S, Radisic M. Cardiovascular disease models: A game changing paradigm in drug discovery and screening. Biomaterials 2019; 198:3-26. [PMID: 30343824 PMCID: PMC6397087 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.09.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Although investment in drug discovery and development has been sky-rocketing, the number of approved drugs has been declining. Cardiovascular toxicity due to therapeutic drug use claims the highest incidence and severity of adverse drug reactions in late-stage clinical development. Therefore, to address this issue, new, additional, replacement and combinatorial approaches are needed to fill the gap in effective drug discovery and screening. The motivation for developing accurate, predictive models is twofold: first, to study and discover new treatments for cardiac pathologies which are leading in worldwide morbidity and mortality rates; and second, to screen for adverse drug reactions on the heart, a primary risk in drug development. In addition to in vivo animal models, in vitro and in silico models have been recently proposed to mimic the physiological conditions of heart and vasculature. Here, we describe current in vitro, in vivo, and in silico platforms for modelling healthy and pathological cardiac tissues and their advantages and disadvantages for drug screening and discovery applications. We review the pathophysiology and the underlying pathways of different cardiac diseases, as well as the new tools being developed to facilitate their study. We finally suggest a roadmap for employing these non-animal platforms in assessing drug cardiotoxicity and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houman Savoji
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 170 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G9, Canada; Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 170 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G9, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E5, Canada; Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Naimeh Rafatian
- Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Masood Khaksar Toroghi
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Erika Yan Wang
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 170 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Yimu Zhao
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 170 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G9, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Anastasia Korolj
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 170 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G9, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Samad Ahadian
- Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Milica Radisic
- Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 170 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3G9, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3E5, Canada; Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2C4, Canada.
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15
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Morales D, Hermosilla T, Varela D. Calcium-dependent inactivation controls cardiac L-type Ca 2+ currents under β-adrenergic stimulation. J Gen Physiol 2019; 151:786-797. [PMID: 30814137 PMCID: PMC6571991 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201812236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During a cardiac action potential, the activity of L-type Ca2+ channels (LTCCs) is modulated by voltage- and calcium-dependent inactivation processes. Morales et al. show that, in the context of β-adrenergic stimulation, calcium-dependent inactivation directs the regulation of LTCC activity, limiting calcium influx during the action potential. The activity of L-type calcium channels is associated with the duration of the plateau phase of the cardiac action potential (AP) and it is controlled by voltage- and calcium-dependent inactivation (VDI and CDI, respectively). During β-adrenergic stimulation, an increase in the L-type current and parallel changes in VDI and CDI are observed during square pulses stimulation; however, how these modifications impact calcium currents during an AP remains controversial. Here, we examined the role of both inactivation processes on the L-type calcium current activity in newborn rat cardiomyocytes in control conditions and after stimulation with the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol. Our approach combines a self-AP clamp (sAP-Clamp) with the independent inhibition of VDI or CDI (by overexpressing CaVβ2a or calmodulin mutants, respectively) to directly record the L-type calcium current during the cardiac AP. We find that at room temperature (20–23°C) and in the absence of β-adrenergic stimulation, the L-type current recapitulates the AP kinetics. Furthermore, under our experimental setting, the activity of the sodium–calcium exchanger (NCX) does not affect the shape of the AP. We find that hindering either VDI or CDI prolongs the L-type current and the AP in parallel, suggesting that both inactivation processes modulate the L-type current during the AP. In the presence of isoproterenol, wild-type and VDI-inhibited cardiomyocytes display mismatched L-type calcium current with respect to their AP. In contrast, CDI-impaired cells maintain L-type current with kinetics similar to its AP, demonstrating that calcium-dependent inactivation governs L-type current kinetics during β-adrenergic stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danna Morales
- Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channels-Associated Diseases (MiNICAD), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tamara Hermosilla
- Programa de Fisiología y Biofísica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Diego Varela
- Millennium Nucleus of Ion Channels-Associated Diseases (MiNICAD), Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile .,Programa de Fisiología y Biofísica, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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16
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A Mathematical Model of the Human Cardiac Na + Channel. J Membr Biol 2019; 252:77-103. [PMID: 30637460 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-018-00058-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Sodium ion channel is a membrane protein that plays an important role in excitable cells, as it is responsible for the initiation of action potentials. Understanding the electrical characteristics of sodium channels is essential in predicting their behavior under different physiological conditions. We investigated several Markov models for the human cardiac sodium channel NaV1.5 to derive a minimal mathematical model that describes the reported experimental data obtained using major voltage clamp protocols. We obtained simulation results for peak current-voltage relationships, the voltage dependence of normalized ion channel conductance, steady-state inactivation, activation and deactivation kinetics, fast and slow inactivation kinetics, and recovery from inactivation kinetics. Good agreement with the experimental data provides us with the mechanisms of the fast and slow inactivation of the human sodium channel and the coupling of its inactivation states to the closed and open states in the activation pathway.
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17
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Limpitikul WB, Greenstein JL, Yue DT, Dick IE, Winslow RL. A bilobal model of Ca 2+-dependent inactivation to probe the physiology of L-type Ca 2+ channels. J Gen Physiol 2018; 150:1688-1701. [PMID: 30470716 PMCID: PMC6279366 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201812115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
L-type calcium channels undergo Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI) in order to precisely control the entry of Ca2+ into cells such as cardiomyocytes. Limpitikul et al. develop a bilobal model of CDI and use it to understand the pathogenesis of arrhythmias associated with mutations in CaM. L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) are critical elements of normal cardiac function, playing a major role in orchestrating cardiac electrical activity and initiating downstream signaling processes. LTCCs thus use feedback mechanisms to precisely control calcium (Ca2+) entry into cells. Of these, Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI) is significant because it shapes cardiac action potential duration and is essential for normal cardiac rhythm. This important form of regulation is mediated by a resident Ca2+ sensor, calmodulin (CaM), which is comprised of two lobes that are each capable of responding to spatially distinct Ca2+ sources. Disruption of CaM-mediated CDI leads to severe forms of long-QT syndrome (LQTS) and life-threatening arrhythmias. Thus, a model capable of capturing the nuances of CaM-mediated CDI would facilitate increased understanding of cardiac (patho)physiology. However, one critical barrier to achieving a detailed kinetic model of CDI has been the lack of quantitative data characterizing CDI as a function of Ca2+. This data deficit stems from the experimental challenge of uncoupling the effect of channel gating on Ca2+ entry. To overcome this obstacle, we use photo-uncaging of Ca2+ to deliver a measurable Ca2+ input to CaM/LTCCs, while simultaneously recording CDI. Moreover, we use engineered CaMs with Ca2+ binding restricted to a single lobe, to isolate the kinetic response of each lobe. These high-resolution measurements enable us to build mathematical models for each lobe of CaM, which we use as building blocks for a full-scale bilobal model of CDI. Finally, we use this model to probe the pathogenesis of LQTS associated with mutations in CaM (calmodulinopathies). Each of these models accurately recapitulates the kinetics and steady-state properties of CDI in both physiological and pathological states, thus offering powerful new insights into the mechanistic alterations underlying cardiac arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Worawan B Limpitikul
- Calcium Signals Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Joseph L Greenstein
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - David T Yue
- Calcium Signals Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ivy E Dick
- Calcium Signals Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD .,Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Raimond L Winslow
- Institute for Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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18
