János Magyar

Mechanism of spontaneous excitability in human embryonic stem cell derived cardiomyocytes

Human embryonic stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes (hES‐CMs) are thought to recapitulate the embryonic development of heart cells. Given the exciting potential of hES‐CMs as replacement tissue in diseased hearts, we investigated the pharmacological sensitivity and ionic current of mid‐stage hES‐CMs (20–35 days post plating). A high‐resolution microelectrode array was used to assess conduction in multicellular preparations of hES‐CMs in spontaneously contracting embryoid bodies (EBs). TTX (10 μm) dramatically slowed conduction velocity from 5.1 to 3.2 cm s−1 while 100 μm TTX caused complete cessation of spontaneous electrical activity in all EBs studied. In contrast, the Ca2+ channel blockers nifedipine or diltiazem (1 μm) had a negligible effect on conduction. These results suggested a prominent Na+ channel current, and therefore we patch‐clamped isolated cells to record Na+ current and action potentials (APs). We found for isolated hES‐CMs a prominent Na+ current (244 ± 42 pA pF−1 at 0 mV; n= 19), and a hyperpolarization‐activated current (HCN), but no inward rectifier K+ current. In cell clusters, 3 μm TTX induced longer AP interpulse intervals and 10 μm TTX caused cessation of spontaneous APs. In contrast nifedipine (Ca2+ channel block) and 2 mm Cs+ (HCN complete block) induced shorter AP interpulse intervals. In single cells, APs stimulated by current pulses had a maximum upstroke velocity (dV/dtmax) of 118 ± 14 V s−1 in control conditions; in contrast, partial block of Na+ current significantly reduced stimulated dV/dtmax (38 ± 15 V s−1). RT‐PCR revealed NaV1.5, CaV1.2, and HCN‐2 expression but we could not detect Kir2.1. We conclude that hES‐CMs at mid‐range development express prominent Na+ current. The absence of background K+ current creates conditions for spontaneous activity that is sensitive to TTX in the same range of partial block of NaV1.5; thus, the NaV1.5 Na+ channel is important for initiating spontaneous excitability in hES‐derived heart cells.

Action potentials and potassium currents in rat ventricular muscle during experimental diabetes

Time course of the surface electrical activity was studied in left ventricular trabeculae of Wistar rats made diabetic using streptozotocin. The action potentials were recorded in Tyrodes solution at 32 degrees C, their duration considerably increased in diabetes. By the 8th week, the prolongation was 64% at 25% of repolarization; 112% at 50% and 118% at 75%. Insulin treatment reduced the prolongation of the action potentials although a complete restoration was not achieved. 0.1 mM La3+ moderately shortened the electrical activity both in control and in diabetic trabeculae. Three mM 4-aminopyridine made the time course of control action potentials very similar to the diabetic ones while the action potentials from the diabetic animals were prolonged further to a smaller extent. Whole-cell clamp experiments in isolated ventricular myocytes (20-23 degrees C) showed a considerable decrease and a somewhat accelerated inactivation of the transient outward current (Ito) in diabetes. The steady-state inactivation and the rate of recovery from inactivation of Ito did not change. No alterations in the magnitude and voltage dependence of inward rectifier (IK1) were found around the resting membrane potential. The diabetes-related suppression of Ito explains the decreased repolarization rate of action potentials.

Endocardial versus epicardial differences in L-type calcium current in canine ventricular myocytes studied by action potential voltage clamp

OBJECTIVES The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the dynamics of L-type Ca(2+) current (I(Ca,L)) during physiologic action potential (AP) in canine ventricular cardiomyocytes of epicardial (EPI) and endocardial (ENDO) origin. METHODS I(Ca,L) was recorded on cells derived from the two regions of the heart using both AP voltage clamp and conventional whole cell voltage clamp techniques. RESULTS AP voltage clamp experiments revealed that the decay of I(Ca,L) is monotonic during endocardial AP, whereas the current is double-peaked (displaying a second rise) during epicardial AP. The amplitude of the first peak was significantly greater in ENDO (-4.6+/-0.8 pA/pF) than in EPI cells (-2.8+/-0.3 pA/pF). Application of epicardial APs as command pulses to endocardial cells yielded double-peaked I(Ca,L) profiles, and increased the net charge entry carried by I(Ca,L) during the AP from 0.187+/-0.059 to 0.262+/-0.056 pC/pF (n=5, P<0.05). No differences were observed in current densities and inactivation kinetics of I(Ca,L) between EPI and ENDO cells when studied under conventional voltage clamp conditions. Nisoldipine shortened action potentials and eliminated the dome of the epicardial AP. CONCLUSION I(Ca,L) was shown to partially inactivate before and deactivate during phase-1 repolarization and reopening of these channels is responsible for the formation of the dome in canine EPI cells. The transmural differences in the profile of I(Ca,L) could be well explained with differences in AP configuration.

