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Baron V, Sommer ST, Fiegle DJ, Pfeuffer AKM, Peyronnet R, Volk T, Seidel T. Effects of electro-mechanical uncouplers, hormonal stimulation and pacing rate on the stability and function of cultured rabbit myocardial slices. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1363538. [PMID: 38646013 PMCID: PMC11026719 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1363538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Recent advances have enabled organotypic culture of beating human myocardial slices that are stable for weeks. However, human myocardial samples are rare, exhibit high variability and frequently originate from diseased hearts. Thus, there is a need to adapt long-term slice culture for animal myocardium. When applied to animal cardiac slices, studies in healthy or genetically modified myocardium will be possible. We present the culture of slices from rabbit hearts, which resemble the human heart in microstructure, electrophysiology and excitation-contraction coupling. Methods: Left ventricular myocardium from New Zealand White rabbits was cut using a vibratome and cultured in biomimetic chambers for up to 7 days (d). Electro-mechanical uncoupling agents 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM) and cytochalasin D (CytoD) were added during initiation of culture and effects on myocyte survival were quantified. We investigated pacing rates (0.5 Hz, 1 Hz, and 2 Hz) and hormonal supplements (cortisol, T3, catecholamines) at physiological plasma concentrations. T3 was buffered using BSA. Contractile force was recorded continuously. Glucose consumption and lactate production were measured. Whole-slice Ca2+ transients and action potentials were recorded. Effects of culture on microstructure were investigated with confocal microscopy and image analysis. Results: Protocols for human myocardial culture resulted in sustained contracture and myocyte death in rabbit slices within 24 h, which could be prevented by transient application of a combination of BDM and CytoD. Cortisol stabilized contraction amplitude and kinetics in culture. T3 and catecholaminergic stimulation did not further improve stability. T3 and higher pacing rates increased metabolic rate and lactate production. T3 stabilized the response to β-adrenergic stimulation over 7 d. Pacing rates above 1 Hz resulted in progredient decline in contraction force. Image analysis revealed no changes in volume fractions of cardiomyocytes or measures of fibrosis over 7 d. Ca2+ transient amplitudes and responsiveness to isoprenaline were comparable after 1 d and 7 d, while Ca2+ transient duration was prolonged after 7 d in culture. Conclusions: A workflow for rabbit myocardial culture has been established, preserving function for up to 7 d. This research underscores the importance of glucocorticoid signaling in maintaining tissue function and extending culture duration. Furthermore, BDM and CytoD appear to protect from tissue damage during the initiation phase of tissue culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Baron
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - S. T. Sommer
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - D. J. Fiegle
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - A.-K. M. Pfeuffer
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - R. Peyronnet
- Institute for Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine, University Heart Center Freiburg, Bad Krozingen, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - T. Volk
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - T. Seidel
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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Sun Z, Lu K, Kamla C, Kameritsch P, Seidel T, Dendorfer A. Synchronous force and Ca 2+ measurements for repeated characterization of excitation-contraction coupling in human myocardium. Commun Biol 2024; 7:220. [PMID: 38388802 PMCID: PMC10884022 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05886-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Dysfunctional Ca2+ signaling affects the myocardial systole and diastole, may trigger arrhythmia and cause transcriptomic and proteomic modifications in heart failure. Thus, synchronous real-time measurement of Ca2+ and force is essential to investigate the relationship between contractility and Ca2+ signaling and the alteration of excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) in human failing myocardium. Here, we present a method for synchronized acquisition of intracellular Ca2+ and contraction force in long-term cultivated slices of human failing myocardium. Synchronous time series of contraction force and intracellular Ca2+ were used to calculate force-calcium loops and to analyze the dynamic alterations of ECC in response to various pacing frequencies, post-pause potentiation, high mechanical preload and pharmacological interventions in human failing myocardium. We provide an approach to simultaneously and repeatedly investigate alterations of contractility and Ca2+ signals in long-term cultured myocardium, which will allow detecting the effects of electrophysiological or pharmacological interventions on human myocardial ECC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengwu Sun
- Walter-Brendel-Centre of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kun Lu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Christine Kamla
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Petra Kameritsch
- Walter-Brendel-Centre of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Seidel
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Dendorfer
- Walter-Brendel-Centre of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany.