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Smith AST, Yoo H, Yi H, Ahn EH, Lee JH, Shao G, Nagornyak E, Laflamme MA, Murry CE, Kim DH. Micro- and nano-patterned conductive graphene-PEG hybrid scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering. Chem Commun (Camb) 2018. [PMID: 28634611 DOI: 10.1039/c7cc01988b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A lack of electrical conductivity and structural organization in currently available biomaterial scaffolds limits their utility for generating physiologically representative models of functional cardiac tissue. Here we report on the development of scalable, graphene-functionalized topographies with anisotropic electrical conductivity for engineering the structural and functional phenotypes of macroscopic cardiac tissue constructs. Guided by anisotropic electroconductive and topographic cues, the tissue constructs displayed structural property enhancement in myofibrils and sarcomeres, and exhibited significant increases in the expression of cell-cell coupling and calcium handling proteins, as well as in action potential duration and peak calcium release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec S T Smith
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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19
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Wu Y, Guo L. Enhancement of Intercellular Electrical Synchronization by Conductive Materials in Cardiac Tissue Engineering. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2018; 65:264-272. [DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2017.2764000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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20
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Bai J, Wang K, Liu Y, Li Y, Liang C, Luo G, Dong S, Yuan Y, Zhang H. Computational Cardiac Modeling Reveals Mechanisms of Ventricular Arrhythmogenesis in Long QT Syndrome Type 8: CACNA1C R858H Mutation Linked to Ventricular Fibrillation. Front Physiol 2017; 8:771. [PMID: 29046645 PMCID: PMC5632762 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional analysis of the L-type calcium channel has shown that the CACNA1C R858H mutation associated with severe QT interval prolongation may lead to ventricular fibrillation (VF). This study investigated multiple potential mechanisms by which the CACNA1C R858H mutation facilitates and perpetuates VF. The Ten Tusscher-Panfilov (TP06) human ventricular cell models incorporating the experimental data on the kinetic properties of L-type calcium channels were integrated into one-dimensional (1D) fiber, 2D sheet, and 3D ventricular models to investigate the pro-arrhythmic effects of CACNA1C mutations by quantifying changes in intracellular calcium handling, action potential profiles, action potential duration restitution (APDR) curves, dispersion of repolarization (DOR), QT interval and spiral wave dynamics. R858H “mutant” L-type calcium current (ICaL) augmented sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content, leading to the development of afterdepolarizations at the single cell level and focal activities at the tissue level. It also produced inhomogeneous APD prolongation, causing QT prolongation and repolarization dispersion amplification, rendering R858H “mutant” tissue more vulnerable to the induction of reentry compared with other conditions. In conclusion, altered ICaL due to the CACNA1C R858H mutation increases arrhythmia risk due to afterdepolarizations and increased tissue vulnerability to unidirectional conduction block. However, the observed reentry is not due to afterdepolarizations (not present in our model), but rather to a novel blocking mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieyun Bai
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Kuanquan Wang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Yashu Liu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Yacong Li
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Cuiping Liang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Gongning Luo
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Suyu Dong
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Yongfeng Yuan
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Henggui Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.,Biological Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Space Institute of Southern China, Shenzhen, China
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21
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Maleckar MM, Edwards AG, Louch WE, Lines GT. Studying dyadic structure-function relationships: a review of current modeling approaches and new insights into Ca 2+ (mis)handling. CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS-CARDIOLOGY 2017; 11:1179546817698602. [PMID: 28469494 PMCID: PMC5392018 DOI: 10.1177/1179546817698602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Excitation–contraction coupling in cardiac myocytes requires calcium influx through L-type calcium channels in the sarcolemma, which gates calcium release through sarcoplasmic reticulum ryanodine receptors in a process known as calcium-induced calcium release, producing a myoplasmic calcium transient and enabling cardiomyocyte contraction. The spatio-temporal dynamics of calcium release, buffering, and reuptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum play a central role in excitation–contraction coupling in both normal and diseased cardiac myocytes. However, further quantitative understanding of these cells’ calcium machinery and the study of mechanisms that underlie both normal cardiac function and calcium-dependent etiologies in heart disease requires accurate knowledge of cardiac ultrastructure, protein distribution and subcellular function. As current imaging techniques are limited in spatial resolution, limiting insight into changes in calcium handling, computational models of excitation–contraction coupling have been increasingly employed to probe these structure–function relationships. This review will focus on the development of structural models of cardiac calcium dynamics at the subcellular level, orienting the reader broadly towards the development of models of subcellular calcium handling in cardiomyocytes. Specific focus will be given to progress in recent years in terms of multi-scale modeling employing resolved spatial models of subcellular calcium machinery. A review of the state-of-the-art will be followed by a review of emergent insights into calcium-dependent etiologies in heart disease and, finally, we will offer a perspective on future directions for related computational modeling and simulation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary M Maleckar
- Simula Research Laboratory, Center for Cardiological Innovation and Center for Biomedical Computing, Lysaker, Norway
| | - Andrew G Edwards
- Simula Research Laboratory, Center for Cardiological Innovation and Center for Biomedical Computing, Lysaker, Norway.,University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - William E Louch
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research (IEMR), Oslo University Hospital and the University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Glenn T Lines
- Simula Research Laboratory, Center for Cardiological Innovation and Center for Biomedical Computing, Lysaker, Norway
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22
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Edwards AG, Louch WE. Species-Dependent Mechanisms of Cardiac Arrhythmia: A Cellular Focus. CLINICAL MEDICINE INSIGHTS-CARDIOLOGY 2017; 11:1179546816686061. [PMID: 28469490 PMCID: PMC5392019 DOI: 10.1177/1179546816686061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although ventricular arrhythmia remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, available antiarrhythmic drugs have limited efficacy. Disappointing progress in the development of novel, clinically relevant antiarrhythmic agents may partly be attributed to discrepancies between humans and animal models used in preclinical testing. However, such differences are at present difficult to predict, requiring improved understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms across species. To this end, we presently review interspecies similarities and differences in fundamental cardiomyocyte electrophysiology and current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the generation of afterdepolarizations and reentry. We specifically highlight patent shortcomings in small rodents to reproduce cellular and tissue-level arrhythmia substrate believed to be critical in human ventricle. Despite greater ease of translation from larger animal models, discrepancies remain and interpretation can be complicated by incomplete knowledge of human ventricular physiology due to low availability of explanted tissue. We therefore point to the benefits of mathematical modeling as a translational bridge to understanding and treating human arrhythmia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Edwards
- Center for Biomedical Computing, Simula Research Laboratory, Lysaker, Norway.,Center for Cardiological Innovation, Simula Research Laboratory, Lysaker, Norway.,Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - William E Louch
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,K.G. Jebsen Cardiac Research Centre and Center for Heart Failure Research, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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23
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Bai J, Wang K, Li Q, Yuan Y, Zhang H. Pro-arrhythmogenic effects of CACNA1C G1911R mutation in human ventricular tachycardia: insights from cardiac multi-scale models. Sci Rep 2016; 6:31262. [PMID: 27502440 PMCID: PMC4977499 DOI: 10.1038/srep31262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the CACNA1C gene are associated with ventricular tachycardia (VT). Although the CACNA1C mutations were well identified in patients with cardiac arrhythmias, mechanisms by which cardiac arrhythmias are generated in such genetic mutation conditions remain unclear. In this study, we identified a novel mechanism of VT resulted from enhanced repolarization dispersion which is a key factor for arrhythmias in the CACNA1C G1911R mutation using multi-scale computational models of the human ventricle. The increased calcium influx in the mutation prolonged action potential duration (APD), produced steepened action potential duration restitution (APDR) curves as well as augmented membrane potential differences among different cell types during repolarization, increasing transmural dispersion of repolarization (DOR) and the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of cardiac electrical activities. Consequentially, the vulnerability to unidirectional conduction block in response to a premature stimulus increased at tissue level in the G1911R mutation. The increased functional repolarization dispersion anchored reentrant excitation waves in tissue and organ models, facilitating the initiation and maintenance of VT due to less meandering rotor tip. Thus, the increased repolarization dispersion caused by the G1911R mutation is a primary factor that may primarily contribute to the genesis of cardiac arrhythmias in Timothy Syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieyun Bai
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Kuanquan Wang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Qince Li
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yongfeng Yuan
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Henggui Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute Technology, Harbin, 150001, China