Ionic mechanisms limiting cardiac repolarization reserve in humans compared to dogs.

•  Cardiac repolarization, through which heart‐cells return to their resting state after having fired, is a delicate process, susceptible to disruption by common drugs and clinical conditions. •  Animal models, particularly the dog, are often used to study repolarization properties and responses to drugs, with the assumption that such findings are relevant to humans. However, little is known about the applicability of findings in animals to man. •  Here, we studied the contribution of various ion‐currents to cardiac repolarization in canine and human ventricle. •  Humans showed much greater repolarization‐impairing effects of drugs blocking the rapid delayed‐rectifier current IKr than dogs, because of lower repolarization‐reserve contributions from two other important repolarizing currents (the inward‐rectifier IK1 and slow delayed‐rectifier IKs). •  Our findings clarify differences in cardiac repolarization‐processes among species, highlighting the importance of caution when extrapolating results from animal models to man.

Reverse rate dependency is an intrinsic property of canine cardiac preparations

AIMS Class III antiarrhythmic agents exhibit reverse rate-dependent lengthening of the action potential duration (APD). In spite of the several theories developed so far to explain this reverse rate dependency (RRD), its mechanism has not yet been clarified. The aim of the present work was to further elucidate the mechanisms responsible for reverse rate-dependent drug effects. METHODS AND RESULTS Action potentials were recorded from multicellular canine ventricular preparations and isolated cardiomyocytes, at cycle lengths (CLs) varying from 0.3 to 5 s, using conventional sharp microelectrodes. APD was either modified by applying inward and outward current pulses, or by superfusion of agents known to lengthen and shorten APD. Net membrane current (I(m)) was calculated from action potential waveforms. The hypothesis that RRD may be implicit in the relationship between I(m) and APD was tested by numerical modelling. Both drug-induced lengthening (by veratrine, BAY-K 8644, dofetilide, and BaCl(2)) and shortening (by lidocaine and nicorandil) of action potentials displayed RRD, i.e. changes in APD were greater at longer than at shorter CL. A similar dependency of effect on CL was found when repolarization was modified by injection of inward or outward current pulses. I(m) measured at various points during repolarization was inversely proportional to APD and to CL. Model simulations showed that RRD is expected as a consequence of the non-linearity of the relationship between I(m) and APD. CONCLUSION RRD of APD modulation is shared, although with differences in magnitude, by interventions of very different nature. RRD can be interpreted as a consequence of the relationship between I(m) and APD and, as such, is expected in all species having positive APD-CL relationship. This implies that the development of agents prolonging APD with direct rate dependency, or even completely devoid of RRD, may be difficult to achieve.

Effects of thymol on calcium and potassium currents in canine and human ventricular cardiomyocytes

Concentration‐dependent effects of thymol (1–1000 μM) was studied on action potential configuration and ionic currents in isolated canine ventricular cardiomyocytes using conventional microelectrode and patch clamp techniques. Low concentration of thymol (10 μM) removed the notch of the action potential, whereas high concentrations (100 μM or higher) caused an additional shortening of action potential duration accompanied by progressive depression of plateau and reduction of Vmax. In the canine cells L‐type Ca current (ICa) was decreased by thymol in a concentration‐dependent manner (EC50: 158±7 μM, Hill coeff.: 2.96±0.43). In addition, thymol (50–250 μM) accelerated the inactivation of ICa, increased the time constant of recovery from inactivation, shifted the steady‐state inactivation curve of ICa leftwards, but voltage dependence of activation remained unaltered. Qualitatively similar results were obtained with thymol in ventricular myocytes isolated from healthy human hearts. Thymol displayed concentration‐dependent suppressive effects on potassium currents: the transient outward current, Ito (EC50: 60.6±11.4 μM, Hill coeff.: 1.03±0.11), the rapid component of the delayed rectifier, IKr (EC50: 63.4±6.1 μM, Hill coeff.: 1.29±0.15), and the slow component of the delayed rectifier, IKs (EC50: 202±11 μM, Hill coeff.: 0.72±0.14), however, K channel kinetics were not much altered by thymol. These effects on Ca and K currents developed rapidly (within 0.5 min) and were readily reversible. In conclusion, thymol suppressed cardiac ionic channels in a concentration‐dependent manner, however, both drug‐sensitivities as well as the mechanism of action seems to be different when blocking calcium and potassium channels.