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3
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Miller JM, Meki MM, El-Baz AS, Giridharan GA, Mohamed TMA. Culturing Cardiac Tissue Slices Under Continuous Physiological Mechanical Stretches. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2803:61-74. [PMID: 38676885 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3846-0_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Testing drugs in vivo and in vitro have been essential elements for the discovery of new therapeutics. Due to the recent advances in in vitro cell culture models, such as human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and 3D multicell type organoid culture methods, the detection of adverse cardiac events prior to human clinical trials has improved. However, there are still numerous therapeutics whose adverse cardiac effects are not detected until human trials due to the inability of these cell cultures to fully model the complex multicellular organization of an intact human myocardium. Cardiac tissue slices are a possible alternative solution. Myocardial slices are a 300-micron thin snapshot of the myocardium, capturing a section of the adult heart in a 1 × 1 cm section. Using a culture method that incorporates essential nutrients and electrical stimulation, tissue slices can be maintained in culture for 6 days with full viability and functionality. With the addition of mechanical stimulation and humoral cues, tissue slices can be cultured for 12 days. Here we provide detailed methods for how to culture cardiac tissue slices under continuous mechanical stimulation in the cardiac tissue culture model (CTCM) device. The CTCM incorporates four essential factors for maintaining tissue slices in culture for 12 days: mechanical stimulation, electrical stimulation, nutrients, and humoral cues. The CTCM can also be used to model disease conditions, such as overstretch-induced cardiac hypertrophy. The versatility of the CTCM illustrates its potential to be a medium-throughput screening platform for personalized drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Miller
- Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Mostafa M Meki
- Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Ayman S El-Baz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | | | - Tamer M A Mohamed
- Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
- Surgery Department, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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4
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Shi R, Reichardt M, Fiegle DJ, Küpfer LK, Czajka T, Sun Z, Salditt T, Dendorfer A, Seidel T, Bruegmann T. Contractility measurements for cardiotoxicity screening with ventricular myocardial slices of pigs. Cardiovasc Res 2023; 119:2469-2481. [PMID: 37934066 PMCID: PMC10651213 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvad141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Cardiotoxicity is one major reason why drugs do not enter or are withdrawn from the market. Thus, approaches are required to predict cardiotoxicity with high specificity and sensitivity. Ideally, such methods should be performed within intact cardiac tissue with high relevance for humans and detect acute and chronic side effects on electrophysiological behaviour, contractility, and tissue structure in an unbiased manner. Herein, we evaluate healthy pig myocardial slices and biomimetic cultivation setups (BMCS) as a new cardiotoxicity screening approach. METHODS AND RESULTS Pig left ventricular samples were cut into slices and spanned into BMCS with continuous electrical pacing and online force recording. Automated stimulation protocols were established to determine the force-frequency relationship (FFR), frequency dependence of contraction duration, effective refractory period (ERP), and pacing threshold. Slices generated 1.3 ± 0.14 mN/mm2 force at 0.5 Hz electrical pacing and showed a positive FFR and a shortening of contraction duration with increasing pacing rates. Approximately 62% of slices were able to contract for at least 6 days while showing stable ERP, contraction duration-frequency relationship, and preserved cardiac structure confirmed by confocal imaging and X-ray diffraction analysis. We used specific blockers of the most important cardiac ion channels to determine which analysis parameters are influenced. To validate our approach, we tested five drug candidates selected from the Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay list as well as acetylsalicylic acid and DMSO as controls in a blinded manner in three independent laboratories. We were able to detect all arrhythmic drugs and their respective mode of action on cardiac tissue including inhibition of Na+, Ca2+, and hERG channels as well as Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. CONCLUSION We systematically evaluate this approach for cardiotoxicity screening, which is of high relevance for humans and can be upscaled to medium-throughput screening. Thus, our approach will improve the predictive value and efficiency of preclinical cardiotoxicity screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runzhu Shi
- Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- International Research Training Group 1816, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marius Reichardt
- Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Institute for X-ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dominik J Fiegle
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Linda K Küpfer
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Titus Czajka
- Institute for X-ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Zhengwu Sun
- Walter-Brendel-Centre of Experimental Medicine, Hospital of the University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Tim Salditt
- Institute for X-ray Physics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence ‘Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells’ (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Dendorfer
- Walter-Brendel-Centre of Experimental Medicine, Hospital of the University Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Centre of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Seidel
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tobias Bruegmann
- Institute for Cardiovascular Physiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence ‘Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells’ (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Dridi H, Santulli G, Bahlouli L, Miotto MC, Weninger G, Marks AR. Mitochondrial Calcium Overload Plays a Causal Role in Oxidative Stress in the Failing Heart. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1409. [PMID: 37759809 PMCID: PMC10527470 DOI: 10.3390/biom13091409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart failure is a serious global health challenge, affecting more than 6.2 million people in the United States and is projected to reach over 8 million by 2030. Independent of etiology, failing hearts share common features, including defective calcium (Ca2+) handling, mitochondrial Ca2+ overload, and oxidative stress. In cardiomyocytes, Ca2+ not only regulates excitation-contraction coupling, but also mitochondrial metabolism and oxidative stress signaling, thereby controlling the function and actual destiny of the cell. Understanding the mechanisms of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and the molecular pathways involved in the regulation of increased mitochondrial Ca2+ influx is an ongoing challenge in order to identify novel therapeutic targets to alleviate the burden of heart failure. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms underlying altered mitochondrial Ca2+ handling in heart failure and the potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haikel Dridi
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.B.); (M.C.M.); (G.W.); (A.R.M.)
| | - Gaetano Santulli
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY 10461, USA;
| | - Laith Bahlouli
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.B.); (M.C.M.); (G.W.); (A.R.M.)
| | - Marco C. Miotto
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.B.); (M.C.M.); (G.W.); (A.R.M.)
| | - Gunnar Weninger
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.B.); (M.C.M.); (G.W.); (A.R.M.)
| | - Andrew R. Marks
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Clyde and Helen Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY 10032, USA; (L.B.); (M.C.M.); (G.W.); (A.R.M.)
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Pfeuffer AKM, Küpfer LK, Shankar TS, Drakos SG, Volk T, Seidel T. Ryanodine Receptor Staining Identifies Viable Cardiomyocytes in Human and Rabbit Cardiac Tissue Slices. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13514. [PMID: 37686327 PMCID: PMC10488113 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In terms of preserving multicellularity and myocardial function in vitro, the cultivation of beating myocardial slices is an emerging technique in basic and translational cardiac research. It can be used, for example, for drug screening or to study pathomechanisms. Here, we describe staining for viable cardiomyocytes based on the immunofluorescence of ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in human and rabbit myocardial slices. Biomimetic chambers were used for culture and measurements of contractile force. Fixable fluorophore-conjugated dextran, entering cells with a permeable membrane, was used for death staining. RyRs, nuclei and the extracellular matrix, including the t-system, were additionally stained and analyzed by confocal microscopy and image processing. We found the mutual exclusion of the RyR and dextran signals in cultivated slices. T-System density and nucleus size were reduced in RyR-negative/dextran-positive myocytes. The fraction of RyR-positive myocytes and pixels correlated with the contractile force. In RyR-positive/dextran-positive myocytes, we found irregular RyR clusters and SERCA distribution patterns, confirmed by an altered power spectrum. We conclude that RyR immunofluorescence indicates viable cardiomyocytes in vibratome-cut myocardial slices, facilitating the detection and differential structural analysis of living vs. dead or dying myocytes. We suggest the loss of sarcoplasmic reticulum integrity as an early event during cardiomyocyte death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Katrin M. Pfeuffer
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (A.-K.M.P.); (L.K.K.); (T.V.)