- Biological Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
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24
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Pohl A, Wachter A, Hatam N, Leonhardt S. A computational model of a human single sinoatrial node cell. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2016; 2:035006. [PMID: 37608504 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/2/3/035006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
For the investigation of the spontaneous rhythmical activity response in the application of cardiac neuromodulation, we formulated a human sinoatrial node (SAN) cell model. With the aim of decreasing elevated heart rate (HR), we want to establish a hardware-in-the-loop system including this model for the analysis of optimal stimulation patterns of the neurostimulation system. Base model structures are adopted from rabbit SAN cell models available in literature and conveyed with Hodgkin-Huxley-type model equations describing the complex time and voltage dependent activation and deactivation processes of individual ion channels. The resulting model consists of 15 currents which are currently known to be responsible for the generation of the membrane action potential (AP). The model reproduces AP frequencies equivalent to those measured in isolated human SAN cells with a resulting HR of 71.8 bpm. Model validation via simulation of the inhibitory effect of ivabradine showed accordance with experimental results obtained in human studies. Furthermore, we could validate the model in regard to its HR effects upon parasympathetic stimulation with results obtained in a human trial study.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Pohl
- Philips Chair for Medical Information Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 20, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstr. 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - A Wachter
- Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 32, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany
| | - N Hatam
- Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelsstr. 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - S Leonhardt
- Philips Chair for Medical Information Technology, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 20, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
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25
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Atia J, McCloskey C, Shmygol AS, Rand DA, van den Berg HA, Blanks AM. Reconstruction of Cell Surface Densities of Ion Pumps, Exchangers, and Channels from mRNA Expression, Conductance Kinetics, Whole-Cell Calcium, and Current-Clamp Voltage Recordings, with an Application to Human Uterine Smooth Muscle Cells. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1004828. [PMID: 27105427 PMCID: PMC4841602 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine smooth muscle cells remain quiescent throughout most of gestation, only generating spontaneous action potentials immediately prior to, and during, labor. This study presents a method that combines transcriptomics with biophysical recordings to characterise the conductance repertoire of these cells, the ‘conductance repertoire’ being the total complement of ion channels and transporters expressed by an electrically active cell. Transcriptomic analysis provides a set of potential electrogenic entities, of which the conductance repertoire is a subset. Each entity within the conductance repertoire was modeled independently and its gating parameter values were fixed using the available biophysical data. The only remaining free parameters were the surface densities for each entity. We characterise the space of combinations of surface densities (density vectors) consistent with experimentally observed membrane potential and calcium waveforms. This yields insights on the functional redundancy of the system as well as its behavioral versatility. Our approach couples high-throughput transcriptomic data with physiological behaviors in health and disease, and provides a formal method to link genotype to phenotype in excitable systems. We accurately predict current densities and chart functional redundancy. For example, we find that to evoke the observed voltage waveform, the BK channel is functionally redundant whereas hERG is essential. Furthermore, our analysis suggests that activation of calcium-activated chloride conductances by intracellular calcium release is the key factor underlying spontaneous depolarisations. A well-known problem in electrophysiologal modeling is that the parameters of the gating kinetics of the ion channels cannot be uniquely determined from observed behavior at the cellular level. One solution is to employ simplified “macroscopic” currents that mimic the behavior of aggregates of distinct entities at the protein level. The gating parameters of each channel or pump can be determined by studying it in isolation, leaving the general problem of finding the densities at which the channels occur in the plasma membrane. We propose an approach, which we apply to uterine smooth muscle cells, whereby we constrain the list of possible entities by means of transcriptomics and chart the indeterminacy of the problem in terms of the kernel of the corresponding linear transformation. A graphical representation of this kernel visualises the functional redundancy of the system. We show that the role of certain conductances can be fulfilled, or compensated for, by suitable combinations of other conductances; this is not always the case, and such “non-substitutable” conductances can be regarded as functionally non-redundant. Electrogenic entities belonging to the latter category are suitable putative clinical targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolene Atia
- Division of Reproductive Health, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Conor McCloskey
- Division of Reproductive Health, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Anatoly S. Shmygol
- Division of Reproductive Health, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Andrew M. Blanks
- Division of Reproductive Health, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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26
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Murakami S, Kurachi Y. Mechanisms of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling under high extracellular K(+) concentrations. J Physiol Sci 2016; 66:127-42. [PMID: 26507417 PMCID: PMC10717000 DOI: 10.1007/s12576-015-0404-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In response to the elevation of extracellular K(+) concentration ([K(+)]out), astrocytes clear excessive K(+) to maintain conditions necessary for neural activity. K(+) clearance in astrocytes occurs via two processes: K(+) uptake and K(+) spatial buffering. High [K(+)]out also induces swelling in astrocytes, leading to edema and cell death in the brain. Despite the importance of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report results from a simulation analysis of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling. Astrocyte models were constructed by incorporating various mechanisms such as intra/extracellular ion concentrations of Na(+), K(+), and Cl(-), cell volume, and models of Na,K-ATPase, Na-K-Cl cotransporter (NKCC), K-Cl cotransporter, inwardly-rectifying K(+) (KIR) channel, passive Cl(-) current, and aquaporin channel. The simulated response of astrocyte models under the uniform distribution of high [K(+)]out revealed significant contributions of NKCC and Na,K-ATPase to increases of intracellular K(+) and Cl(-) concentrations, and swelling. Moreover, we found that, under the non-uniform distribution of high [K(+)]out, KIR channels localized at synaptic clefts absorbed excess K(+) by depolarizing the equivalent potential of K(+) (E K) above membrane potential, while K(+) released through perivascular KIR channels was enhanced by hyperpolarizing E K and depolarizing membrane potential. Further analysis of simulated drug effects revealed that astrocyte swelling was modulated by blocking each of the ion channels and transporters. Our simulation analysis revealed controversial mechanisms of astrocytic K(+) clearance and swelling resulting from complex interactions among ion channels and transporters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Murakami
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
- The Global Center for Medical Engineering and Informatics, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
| | - Yoshihisa Kurachi
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
- The Global Center for Medical Engineering and Informatics, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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27
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Zhu W, Varga Z, Silva JR. Molecular motions that shape the cardiac action potential: Insights from voltage clamp fluorometry. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 120:3-17. [PMID: 26724572 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Very recently, voltage-clamp fluorometry (VCF) protocols have been developed to observe the membrane proteins responsible for carrying the ventricular ionic currents that form the action potential (AP), including those carried by the cardiac Na(+) channel, NaV1.5, the L-type Ca(2+) channel, CaV1.2, the Na(+)/K(+) ATPase, and the rapid and slow components of the delayed rectifier, KV11.1 and KV7.1. This development is significant, because VCF enables simultaneous observation of ionic current kinetics with conformational changes occurring within specific channel domains. The ability gained from VCF, to connect nanoscale molecular movement to ion channel function has revealed how the voltage-sensing domains (VSDs) control ion flux through channel pores, mechanisms of post-translational regulation and the molecular pathology of inherited mutations. In the future, we expect that this data will be of great use for the creation of multi-scale computational AP models that explicitly represent ion channel conformations, connecting molecular, cell and tissue electrophysiology. Here, we review the VCF protocol, recent results, and discuss potential future developments, including potential use of these experimental findings to create novel computational models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wandi Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Zoltan Varga
- MTA-DE-NAP B Ion Channel Structure-Function Research Group, RCMM, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Jonathan R Silva
