期刊
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY
卷 120, 期 -, 页码 31-41出版社
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.05.010
关键词
Pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes; Intercellular coupling; Connexin-43; Na(v)1.5; Excitability; Action potential
资金
- Innovation Fund FRONTIER from Heidelberg University [ZUK 49/2 5.2.156]
The therapeutic potential of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) is limited by immature functional features including low impulse propagation and reduced cell excitability. Key players regulating electrical activity are voltage-gated Na+ channels (Na(v)1.5) and gap junctions built from connexin-43 (Cx43). Here we tested the hypothesis that enhanced Cx43 expression increases intercellular coupling and influences excitability by modulating Na(v)1.5. Using transgenic approaches, Cx43 and Na(v)1.5 localization and cell coupling were studied by confocal imaging. Na(v)1.5 currents and action potentials (APs) were measured using the patch-clamp technique. Enhanced sarcolemmal Cx43 expression significantly improved intercellular coupling and accelerated dye transfer kinetics. Furthermore, Cx43 modulated Na(v)1.5 function leading to significantly higher current and enhanced AP upstroke velocities, thereby improving electrical activity as measured by microelectrode arrays. These findings suggest a mechanistic link between cell coupling and excitability controlled by Cx43 expression in iPSC-CMs. Therefore, we propose Cx43 as novel molecular target for improving electrical properties of iPSC-CMs to match the functional properties of native myocytes.
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