| | - Linda K. Küpfer
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (A.-K.M.P.); (L.K.K.); (T.V.)
| | - Thirupura S. Shankar
- Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (T.S.S.); (S.G.D.)
| | - Stavros G. Drakos
- Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (T.S.S.); (S.G.D.)
| | - Tilmann Volk
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (A.-K.M.P.); (L.K.K.); (T.V.)
| | - Thomas Seidel
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander University (FAU) Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (A.-K.M.P.); (L.K.K.); (T.V.)
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Amesz JH, de Groot NMS, Langmuur SJJ, Azzouzi HE, Tiggeloven VPC, van Rooij MMMM, Knops P, Bogers AJJC, Taverne YJHJ. Biomimetic cultivation of atrial tissue slices as novel platform for in-vitro atrial arrhythmia studies. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3648. [PMID: 36871094 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30688-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Living myocardial slices (LMS) are beating sections of intact human myocardium that maintain 3D microarchitecture and multicellularity, thereby overcoming most limitations of conventional myocardial cell cultures. We introduce a novel method to produce LMS from human atria and apply pacing modalities to bridge the gap between in-vitro and in-vivo atrial arrhythmia studies. Human atrial biopsies from 15 patients undergoing cardiac surgery were dissected to tissue blocks of ~ 1 cm2 and cut to 300 µm thin LMS with a precision-cutting vibratome. LMS were placed in a biomimetic cultivation chamber, filled with standard cell culture medium, under diastolic preload (1 mN) and continuous electrical stimulation (1000 ms cycle length (CL)), resulting in 68 beating LMS. Atrial LMS refractory period was determined at 192 ± 26 ms. Fixed rate pacing with a CL of 333 ms was applied as atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) model. This novel state-of-the-art platform for AT research can be used to investigate arrhythmia mechanisms and test novel therapies.
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Mora MT, Zaza A, Trenor B. Insights from an electro-mechanical heart failure cell model: Role of SERCA enhancement on arrhythmogenesis and myocyte contraction. Comput Methods Programs Biomed 2023; 230:107350. [PMID: 36689807 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2023.107350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Structural and electrical remodeling in heart failure predisposes the heart to ventricular arrhythmias. Computer modeling approaches, used to complement experimental results, can provide a more mechanistic knowledge of the biophysical phenomena underlying cardiac pathologies. Indeed, previous in-silico studies have improved the understanding of the electrical correlates of heart failure involved in arrhythmogenesis; however, information on the crosstalk between electrical activity, intracellular Ca2+ and contraction is still incomplete. This study aims to investigate the electro-mechanical behavior of virtual failing human ventricular myocytes to help in the development of therapies, which should ideally target pump failure and arrhythmias at the same time. METHODS We implemented characteristic remodeling of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction by including reported changes in ionic conductances, sarcomere function and cell structure (e.g. T-tubules disarray). Model parametrization was based on published experimental data and the outcome of simulations was validated against experimentally observed patterns. We focused on two aspects of myocardial dysfunction central in heart failure: altered force-frequency relationship and susceptibility to arrhythmogenic early afterdepolarizations. Because biological variability is a major problem in the generalization of in-silico findings based on a unique set of model parameters, we generated and evaluated a population of models. RESULTS The population-based approach is crucial in robust identification of parameters at the core of abnormalities and in generalizing the outcome of their correction. As compared to non-failing ones, failing myocytes had prolonged repolarization, a higher incidence of early afterdepolarizations, reduced contraction and a shallower force-frequency relationship, all features peculiar of heart failure. Component analysis applied to the model population identified reduced SERCA function as a relevant contributor to most of these derangements, which were largely reverted or diminished by restoration of SERCA function alone. CONCLUSIONS These simulated results encourage the development of strategies comprising SERCA stimulation and highlight the need to evaluate both electrical and mechanical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Mora
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain
| | - Antonio Zaza
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Università degli Studi Milano-Bicocca, Italy; Unità di Fisiologia Cardiovascolare, IRCCs Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Italy
| | - Beatriz Trenor
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación en Bioingeniería, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain.