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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Carnevali L, Vacondio F, Rossi S, Macchi E, Spadoni G, Bedini A, Neumann ID, Rivara S, Mor M, Sgoifo A. Cardioprotective effects of fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor URB694, in a rodent model of trait anxiety. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18218. [PMID: 26656183 PMCID: PMC4677398 DOI: 10.1038/srep18218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, chronic anxiety represents an independent risk factor for cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. Here we evaluate in male Wistar rats bred for high (HAB) and low (LAB) anxiety-related behavior, as well as non-selected (NAB) animals, the relationship between trait anxiety and cardiac electrical instability and investigate whether pharmacological augmentation of endocannabinoid anandamide-mediated signaling exerts anxiolytic-like and cardioprotective effects. HAB rats displayed (i) a higher incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias induced by isoproterenol, and (ii) a larger spatial dispersion of ventricular refractoriness assessed by means of an epicardial mapping protocol. In HAB rats, acute pharmacological inhibition of the anandamide-degrading enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), with URB694 (0.3 mg/kg), (i) decreased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze, (ii) increased anandamide levels in the heart, (iii) reduced isoproterenol-induced occurrence of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and (iv) corrected alterations of ventricular refractoriness. The anti-arrhythmic effect of URB694 was prevented by pharmacological blockade of the cannabinoid type 1 (CB1), but not of the CB2, receptor. These findings suggest that URB694 exerts anxiolytic-like and cardioprotective effects in HAB rats, the latter via anandamide-mediated activation of CB1 receptors. Thus, pharmacological inhibition of FAAH might be a viable pharmacological strategy for the treatment of anxiety-related cardiac dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stefano Rossi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Italy
| | - Emilio Macchi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Parma, Italy
| | - Gilberto Spadoni
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Italy
| | - Annalida Bedini
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino "Carlo Bo", Italy
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, University of Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Marco Mor
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Parma, Italy
| | - Andrea Sgoifo
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Italy
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Layton AT, Edwards A. Predicted effects of nitric oxide and superoxide on the vasoactivity of the afferent arteriole. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2015; 309:F708-19. [PMID: 26180238 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00187.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We expanded a published mathematical model of an afferent arteriole smooth muscle cell in rat kidney (Edwards A, Layton, AT. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 306: F34-F48, 2014) to understand how nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide (O(2)(-)) modulate the arteriolar diameter and its myogenic response. The present model includes the kinetics of NO and O(2)(-) formation, diffusion, and reaction. Also included are the effects of NO and its second messenger cGMP on cellular Ca²⁺ uptake and efflux, Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ currents, and myosin light chain phosphatase activity. The model considers as well pressure-induced increases in O(2)(-) production, O(2)(-)-mediated regulation of L-type Ca²⁺ channel conductance, and increased O(2)(-) production in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). Our results indicate that elevated O(2)(-) production in SHR is sufficient to account for observed differences between normotensive and hypertensive rats in the response of the afferent arteriole to NO synthase inhibition, Tempol, and angiotensin II at baseline perfusion pressures. In vitro, whether the myogenic response is stronger in SHR remains uncertain. Our model predicts that if mechanosensitive cation channels are not modulated by O(2)(-), then fractional changes in diameter induced by pressure elevations should be smaller in SHR than in normotensive rats. Our results also suggest that most NO diffuses out of the smooth muscle cell without being consumed, whereas most O(2)(-) is scavenged, by NO and superoxide dismutase. Moreover, the predicted effects of superoxide on arteriolar constriction are not predominantly due to its scavenging of NO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita T Layton
- Department of Mathematics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; and
| | - Aurélie Edwards
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, INSERM UMRS 1138, CNRS ERL 8228, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
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Mattiazzi A, Bassani RA, Escobar AL, Palomeque J, Valverde CA, Vila Petroff M, Bers DM. Chasing cardiac physiology and pathology down the CaMKII cascade. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2015; 308:H1177-91. [PMID: 25747749 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00007.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Calcium dynamics is central in cardiac physiology, as the key event leading to the excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) and relaxation processes. The primary function of Ca(2+) in the heart is the control of mechanical activity developed by the myofibril contractile apparatus. This key role of Ca(2+) signaling explains the subtle and critical control of important events of ECC and relaxation, such as Ca(2+) influx and SR Ca(2+) release and uptake. The multifunctional Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a signaling molecule that regulates a diverse array of proteins involved not only in ECC and relaxation but also in cell death, transcriptional activation of hypertrophy, inflammation, and arrhythmias. CaMKII activity is triggered by an increase in intracellular Ca(2+) levels. This activity can be sustained, creating molecular memory after the decline in Ca(2+) concentration, by autophosphorylation of the enzyme, as well as by oxidation, glycosylation, and nitrosylation at different sites of the regulatory domain of the kinase. CaMKII activity is enhanced in several cardiac diseases, altering the signaling pathways by which CaMKII regulates the different fundamental proteins involved in functional and transcriptional cardiac processes. Dysregulation of these pathways constitutes a central mechanism of various cardiac disease phenomena, like apoptosis and necrosis during ischemia/reperfusion injury, digitalis exposure, post-acidosis and heart failure arrhythmias, or cardiac hypertrophy. Here we summarize significant aspects of the molecular physiology of CaMKII and provide a conceptual framework for understanding the role of the CaMKII cascade on Ca(2+) regulation and dysregulation in cardiac health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Mattiazzi
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, The National Scientific and Technical Research Council-La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina;
| | - Rosana A Bassani
- Centro de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Ariel L Escobar
- Biological Engineering and Small Scale Technologies, School of Engineering, University of California, Merced, California; and
| | - Julieta Palomeque
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, The National Scientific and Technical Research Council-La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Carlos A Valverde
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, The National Scientific and Technical Research Council-La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Martín Vila Petroff
- Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, The National Scientific and Technical Research Council-La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Donald M Bers
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California Davis, Davis, California
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Yuan Y, Bai X, Luo C, Wang K, Zhang H. The virtual heart as a platform for screening drug cardiotoxicity. Br J Pharmacol 2015; 172:5531-47. [PMID: 25363597 PMCID: PMC4667856 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2014] [Revised: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
To predict the safety of a drug at an early stage in its development is a major challenge as there is a lack of in vitro heart models that correlate data from preclinical toxicity screening assays with clinical results. A biophysically detailed computer model of the heart, the virtual heart, provides a powerful tool for simulating drug–ion channel interactions and cardiac functions during normal and disease conditions and, therefore, provides a powerful platform for drug cardiotoxicity screening. In this article, we first review recent progress in the development of theory on drug–ion channel interactions and mathematical modelling. Then we propose a family of biomarkers that can quantitatively characterize the actions of a drug on the electrical activity of the heart at multi‐physical scales including cellular and tissue levels. We also conducted some simulations to demonstrate the application of the virtual heart to assess the pro‐arrhythmic effects of cisapride and amiodarone. Using the model we investigated the mechanisms responsible for the differences between the two drugs on pro‐arrhythmogenesis, even though both prolong the QT interval of ECGs. Several challenges for further development of a virtual heart as a platform for screening drug cardiotoxicity are discussed. Linked Articles This article is part of a themed section on Chinese Innovation in Cardiovascular Drug Discovery. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2015.172.issue-23
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfeng Yuan
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Xiangyun Bai
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Cunjin Luo
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Kuanquan Wang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Henggui Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.,Biological Physics Group, School of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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32
