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Drug-mediated shortening of action potentials in LQTS2 hiPSC-cardiomyocytes

Duncan, Gary; Firth, Karl S.A.; George, Vinoj; Hoang, Minh Duc; Staniforth, Andrew; Smith, Godfrey; Denning, Chris

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Authors

Gary Duncan

Karl S.A. Firth

Vinoj George

Minh Duc Hoang

Andrew Staniforth

Godfrey Smith



Abstract

Cardiomyocytes (CMs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are now a well-established modality for modeling genetic disorders of the heart. This is especially so for long QT syndrome (LQTS), which is caused by perturbation of ion channel function, and can lead to fainting, malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. LQTS2 is caused by mutations in KCNH2, a gene whose protein product contributes to IKr (also known as HERG), which is the predominant repolarizing potassium current in CMs. β-blockers are the mainstay treatment for patients with LQTS, functioning by reducing heart rate and arrhythmogenesis. However, they are not effective in around a quarter of LQTS2 patients, in part, because they do not correct the defining feature of the condition, which is excessively prolonged QT interval. Since new therapeutics are needed, in this report, we biopsied skin fibroblasts from a patient who was both genetically and clinically diagnosed with LQTS2. By producing LQTS-hiPSC-CMs, we assessed the impact of different drugs on action potential duration (APD), which is used as an in vitro surrogate for QT interval. Not surprisingly, the patient's own β-blocker medication, propranolol, had a marginal effect on APD in the LQTS-hiPSC-CMs. However, APD could be significantly reduced by up to 19% with compounds that enhanced the IKr current by direct channel binding or by indirect mediation through the PPARδ/protein 14-3-3 epsilon/HERG pathway. Drug-induced enhancement of an alternative potassium current, IKATP, also reduced APD by up to 21%. This study demonstrates the utility of LQTS-hiPSC-CMs in evaluating whether drugs can shorten APD and, importantly, shows that PPARδ agonists may form a new class of therapeutics for this condition.

Citation

Duncan, G., Firth, K. S., George, V., Hoang, M. D., Staniforth, A., Smith, G., & Denning, C. (2017). Drug-mediated shortening of action potentials in LQTS2 hiPSC-cardiomyocytes. Stem Cells and Development, 26(23), https://doi.org/10.1089/scd.2017.0172

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 9, 2017
Online Publication Date Oct 9, 2017
Publication Date Dec 1, 2017
Deposit Date Nov 9, 2017
Publicly Available Date Nov 9, 2017
Journal Stem Cells and Development
Print ISSN 1547-3287
Electronic ISSN 1557-8534
Publisher Mary Ann Liebert
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 26
Issue 23
DOI https://doi.org/10.1089/scd.2017.0172
Keywords Human induced pluripotent stem cells; Cardiomyocytes; Disease modelling; Long QT syndrome; Action 23 potentials; Electrophysiology; IKr; HERG; IKATP; PPAR delta; Ion channel drug agonists
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/897873
Publisher URL http://online.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/scd.2017.0172
Contract Date Nov 9, 2017

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