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Liu L, Zhou K, Liu X, Hua Y, Wang H, Li Y. The interplay between cardiac dyads and mitochondria regulated the calcium handling in cardiomyocytes. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1013817. [PMID: 36531185 PMCID: PMC9755166 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1013817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium mishandling and mitochondrial dysfunction have been increasingly recognized as significant factors involved in the progression procedure of cardiomyopathy. Ca2+ mishandling could cause calcium-triggered arrhythmias, which could enhance force development and ATP consumption. Mitochondrial disorganization and dysfunction in cardiomyopathy could disturb the balance of energy catabolic and anabolic procedure. Close spatial localization and arrangement of structural among T-tubule, sarcoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria are important for Ca2+ handling. So that, we illustrate the regulating network between calcium handling and mitochondrial homeostasis, as well as its intracellular mechanisms in this review, which would be worthy to develop novel therapeutic strategy and restore the function of injured cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Hua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yifei Li
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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10
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Kalita B, Utkin YN, Mukherjee AK. Current Insights in the Mechanisms of Cobra Venom Cytotoxins and Their Complexes in Inducing Toxicity: Implications in Antivenom Therapy. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14120839. [PMID: 36548736 PMCID: PMC9780984 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14120839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxins (CTXs), an essential class of the non-enzymatic three-finger toxin family, are ubiquitously present in cobra venoms. These low-molecular-mass toxins, contributing to about 40 to 60% of the cobra venom proteome, play a significant role in cobra venom-induced toxicity, more prominently in dermonecrosis. Structurally, CTXs contain the conserved three-finger hydrophobic loops; however, they also exhibit a certain degree of structural diversity that dictates their biological activities. In their mechanism, CTXs mediate toxicity by affecting cell membrane structures and membrane-bound proteins and activating apoptotic and necrotic cell death pathways. Notably, some CTXs are also responsible for depolarizing neurons and heart muscle membranes, thereby contributing to the cardiac failure frequently observed in cobra-envenomed victims. Consequently, they are also known as cardiotoxins (CdTx). Studies have shown that cobra venom CTXs form cognate complexes with other components that potentiate the toxic effects of the venom's individual component. This review focuses on the pharmacological mechanism of cobra venom CTXs and their complexes, highlighting their significance in cobra venom-induced pathophysiology and toxicity. Furthermore, the potency of commercial antivenoms in reversing the adverse effects of cobra venom CTXs and their complexes in envenomed victims has also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhargab Kalita
- Amrita School of Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi 682041, India
| | - Yuri N. Utkin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Ashis K. Mukherjee
- Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, Guwahati 781035, India
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784028, India
- Correspondence:
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Abstract