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Scheel O, Frech S, Amuzescu B, Eisfeld J, Lin KH, Knott T. Action potential characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes using automated patch-clamp technology. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2014; 12:457-69. [PMID: 25353059 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2014.601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent progress in embryonic stem cell (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) research led to high-purity preparations of human cardiomyocytes (CMs) differentiated from these two sources-suitable for tissue regeneration, in vitro models of disease, and cardiac safety pharmacology screening. We performed a detailed characterization of the effects of nifedipine, cisapride, and tetrodotoxin (TTX) on Cor.4U(®) human iPSC-CM, using automated whole-cell patch-clamp recordings with the CytoPatch™ 2 equipment, within a complex assay combining multiple voltage-clamp and current-clamp protocols in a well-defined sequence, and quantitative analysis of several action potential (AP) parameters. We retrieved three electrical phenotypes based on AP shape: ventricular, atrial/nodal, and S-type (with ventricular-like depolarization and lack of plateau). To suppress spontaneous firing, present in many cells, we injected continuously faint hyperpolarizing currents of -10 or -20 pA. We defined quality criteria (both seal and membrane resistance over 1 GΩ), and focused our study on cells with ventricular-like AP. Nifedipine induced marked decreases in AP duration (APD): APD90 (49.8% and 40.8% of control values at 1 and 10 μM, respectively), APD50 (16.1% and 12%); cisapride 0.1 μM increased APD90 to 176.2%; and tetrodotoxin 10 μM decreased maximum slope of phase to 33.3% of control, peak depolarization potential to 76.3% of control, and shortened APD90 on average to 80.4%. These results prove feasibility of automated voltage- and current-clamp recordings on human iPSC-CM and their potential use for in-depth drug evaluation and proarrhythmic liability assessment, as well as for diagnosis and pharmacology tests for cardiac channelopathy patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaf Scheel
- 1 Cytocentrics Bioscience GmbH , Rostock, Germany
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33
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Colli Franzone P, Pavarino LF, Scacchi S. Effects of premature anodal stimulations on cardiac transmembrane potential and intracellular calcium distributions computed by anisotropic Bidomain models. Europace 2014; 16:736-42. [PMID: 24798963 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euu010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Cardiac unipolar electrode stimulations induce a particular structure of the transmembrane potential distribution (Vm), called virtual electrode polarization (VEP), which plays an important role in the mechanisms of cardiac excitation, reentry induction, and ventricular defibrillation. Recent experimental studies, based on the optical mapping techniques, have shown that premature stimulations also induce significant changes in the intracellular calcium (Cai) spatial distribution. The aim of this work is to investigate and compare by means of numerical simulations the morphology of the Vm and Cai patterns, generated by applying an S1-S2 stimulation protocol with a premature S2 anodal pulse. METHODS AND RESULTS We perform parallel finite element simulations of a three-dimensional orthotropic Bidomain model on a block of ventricular tissue by using four membrane models of two species (guinea pig and rabbit), that incorporate the phenomenological or more detailed mechanistic descriptions of the calcium dynamics. During the S2 anodal stimulus, the Cai spatial distribution, computed with all the considered models, presents a configuration similar to the typical VEP pattern of Vm, with a minimum inside the virtual anode and two maxima in the virtual cathodes. After the S2 stimulus turns off, the anode break excitation mechanism yields a Vm pattern exhibiting a clearly propagating wavefront. Differently, the Cai patterns do not show a clear separation between the resting and the activated regions, with the exception of one of the phenomenological models considered, but they show warped dog-bone shaped equi-level lines around an elevation in the virtual anode region. CONCLUSION The VEP pattern of the Cai spatial distribution during the S2 stimulus is in agreement with the previous experimental studies. Moreover, the Cai minimum in the virtual anode can be mainly attributable to the outflow of calcium ions produced by the sodium-calcium (NCX) exchanger, without a significant contribution of the ICaL current.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piero Colli Franzone
- Dipartimento di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Tuckwell HC, Penington NJ. Computational modeling of spike generation in serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus. Prog Neurobiol 2014; 118:59-101. [PMID: 24784445 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2014.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Revised: 04/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Serotonergic neurons of the dorsal raphe nucleus, with their extensive innervation of limbic and higher brain regions and interactions with the endocrine system have important modulatory or regulatory effects on many cognitive, emotional and physiological processes. They have been strongly implicated in responses to stress and in the occurrence of major depressive disorder and other psychiatric disorders. In order to quantify some of these effects, detailed mathematical models of the activity of such cells are required which describe their complex neurochemistry and neurophysiology. We consider here a single-compartment model of these neurons which is capable of describing many of the known features of spike generation, particularly the slow rhythmic pacemaking activity often observed in these cells in a variety of species. Included in the model are 11 kinds of ion channels: a fast sodium current INa, a delayed rectifier potassium current IKDR, a transient potassium current IA, a slow non-inactivating potassium current IM, a low-threshold calcium current IT, two high threshold calcium currents IL and IN, small and large conductance potassium currents ISK and IBK, a hyperpolarization-activated cation current IH and a leak current ILeak. In Sections 3-8, each current type is considered in detail and parameters estimated from voltage clamp data where possible. Three kinds of model are considered for the BK current and two for the leak current. Intracellular calcium ion concentration Cai is an additional component and calcium dynamics along with buffering and pumping is discussed in Section 9. The remainder of the article contains descriptions of computed solutions which reveal both spontaneous and driven spiking with several parameter sets. Attention is focused on the properties usually associated with these neurons, particularly long duration of action potential, steep upslope on the leading edge of spikes, pacemaker-like spiking, long-lasting afterhyperpolarization and the ramp-like return to threshold after a spike. In some cases the membrane potential trajectories display doublets or have humps or notches as have been reported in some experimental studies. The computed time courses of IA and IT during the interspike interval support the generally held view of a competition between them in influencing the frequency of spiking. Spontaneous activity was facilitated by the presence of IH which has been found in these neurons by some investigators. For reasonable sets of parameters spike frequencies between about 0.6Hz and 1.2Hz are obtained, but frequencies as high as 6Hz could be obtained with special parameter choices. Topics investigated and compared with experiment include shoulders, notches, anodal break phenomena, the effects of noradrenergic input, frequency versus current curves, depolarization block, effects of cell size and the effects of IM. The inhibitory effects of activating 5-HT1A autoreceptors are also investigated. There is a considerable discussion of in vitro versus in vivo firing behavior, with focus on the roles of noradrenergic input, corticotropin-releasing factor and orexinergic inputs. Location of cells within the nucleus is probably a major factor, along with the state of the animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry C Tuckwell
- Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences, Inselstr. 22, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
| | - Nicholas J Penington
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Box 29, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203-2098, USA; Program in Neural and Behavioral Science and Robert F. Furchgott Center for Neural and Behavioral Science, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Box 29, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203-2098, USA
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35
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Griffith BE, Peskin CS. Electrophysiology. COMMUNICATIONS ON PURE AND APPLIED MATHEMATICS 2013; 66:1837-1913. [PMID: 36237603 PMCID: PMC9555824 DOI: 10.1002/cpa.21484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Electrical signaling is a fast mode of communication for cells within an organism. We are concerned here with the formulation and analysis of mathematical models that are used to describe this important class of physiological processes. These models generally take the form of partial differential equations that are descendants of those introduced by Hodgkin and Huxley to describe the propagation of an action potential along the squid giant axon. We review that work here and then go on to describe more recent variations on the Hodgkin-Huxley theme, including the three-dimensional bidomain (and monodomain) equations for cardiac electrophysiology, multiscale models for the heart that take cellular structure into account near the action potential wavefront, and finally a more detailed reformulation of electrophysiology in terms of electrodiffusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyce E Griffith
- Leon H. Charney, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, New York University, School of Medicine, 550 First Ave., New York, NY 10016, USA
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36
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Effects of wenxin keli on the action potential and L-type calcium current in rats with transverse aortic constriction-induced heart failure. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2013; 2013:572078. [PMID: 24319478 PMCID: PMC3844239 DOI: 10.1155/2013/572078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2013] [Revised: 09/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Objective. We investigated the effects of WXKL on the action potential (AP) and the L-type calcium current (ICa-L) in normal and hypertrophied myocytes. Methods. Forty male rats were randomly divided into two groups: the control group and the transverse aortic constriction- (TAC-) induced heart failure group. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by TAC surgery, whereas the control group underwent a sham operation. Eight weeks after surgery, single cardiac ventricular myocytes were isolated from the hearts of the rats. The APs and ICa-L were recorded using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. Results. The action potential duration (APD) of the TAC group was prolonged compared with the control group and was markedly shortened by WXKL treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The current densities of the ICa-L in the TAC group treated with 5 g/L WXKL were significantly decreased compared with the TAC group. We also determined the effect of WXKL on the gating mechanism of the ICa-L in the TAC group. We found that WXKL decreased the ICa-L by accelerating the inactivation of the channels and delaying the recovery time from inactivation. Conclusions. The results suggest that WXKL affects the AP and blocked the ICa-L, which ultimately resulted in the treatment of arrhythmias.
