@article { , title = {Allele-specific RNA interference rescues the long-QT syndrome phenotype in human-induced pluripotency stem cell cardiomyocytes}, abstract = {Aims Long-QT syndromes (LQTS) are mostly autosomal-dominant congenital disorders associated with a 1:1000 mutation frequency, cardiac arrest, and sudden death. We sought to use cardiomyocytes derived from human-induced pluripotency stem cells (hiPSCs) as an in vitro model to develop and evaluate gene-based therapeutics for the treatment of LQTS. Methods and results We produced LQTS-type 2 (LQT2) hiPSC cardiomyocytes carrying a KCNH2 c.G1681A mutation in a IKr ion-channel pore, which caused impaired glycosylation and channel transport to cell surface. Allele-specific RNA interference (RNAi) directed towards the mutated KCNH2 mRNA caused knockdown, while leaving the wild-type mRNA unaffected. Electrophysiological analysis of patient-derived LQT2 hiPSC cardiomyocytes treated with mutation-specific siRNAs showed normalized action potential durations (APDs) and K+ currents with the concurrent rescue of spontaneous and drug-induced arrhythmias (presented as early-afterdepolarizations). Conclusions These findings provide in vitro evidence that allele-specific RNAi can rescue diseased phenotype in LQTS cardiomyocytes. This is a potentially novel route for the treatment of many autosomal-dominant-negative disorders, including those of the heart. © 2013 The Author.}, doi = {10.1093/eurheartj/eht067}, eissn = {1522-9645}, issn = {0195-668X}, issue = {16}, journal = {European Heart Journal}, pages = {1078-1087}, publicationstatus = {Published}, publisher = {Oxford University Press}, url = {https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/713897}, volume = {35}, keyword = {iPS cells, Long-QT syndrome, Arrhythmia, Electrophysiology, Gene therapy}, year = {2014}, author = {Matsa, Elena and Dixon, James E. and Medway, Christopher and Georgiou, Orestis and Patel, Minal J. and Morgan, Kevin and Kemp, Paul J. and Staniforth, Andrew and Mellor, Ian and Denning, Chris} }