Organotypic culture of human ventricular myocardium is emerging in basic and translational cardiac research. However, few institutions have access to human ventricular tissue, whereas atrial tissue is more commonly available and important for studying atrial physiology. This study presents a method for long-term cultivation of beating human atrial myocardium. After written informed consent, tissues from the right-atrial appendage were obtained from patients with sinus rhythm undergoing open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Trabeculae (pectinate muscles) prepared from the samples were installed into cultivation chambers at 37°C with a diastolic preload of 500 μN. After 2 days with 0.5 Hz pacing, stimulation frequency was set to 1 Hz. Contractile force was monitored continuously. Beta-adrenergic response, refractory period (RP) and maximum captured frequency (fmax) were assessed periodically. After cultivation, viability and electromechanical function were investigated, as well as the expression of several genes important for intracellular Ca2+ cycling and electrophysiology. Tissue microstructure was analyzed by confocal microscopy. We cultivated 19 constantly beating trabeculae from 8 patient samples for 12 days and 4 trabeculae from 3 specimen for 21 days. Functional parameters were compared directly after installation (0 d) with those after 12 d in culture. Contraction force was 384 ± 69 μN at 0 d and 255 ± 90 μN at 12 d (p = 0.8, n = 22), RP 480 ± 97 ms and 408 ± 78 ms (p = 0.3, n = 9), fmax 3.0 ± 0.5 Hz and 3.8 ± 0.5 Hz (p = 0.18, n = 9), respectively. Application of 100 nM isoprenaline to 11 trabeculae at 7 d increased contraction force from 168 ± 35 μN to 361 ± 60 μN (p < 0.01), fmax from 6.4 ± 0.6 Hz to 8.5 ± 0.4 Hz (p < 0.01) and lowered RP from 319 ± 22 ms to 223 ± 15 ms. CACNA1c (L-type Ca2+ channel subunit) and GJA1 (connexin-43) mRNA expressions were not significantly altered at 12 d vs 0 d, while ATP2A (SERCA) and KCNJ4 (Kir2.3) were downregulated, and KCNJ2 (Kir2.1) was upregulated. Simultaneous Ca2+ imaging and force recording showed preserved excitation-contraction coupling in cultivated trabeculae. Confocal microscopy indicated preserved cardiomyocyte structure, unaltered amounts of extracellular matrix and gap junctions. MTT assays confirmed viability at 12 d. We established a workflow that allows for stable cultivation and functional analysis of beating human atrial myocardium for up to 3 weeks. This method may lead to novel insights into the physiology and pathophysiology of human atrial myocardium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian J Klumm
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.,Department of Cardiac Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Heim
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dominik J Fiegle
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Weyand
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tilmann Volk
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Thomas Seidel
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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12
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Lyu Y, Verma VK, Lee Y, Taleb I, Badolia R, Shankar TS, Kyriakopoulos CP, Selzman CH, Caine W, Alharethi R, Navankasattusas S, Seidel T, Drakos SG, Sachse FB. Remodeling of t-system and proteins underlying excitation-contraction coupling in aging versus failing human heart. NPJ Aging Mech Dis 2021; 7:16. [PMID: 34050186 DOI: 10.1038/s41514-021-00066-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that the aging heart progressively remodels towards a senescent phenotype, but alterations of cellular microstructure and their differences to chronic heart failure (HF) associated remodeling remain ill-defined. Here, we show that the transverse tubular system (t-system) and proteins underlying excitation-contraction coupling in cardiomyocytes are characteristically remodeled with age. We shed light on mechanisms of this remodeling and identified similarities and differences to chronic HF. Using left ventricular myocardium from donors and HF patients with ages between 19 and 75 years, we established a library of 3D reconstructions of the t-system as well as ryanodine receptor (RyR) and junctophilin 2 (JPH2) clusters. Aging was characterized by t-system alterations and sarcolemmal dissociation of RyR clusters. This remodeling was less pronounced than in HF and accompanied by major alterations of JPH2 arrangement. Our study indicates that targeting sarcolemmal association of JPH2 might ameliorate age-associated deficiencies of heart function.