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37
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Edwards A, Layton AT. Calcium dynamics underlying the myogenic response of the renal afferent arteriole. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2013; 306:F34-48. [PMID: 24173354 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00317.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The renal afferent arteriole reacts to an elevation in blood pressure with an increase in muscle tone and a decrease in luminal diameter. This effect, known as the myogenic response, is believed to stabilize glomerular filtration and to protect the glomerulus from systolic blood pressure increases, especially in hypertension. To study the mechanisms underlying the myogenic response, we developed a mathematical model of intracellular Ca(2+) signaling in an afferent arteriole smooth muscle cell. The model represents detailed transmembrane ionic transport, intracellular Ca(2+) dynamics, the kinetics of myosin light chain phosphorylation, and the mechanical behavior of the cell. It assumes that the myogenic response is initiated by pressure-induced changes in the activity of nonselective cation channels. Our model predicts spontaneous vasomotion at physiological luminal pressures and KCl- and diltiazem-induced diameter changes comparable to experimental findings. The time-periodic oscillations stem from the dynamic exchange of Ca(2+) between the cytosol and the sarcoplasmic reticulum, coupled to the stimulation of Ca(2+)-activated potassium (KCa) and chloride (ClCa) channels, and the modulation of voltage-activated L-type channels; blocking sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) pumps, ryanodine receptors (RyR), KCa, ClCa, or L-type channels abolishes these oscillations. Our results indicate that the profile of the myogenic response is also strongly dependent on the conductance of ClCa and L-type channels, as well as the activity of plasmalemmal Ca(2+) pumps. Furthermore, inhibition of KCa is not necessary to induce myogenic contraction. Lastly, our model suggests that the kinetic behavior of L-type channels results in myogenic kinetics that are substantially faster during constriction than during dilation, consistent with in vitro observations (Loutzenhiser R, Bidani A, Chilton L. Circ. Res. 90: 1316-1324, 2002).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Edwards
- Dept. of Mathematics, Duke Univ., Box 90320, Durham, NC 27708-0320.
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38
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Electronic "expression" of the inward rectifier in cardiocytes derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. Heart Rhythm 2013; 10:1903-10. [PMID: 24055949 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2013.09.061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2013] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (h-iPSC)-derived cardiac myocytes are a unique model in which human myocyte function and dysfunction are studied, especially those from patients with genetic disorders. They are also considered a major advance for drug safety testing. However, these cells have considerable unexplored potential limitations when applied to quantitative action potential (AP) analysis. One major factor is spontaneous activity and resulting variability and potentially anomalous behavior of AP parameters. OBJECTIVE To demonstrate the effect of using an in silico interface on electronically expressed I(K1), a major component lacking in h-iPSC-derived cardiac myocytes. METHODS An in silico interface was developed to express synthetic I(K1) in cells under whole-cell voltage clamp. RESULTS Electronic I(K1) expression established a physiological resting potential, eliminated spontaneous activity, reduced spontaneous early and delayed afterdepolarizations, and decreased AP variability. The initiated APs had the classic rapid upstroke and spike and dome morphology consistent with data obtained with freshly isolated human myocytes as well as the readily recognizable repolarization attributes of ventricular and atrial cells. The application of 1 µM of BayK-8644 resulted in anomalous AP shortening in h-iPSC-derived cardiac myocytes. When I(K1) was electronically expressed, BayK-8644 prolonged the AP, which is consistent with the existing results on native cardiac myocytes. CONCLUSIONS The electronic expression of I(K1) is a simple and robust method to significantly improve the physiological behavior of the AP and electrical profile of h-iPSC-derived cardiac myocytes. Increased stability enables the use of this preparation for a controlled quantitative analysis of AP parameters, for example, drug responsiveness, genetic disorders, and dynamic behavior restitution profiles.
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Park MH, Lee SH, Chu DH, Won KH, Choi BH, Choe H, Jo SH. Effect of azelastine on cardiac repolarization of guinea-pig cardiomyocytes, hERG K⁺ channel, and human L-type and T-type Ca²⁺ channel. J Pharmacol Sci 2013; 123:67-77. [PMID: 24005046 DOI: 10.1254/jphs.12239fp] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Azelastine is a second generation histamine H₁-receptor antagonist used as an anti-asthmatic and anti-allergic drug that can induce QT prolongation and torsades de pointes. We investigated the acute effects of azelastine on human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels, action potential duration (APD), and L-type (I(Ca,L)) and T-type Ca²⁺ current (I(Ca,T)) to determine the electrophysiological basis for its proarrhythmic potential. Azelastine increased the APD at 90% of repolarization concentration dependently, with an IC₅₀ of 1.08 nM in guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. We examined the effects of azelastine on the hERG channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes and HEK293 cells using two-microelectrode voltage-clamp and patch-clamp techniques. Azelastine induced a concentration-dependent decrease of the hERG current amplitude at the end of the voltage steps and tail currents. The IC₅₀ for the azelastine-induced block of the hERG currents expressed in HEK293 cells was 11.43 nM, while the drug inhibited I(Ca,L) and I(Ca,T) with IC₅₀ values of 7.60 and 26.21 μM, respectively. The S6 domain mutations, Y652A partially attenuated and F656A abolished hERG current block. These results suggest that azelastine is a potent blocker of hERG channels rather than I(Ca,L) or I(Ca,T), providing molecular mechanisms for the arrhythmogenic side effects during the clinical administration of azelastine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Hyeong Park
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kangwon National University College of Medicine, Korea
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40
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Lee P, Sobie EA, Peskin CS. Computer simulation of voltage sensitive calcium ion channels in a dendritic spine. J Theor Biol 2013; 338:87-93. [PMID: 23999286 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2013.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Revised: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Membrane current through voltage-sensitive calcium ion channels at the postsynaptic density of a dendritic spine is investigated. To simulate the ion channels that carry such current and the resulting temporal and spatial distribution of concentration, current, and voltage within the dendritic spine, the immersed boundary method with electrodiffusion is applied. In this simulation method a spatially continuous chemical potential barrier is used to simulate the influence of the membrane on each species of ion. The amplitudes of these barriers can be regulated to simulate channel gating. Here we introduce this methodology in a one-dimensional setting. First, we study the current-voltage relationship obtained with fixed chemical potential barriers. Next, we simulate stochastic ion-channel gating in a calcium channel with multiple subunits, and observe the diffusive wave of calcium entry within the dendritic spine that follows channel opening. This work lays the foundation for future three-dimensional studies of electrodiffusion and advection electrodiffusion in dendritic spines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilhwa Lee
- Department of Physiology and Biotechnology and Bioengineering Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
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41
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Optimisation of a generic ionic model of cardiac myocyte electrical activity. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2013; 2013:706195. [PMID: 23710254 PMCID: PMC3659483 DOI: 10.1155/2013/706195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2012] [Revised: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
A generic cardiomyocyte ionic model, whose complexity lies between a simple phenomenological formulation and a biophysically detailed ionic membrane current description, is presented. The model provides a user-defined number of ionic currents, employing two-gate Hodgkin-Huxley type kinetics. Its generic nature allows accurate reconstruction of action potential waveforms recorded experimentally from a range of cardiac myocytes. Using a multiobjective optimisation approach, the generic ionic model was optimised to accurately reproduce multiple action potential waveforms recorded from central and peripheral sinoatrial nodes and right atrial and left atrial myocytes from rabbit cardiac tissue preparations, under different electrical stimulus protocols and pharmacological conditions. When fitted simultaneously to multiple datasets, the time course of several physiologically realistic ionic currents could be reconstructed. Model behaviours tend to be well identified when extra experimental information is incorporated into the optimisation.