Effects of Endothelins on Cardiac and Vascular Cells: New Therapeutic Target for the Future?

The predominant isoform of the endothelin peptide family. endothelin-1 (ET-1) exerts various biological effects. These include effects on arterial smooth muscle cells causing intense vasoconstriction and stimulation of cardiac cells. ET-1 promotes changes in cardiomyocytes that are consistent with electrical remodelling such as changes in ionic current density and inhomogeneous prolongation of action potential duration resulting in increased dispersion. As for the underlying mechanisms, ET-1 was shown to suppress several cAMP-dependent ionic currents, such as ICa, IK and ICl in various mammalian cardiac preparations including human myocytes; however, the degree of suppression of these currents is different and highly dependent on experimental conditions. The proposed arrhythmogenic effects of ET-1 may also involve enhancement of Ca2+ release from intracellular stores, generation of IP3, and acidosis due to stimulation of the Na+/H+ exchange. Furthermore, ET-1 acts as the natural counterpart to endothelium-derived nitric oxide, which exerts vasodilator, antithrombotic and antiproliferative effects, and inhibits leukocyte adhesion to the vascular wall. Effects of ET-1 are mediated through interaction with two major types of cell surface receptors. ETA receptors have been associated with electrical remodelling, vasoconstriction and cell growth, while ETB receptors are involved in the clearance of ET-1, inhibition of endothelial apoptosis, release of NO and prostacyclins, and inhibition of the expression of ET-1 converting enzyme. The derangement of endothelial function in various cardiovascular diseases, such as cardiomyopathies, hypertension or arteriosclerosis, is a crucial element of the pathomechanism, thus ET receptors are considered as important therapeutic targets. Indeed, ET receptor antagonists may be able to preserve or restore endothelial integrity and may have antiarrhythmic properties; therefore, they are promising tools in cardiovascular medicine.

Structure‐activity relationships of vanilloid receptor agonists for arteriolar TRPV1

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) plays a role in the activation of sensory neurons by various painful stimuli and is a therapeutic target. However, functional TRPV1 that affect microvascular diameter are also expressed in peripheral arteries and we attempted to characterize this receptor.

The Na+/Ca2+ exchange blocker SEA0400 fails to enhance cytosolic Ca2+ transient and contractility in canine ventricular cardiomyocytes

AIMS This study was designed to evaluate the effects of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange (NCX) inhibitor SEA0400 on Ca(2+) handling in isolated canine ventricular myocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS Intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)](i)) transients, induced by either field stimulation or caffeine flush, were monitored using Ca(2+) indicator dyes. [Ca(2+)](i)-dependent modulation of the inhibitory effect of SEA0400 on NCX was characterized by the changes in Ni(2+)-sensitive current in voltage-clamped myocytes. Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) release and uptake were studied in SR membrane vesicles. Gating properties of single-ryanodine receptors were analysed in lipid bilayers. Ca(2+) sensitivity of the contractile machinery was evaluated in chemically skinned myocytes. In myocytes paced at 1 Hz, neither diastolic [Ca(2+)](i) nor the amplitude of [Ca(2+)](i) transients was significantly altered by SEA0400 up to the concentration of 1 microM, which was shown to inhibit the exchange current. The blocking effect of SEA0400 on NCX decreased with increasing [Ca(2+)](i), and it was more pronounced in reverse than in forward mode operation at every [Ca(2+)](i) examined. The rate of decay of the caffeine-induced [Ca(2+)](i) transients was decreased significantly by 1 microM SEA0400; however, this effect was only a fraction of that observed with 10 mM NiCl(2). Neither SR Ca(2+) release and uptake nor cell shortening and Ca(2+) sensitivity of the contractile proteins were influenced by SEA0400. CONCLUSION The lack of any major SEA0400-induced shift in Ca(2+) transients or contractility of myocytes can well be explained by its limited inhibitory effect on NCX (further attenuated by elevated [Ca(2+)](i) levels) and a concomitant reduction in Ca(2+) influx due to the predominantly reverse mode blockade of NCX and suppression of L-type Ca(2+) current.

Action potential clamp fingerprints of K+ currents in canine cardiomyocytes: their role in ventricular repolarization

Aim:  The aim of the present study was to give a parametric description of the most important K+ currents flowing during canine ventricular action potential.