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13
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de Lange WJ, Farrell ET, Kreitzer CR, Jacobs DR, Lang D, Glukhov AV, Ralphe JC. Human iPSC-engineered cardiac tissue platform faithfully models important cardiac physiology. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2021; 320:H1670-H1686. [PMID: 33606581 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00941.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CM) may provide an important bridge between animal models and the intact human myocardium. Fulfilling this potential is hampered by their relative immaturity, leading to poor physiological responsiveness. hiPSC-CMs grown in traditional two-dimensional (2D) culture lack a t-tubular system, have only rudimentary intracellular calcium-handling systems, express predominantly embryonic sarcomeric protein isoforms, and preferentially use glucose as an energy substrate. Culturing hiPSC-CM in a variety of three-dimensional (3D) environments and the addition of nutritional, pharmacological, and electromechanical stimuli have proven, to various degrees, to be beneficial for maturation. We present a detailed assessment of a novel model in which hiPSC-CMs and hiPSC-derived cardiac fibroblasts are cocultured in a 3D fibrin matrix to form engineered cardiac tissue constructs (hiPSC-ECTs). The hiPSC-ECTs are responsive to physiological stimuli, including stretch, frequency, and β-adrenergic stimulation, develop a t-tubular system, and demonstrate calcium-handling and contractile kinetics that compare favorably with ventricular human myocardium. Furthermore, transcript levels of various genes involved in calcium-handling and contraction are increased. These markers of maturation become more robust over a relatively short period of time in culture (6 wk vs. 2 wk in hiPSC-ECTs). A comparison of the hiPSC-ECT molecular and performance variables with those of human cardiac tissue and other available engineered tissue platforms is provided to aid selection of the most appropriate platform for the research question at hand. Important and noteworthy aspects of this human cardiac model system are its reliance on "off-the-shelf" equipment, ability to provide detailed physiological performance data, and the ability to achieve a relatively mature cardiac physiology without additional nutritional, pharmacological, and electromechanical stimuli that may elicit unintended effects on function.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study seeks to provide an in-depth assessment of contractile performance of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes cultured together with fibroblasts in a 3-dimensional-engineered tissue and compares performance both over time as cells mature, and with corresponding measures found in the literature using alternative 3D culture configurations. The suitability of 3D-engineered human cardiac tissues to model cardiac function is emphasized, and data provided to assist in the selection of the most appropriate configuration based on the target application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem J de Lange
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Emily T Farrell
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Caroline R Kreitzer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Derek R Jacobs
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Di Lang
- Department of Medicine Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Alexey V Glukhov
- Department of Medicine Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - J Carter Ralphe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
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14
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Mellor NG, Pham T, Tran K, Loiselle DS, Ward M, Taberner AJ, Crossman DJ, Han J. Disruption of transverse-tubular network reduces energy efficiency in cardiac muscle contraction. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2021; 231:e13545. [PMID: 32757472 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIM Altered organization of the transverse-tubular network is an early pathological event occurring even prior to the onset of heart failure. Such t-tubular remodelling disturbs the synchrony and signalling between membranous and intracellular ion channels, exchangers, receptors and ATPases essential in the dynamics of excitation-contraction coupling, leading to ionic abnormality and mechanical dysfunction in heart disease progression. In this study, we investigated whether a disrupted t-tubular network has a direct effect on cardiac mechano-energetics. Our aim was to understand the fundamental link between t-tubular remodelling and impaired energy metabolism, both of which are characteristics of heart failure. We thus studied healthy tissue preparations in which cellular processes are not altered by any disease event. METHODS We exploited the "formamide-detubulation" technique to acutely disrupt the t-tubular network in rat left-ventricular trabeculae. We assessed the energy utilization by cellular Ca2+ cycling and by crossbridge cycling, and quantified the change of energy efficiency following detubulation. For these measurements, trabeculae were mounted in a microcalorimeter where force and heat output were simultaneously measured. RESULTS Following structural disorganization from detubulation, muscle heat output associated with Ca2+ cycling was reduced, indicating impaired intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. This led to reduced force production and heat output by crossbridge cycling. The reduction in force-length work was not paralleled by proportionate reduction in the heat output and, as such, energy efficiency was reduced. CONCLUSIONS These results reveal the direct energetic consequences of disrupted t-tubular network, linking the energy disturbance and the t-tubular remodelling typically observed in heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas G. Mellor
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Toan Pham