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42
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Stockner T, Koschak A. What can naturally occurring mutations tell us about Ca(v)1.x channel function? BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2012; 1828:1598-607. [PMID: 23219801 PMCID: PMC3787742 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2012.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2012] [Revised: 11/16/2012] [Accepted: 11/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Voltage-gated Ca2 + channels allow for Ca2 +-dependent intracellular signaling by directly mediating Ca2 + ion influx, by physical coupling to intracellular Ca2 + release channels or functional coupling to other ion channels such as Ca2 + activated potassium channels. L-type Ca2 + channels that comprise the family of Cav1 channels are expressed in many electrically excitable tissues and are characterized by their unique sensitivity to dihydropyridines. In this issue, we summarize genetic defects in L-type Ca2 + channels and analyze their role in human diseases (Ca2 + channelopathies); e.g. mutations in Cav1.2 α1 cause Timothy and Brugada syndrome, mutations in Cav1.3 α1 are linked to sinoatrial node dysfunction and deafness while mutations in Cav1.4 α1 are associated with X-linked retinal disorders such as an incomplete form of congenital stationary night blindness. Herein, we also put the mutations underlying the channel's dysfunction into the structural context of the pore-forming α1 subunit. This analysis highlights the importance of combining functional data with structural analysis to gain a deeper understanding for the disease pathophysiology as well as for physiological channel function. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Calcium channels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Stockner
- Medical University Vienna, Center for Physiology and Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Währingerstrasse 13A, 1090 Vienna, Austria
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43
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Poh YC, Corrias A, Cheng N, Buist ML. A quantitative model of human jejunal smooth muscle cell electrophysiology. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42385. [PMID: 22912702 PMCID: PMC3422293 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2012] [Accepted: 07/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, a number of ion channel mutations have been identified in the smooth muscle cells of the human jejunum. Although these are potentially significant in understanding diseases that are currently of unknown etiology, no suitable computational cell model exists to evaluate the effects of such mutations. Here, therefore, a biophysically based single cell model of human jejunal smooth muscle electrophysiology is presented. The resulting cellular description is able to reproduce experimentally recorded slow wave activity and produces realistic responses to a number of perturbations, providing a solid platform on which the causes of intestinal myopathies can be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Cheng Poh
- Department of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Centre for Life Sciences (CeLS), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alberto Corrias
- Department of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nicholas Cheng
- Department of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Martin Lindsay Buist
- Department of Bioengineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Centre for Life Sciences (CeLS), Singapore, Singapore
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44
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Sobie EA, Sarkar AX. Regression methods for parameter sensitivity analysis: applications to cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY. ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2012; 2011:4657-60. [PMID: 22255376 DOI: 10.1109/iembs.2011.6091153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Mathematical models are used extensively in studies of cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmia mechanisms. Models can generate novel predictions, suggest experiments, and provide a quantitative understanding of underlying mechanisms. Limitations of present modeling approaches, however, include non-uniqueness of both parameters and the models themselves, and difficulties in accounting for experimental variability. We describe new approaches that can begin to address these limitations, and show how these can provide novel insight into mathematical models of cardiac myocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Sobie
- Department of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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45
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Gauthier LD, Greenstein JL, Winslow RL. Toward an integrative computational model of the Guinea pig cardiac myocyte. Front Physiol 2012; 3:244. [PMID: 22783206 PMCID: PMC3389778 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2012.00244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2012] [Accepted: 06/14/2012] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The local control theory of excitation-contraction (EC) coupling asserts that regulation of calcium (Ca2+) release occurs at the nanodomain level, where openings of single L-type Ca2+ channels (LCCs) trigger openings of small clusters of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) co-localized within the dyad. A consequence of local control is that the whole-cell Ca2+ transient is a smooth continuous function of influx of Ca2+ through LCCs. While this so-called graded release property has been known for some time, its functional importance to the integrated behavior of the cardiac ventricular myocyte has not been fully appreciated. We previously formulated a biophysically based model, in which LCCs and RyRs interact via a coarse-grained representation of the dyadic space. The model captures key features of local control using a low-dimensional system of ordinary differential equations. Voltage-dependent gain and graded Ca2+ release are emergent properties of this model by virtue of the fact that model formulation is closely based on the sub-cellular basis of local control. In this current work, we have incorporated this graded release model into a prior model of guinea pig ventricular myocyte electrophysiology, metabolism, and isometric force production. The resulting integrative model predicts the experimentally observed causal relationship between action potential (AP) shape and timing of Ca2+ and force transients, a relationship that is not explained by models lacking the graded release property. Model results suggest that even relatively subtle changes in AP morphology that may result, for example, from remodeling of membrane transporter expression in disease or spatial variation in cell properties, may have major impact on the temporal waveform of Ca2+ transients, thus influencing tissue level electromechanical function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Doyle Gauthier
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute for Computational Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Whiting School of Engineering Baltimore, MD, USA
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46
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Wan X, Cutler M, Song Z, Karma A, Matsuda T, Baba A, Rosenbaum DS. New experimental evidence for mechanism of arrhythmogenic membrane potential alternans based on balance of electrogenic I(NCX)/I(Ca) currents. Heart Rhythm 2012; 9:1698-705. [PMID: 22721857 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2012.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Computer simulations have predicted that the balance of various electrogenic sarcolemmal ion currents may control the amplitude and phase of beat-to-beat alternans of membrane potential (V(m)). However, experimental evidence for the mechanism by which alternans of calcium transients produces alternation of V(m) (V(m)-ALT) is lacking. OBJECTIVE To provide experimental evidence that Ca-to-V(m) coupling during alternans is determined by the balanced influence of 2 Ca-sensitive electrogenic sarcolemmal ionic currents: I(NCX) and I(Ca). METHODS AND RESULTS V(m)-ALT and Ca-ALT were measured simultaneously from isolated guinea pig myocytes (n = 41) by using perforated patch and Indo-1(AM) fluorescence, respectively. There were 3 study groups: (1) control, (2) I(NCX) predominance created by adenoviral-induced NCX overexpression, and (3) I(Ca) predominance created by I(NCX) inhibition (SEA-0400) or enhanced I(Ca) (As(2)O(3)). During alternans, 14 of 14 control myocytes demonstrated positive Ca-to-V(m) coupling, consistent with I(NCX), but not I(Ca), as the major electrogenic current in modulating action potential duration. Positive Ca-to-V(m) coupling was maintained during I(NCX) predominance in 8 of 8 experiments with concurrent increase in Ca-to-V(m) gain (P <.05), reaffirming the role of increased forward-mode electrogenic I(NCX). Conversely, I(Ca) predominance produced negative Ca-to-V(m) coupling in 14 of 19 myocytes (P < .05) and decreased Ca-to-V(m) gain compared with control (P <.05). Furthermore, computer simulation demonstrated that Ca-to-V(m) coupling changes from negative to positive because of a shift from I(Ca) to I(NCX) predominance with increasing pacing rate. CONCLUSIONS These data provide the first direct experimental evidence that coupling in phase and magnitude of Ca-ALT to V(m)-ALT is strongly determined by the relative balance of the prominence of I(NCX) vs I(Ca) currents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoping Wan
- Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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47
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Zhao L, Lou J, Wu H, Yin Y, Kang Y. Effects of taurine-magnesium coordination compound on ionic channels in rat ventricular myocytes of arrhythmia induced by ouabain. Biol Trace Elem Res 2012; 147:275-84. [PMID: 22311082 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-011-9317-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2011] [Accepted: 12/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Taurine-magnesium coordination compound (TMCC) has anti-arrhythmic effects. The aim of the present study was to explore the targets of the anti-arrhythmic effect of TMCC and the electrophysiological effects of TMCC on ouabain-induced arrhythmias in rat ventricular myocytes. Sodium current (I(Na)), L-type calcium current (I(ca, L)), and transient outward potassium current (I(to)) were measured and analyzed using whole-cell patch-clamp recording technique in normal rat cardiac myocytes and rat ventricular myocytes of arrhythmia induced by ouabain. In isolated ventricular myocytes, I(Na) and I(to) were blocked by TMCC (100, 200, 400 μM) in a concentration-dependent manner, and the effects of TMCC (400 μM) were equal to that of amiodarone. However, I (ca, L) was moderately increased by TMCC (400 μM) while significantly decreased by amiodarone. Ouabain (5 μM) significantly decreased sodium, L-type calcium, and transient outward potassium currents. TMCC (100 μM) relieved abnormal sodium currents induced by ouabain through facilitation of steady-state inactivation. TMCC (200 and 400 μM) relieved abnormal L-type calcium currents induced by ouabain through facilitation of steady-state activation and retardation of steady-state inactivation. TMCC failed to further inhibit abnormal transient outward potassium currents induced by ouabain. However, amiodarone inhibited the decreasing sodium, L-type calcium, and transient outward potassium currents further. These data suggest that I(Na), I(ca, L), and I(to) may be the targets of the antiarrhythmic effect of TMCC, which can antagonize ouabain-induced changes of ionic currents in rat ventricular myocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
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48
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Morotti S, Grandi E, Summa A, Ginsburg KS, Bers DM. Theoretical study of L-type Ca(2+) current inactivation kinetics during action potential repolarization and early afterdepolarizations. J Physiol 2012; 590:4465-81. [PMID: 22586219 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.231886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) release mediates excitation–contraction coupling (ECC) in cardiac myocytes. It is triggered upon membrane depolarization by entry of Ca(2+) via L-type Ca(2+) channels (LTCCs), which undergo both voltage- and Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation (VDI and CDI, respectively). We developed improved models of L-type Ca(2+) current and SR Ca(2+) release within the framework of the Shannon-Bers rabbit ventricular action potential (AP) model. The formulation of SR Ca(2+) release was modified to reproduce high ECC gain at negative membrane voltages. An existing LTCC model was extended to reflect more faithfully contributions of CDI and VDI to total inactivation. Ba(2+) current inactivation included an ion-dependent component (albeit small compared with CDI), in addition to pure VDI. Under physiological conditions (during an AP) LTCC inactivates predominantly via CDI, which is controlled mostly by SR Ca(2+) release during the initial AP phase, but by Ca(2+) through LTCCs for the remaining part. Simulations of decreased CDI or K(+) channel block predicted the occurrence of early and delayed after depolarizations. Our model accurately describes ECC and allows dissection of the relative contributions of different Ca(2+) sources to total CDI, and the relative roles of CDI and VDI, during normal and abnormal repolarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Morotti
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8636, USA
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49
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Livshitz L, Acsai K, Antoons G, Sipido K, Rudy Y. Data-based theoretical identification of subcellular calcium compartments and estimation of calcium dynamics in cardiac myocytes. J Physiol 2012; 590:4423-46. [PMID: 22547631 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2012.228791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In cardiac cells, Ca(2+) release flux (J(rel)) via ryanodine receptors (RyRs) from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) has a complex effect on the action potential (AP). Coupling between J(rel) and the AP occurs via L-type Ca(2+) channels (I(Ca)) and the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (I(NCX)). We used a combined experimental and modelling approach to study interactions between J(rel), I(Ca) and I(NCX) in porcine ventricular myocytes.We tested the hypothesis that during normal uniform J(rel), the interaction between these fluxes can be represented as occurring in two myoplasmic subcompartments for Ca(2+) distribution, one (T-space) associated with RyR and enclosed by the junctional portion of the SR membrane and corresponding T-tubular portion of the sarcolemma, the other (M-space) encompassing the rest of the myoplasm. I(Ca) and I(NCX) were partitioned into subpopulations in the T-space and M-space sarcolemma. We denoted free Ca(2+) concentrations in T-space and M-space Ca(t) and Ca(m), respectively. Experiments were designed to allow separate measurements of I(Ca) and I(NCX) as a function of J(rel). Inclusion of T-space in themodel allowed us to reproduce in silico the following important experimental results: (1) hysteresis of I(NCX) dependence on Ca(m); (2) delay between peak I(NCX) and peak Ca(m) during caffeine application protocol; (3) delay between I(NCX) and Ca(m) during Ca(2+)-induced-Ca(2+)-release; (4) rapid I(Ca) inactivation (within 2 ms) due to J(rel), with magnitude graded as a function of the SR Ca(2+) content; (5) time delay between I(Ca) inactivation due to J(rel) and Ca(m). Partition of 25% NCX in T-space and 75% in M-space provided the best fit to the experimental data. Measured Ca(m) and I(Ca) or I(NCX) were used as input to the model for estimating Ca(t). The actual model-computed Ca(t), obtained by simulating specific experimental protocols, was used as a gold standard for comparison. The model predicted peak Ca(t) in the range of 6–25 μM, with time to equilibrium of Ca(t) with Ca(m) of ~350 ms. These Ca(t) values are in the range of LCC and RyR sensitivity to Ca(2+). An increase of the SR Ca(2+) load increased the time to equilibrium. The I(Ca)-based estimation method was most accurate during the ascending phase of Ca(t). The I(NCX)-based method provided a good estimate for the descending phase of Ca(t). Thus, application of both methods in combination provides the best estimate of the entire Ca(t) time course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonid Livshitz
- Cardiac Bioelectricity and Arrhythmia Centre, Washington University in St Louis, St Louis, MO 63130-4899, USA
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50
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Penington NJ, Tuckwell HC. Properties of I(A) in a neuron of the dorsal raphe nucleus. Brain Res 2012; 1449:60-8. [PMID: 22410293 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2011] [Revised: 02/02/2012] [Accepted: 02/13/2012] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Voltage clamp data were analyzed in order to characterize the properties of the fast potassium transient current I(A) for a presumed serotonergic neuron of the rat dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN). We obtain maximal conductance, time constants of activation and inactivation, and the steady state activation and inactivation functions m(∞) and h(∞), as Boltzmann curves, defined by half-activation potentials and slope factors. I(A) is estimated as g¯(V-V(rev))m(4)h, with g¯=20.5nS. For activation, the half-activation potential is V(a)=-52.5mV with slope factor k(a)=16.5mV, whereas for inactivation the corresponding quantities are -91.5mV and -9.3mV. We discuss the results in terms of the corresponding properties of I(A) in other cell types and their possible relevance to pacemaking activity in cells of the DRN. Methods of identification of serotonergic DRN neurons and the nature of the K(v) channels underlying the A-type current are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Penington
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Box 29, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203-2098, USA
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