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Kenneth Tran
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Denis S. Loiselle
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
- Department of Physiology The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Marie‐Louise Ward
- Department of Physiology The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - Andrew J. Taberner
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
- Department of Engineering Science The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - David J. Crossman
- Department of Physiology The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
| | - June‐Chiew Han
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute The University of Auckland Auckland New Zealand
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15
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Celestino-Montes A, Pérez-Treviño P, Sandoval-Herrera MD, Gómez-Víquez NL, Altamirano J. Relative role of T-tubules disruption and decreased SERCA2 on contractile dynamics of isolated rat ventricular myocytes. Life Sci 2021; 264:118700. [PMID: 33130073 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Ventricular myocytes (VM) depolarization activates L-type Ca2+ channels (LCC) allowing Ca2+ influx (ICa) to synchronize sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release, via Ca2+-release channels (RyR2). The resulting whole-cell Ca2+ transient triggers contraction, while cytosolic Ca2+ removal by SR Ca2+ pump (SERCA2) and sarcolemmal Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) allows relaxation. In diseased hearts, extensive VM remodeling causes heterogeneous, blunted and slow Ca2+ transients. Among remodeling changes are: A) T-tubules disorganization. B) Diminished SERCA2 and low SR Ca2+. However, those often overlap, hindering their relative contribution to contractile dysfunction (CD). Furthermore, few studies have assessed their specific impact on the spatiotemporal Ca2+ transient properties and contractile dynamics simultaneously. Therefore, we sought to perform a quantitative comparison of how heterogeneous and slow Ca2+ transients, with different underlying determinants, affect contractile performance. METHODS We used two experimental models: A) formamide-induced acute "detubulation", where VM retain functional RyR2 and SERCA2, but lack T-tubules-associated LCC and NCX. B) Intact VM from hypothyroid rats, presenting decreased SERCA2 and SR Ca2+, but maintained T-tubules. By confocal imaging of Fluo-4-loaded VM, under field-stimulation, simultaneously acquired Ca2+ transients and shortening, allowing direct correlations. KEY FINDINGS We found near-linear correlations among key parameters of altered Ca2+ transients, caused independently by T-tubules disruption or decreased SR Ca2+, and shortening and relaxation, SIGNIFICANCE: Unrelated structural and molecular alterations converge in similarly abnormal Ca2+ transients and CD, highlighting the importance of independently reproduce disease-specific alterations, to quantitatively assess their impact on Ca2+ signaling and contractility, which would be valuable to determine potential disease-specific therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Celestino-Montes
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Av. Morones Prieto No. 3000 Pte., Monterrey, N.L. 64710, Mexico
| | - Perla Pérez-Treviño
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Av. Morones Prieto No. 3000 Pte., Monterrey, N.L. 64710, Mexico
| | - Maya D Sandoval-Herrera
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Av. Morones Prieto No. 3000 Pte., Monterrey, N.L. 64710, Mexico
| | - Norma L Gómez-Víquez
- Departamento de Farmacobiologia, CINVESTAV-IPN sede Sur, Mexico, D.F. 14330, Mexico
| | - Julio Altamirano
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Av. Morones Prieto No. 3000 Pte., Monterrey, N.L. 64710, Mexico.
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16
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Watson SA, Dendorfer A, Thum T, Perbellini F. A practical guide for investigating cardiac physiology using living myocardial slices. Basic Res Cardiol 2020; 115:61. [PMID: 32914360 PMCID: PMC7496048 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-020-00822-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Ex vivo multicellular preparations are essential tools to study tissue physiology. Among them, the recent methodological and technological developments in living myocardial slices (LMS) are attracting increasing interest by the cardiac research field. Despite this, this research model remains poorly perceived and utilized by most research laboratories. Here, we provide a practical guide on how to use LMS to interrogate multiple aspects of cardiac function, structure and biochemistry. We discuss issues that should be considered to conduct successful experiments, including experimental design, sample preparation, data collection and analysis. We describe how laboratory setups can be adapted to accommodate and interrogate this multicellular research model. These adaptations can often be achieved at a reasonable cost with off-the-shelf components and operated reliably using well-established protocols and freely available software, which is essential to broaden the utilization of this method. We will also highlight how current measurements can be improved to further enhance data quality and reliability to ensure inter-laboratory reproducibility. Finally, we summarize the most promising biomedical applications and envision how living myocardial slices can lead to further breakthroughs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - A Dendorfer
- Walter-Brendel-Centre of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - T Thum
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany. .,National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - F Perbellini
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.
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