Browsing by Author "Rubart-von der Lohe, Michael"

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    Absence of cardiomyocyte differentiation following transplantation of adult cardiac-resident Sca-1+ cells into infarcted mouse hearts
    (American Heart Association, 2018-12-18) Soonpaa, Mark H.; Lafontant, Pascal J.; Reuter, Sean; Scherschel, John A.; Srour, Edward F.; Zaruba, Marc-Michael; Rubart-von der Lohe, Michael; Field, Loren J.; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Although several lines of evidence suggest that the glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-anchored cell surface protein Sca-1 marks cardiac-resident stem cells, a critical analysis of the literature raises some concerns regarding their cardiomyogenic potential.1 Here, isolated adult cardiac-resident Sca-1+ cells were engrafted into infarcted hearts and monitored for cardiomyogenic differentiation. Donor cells were prepared from ACT-EGFP; MHC-nLAC double-transgenic mice ([C57/Bl6J x DBA/2J]F1 genetic background; all procedures followed were in accordance with Institutional Guidelines). The ACT-EGFP transgene targets ubiquitous expression of an enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter, and the MHC-nLAC transgene targets cardiomyocyte-restricted expression of a nuclear-localized β-galactosidase reporter. Donor cell survival was monitored via EGFP fluorescence, while cardiomyogenic differentiation was monitored by reacting with the chromogenic β-galactosidase substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-galactoside (X-GAL), which gives rise to a blue product.2 Double-transgenic hearts were dispersed with Blendzyme and the resulting cells reacted with an APC-conjugated anti-Sca-1 antibody and a PE-conjugated cocktail of antibodies recognizing hematopoietic lineage markers.3 Sca-1+, EGFP+, lineage- cells were then isolated via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS; characterization of the donor cells is provided in Figure 1A), and 100,000 cells were injected into the infarct border zone of non-transgenic [C57/Bl6J x DBA/2J]F1 mice immediately following permanent coronary artery occlusion.
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    Cardiac sodium channel palmitoylation regulates channel function and cardiac excitability with implications for arrhythmia generation
    (2016-12-09) Pei, Zifan; Cummins, Theodore R.; Oxford, Gerry S.; Hudmon, Andy; Rubart-von der Lohe, Michael; Sheets, Patrick L.
    The  cardiac  voltage-­gated  sodium  channels  (Nav1.5)  play  a  specific  and   critical  role  in  regulating  cardiac  electrical  activity  by  initiating  and  propagating   action  potentials  in  the  heart.  The  association  between  Nav1.5  dysfunctions  and   generation  of  various  types  of  cardiac  arrhythmia  disease,  including  long-­QT3   and  Brugada  syndrome,  is  well  established.  Many  types  of  post-­translational   modifications  have  been  shown  to  regulate  Nav1.5  biophysical  properties,   including  phosphorylation,  glycosylation  and  ubiquitination.  However,  our   understanding  about  how  post-­translational  lipid  modification  affects  sodium   channel  function  and  cellular  excitability,  is  still  lacking.  The  goal  of  this   dissertation  is  to  characterize  Nav1.5  palmitoylation,  one  of  the  most  common   post-­translational  lipid  modification  and  its  role  in  regulating  Nav1.5  function  and   cardiac  excitability.     In  our  studies,  three  lines  of  biochemistry  evidence  were  shown  to  confirm   Nav1.5  palmitoylation  in  both  native  expression  background  and  heterologous   expression  system.  Moreover,  palmitoylation  of  Nav1.5  can  be  bidirectionally   regulated  using  2-­Br-­palmitate  and  palmitic  acid.  Our  results  also  demonstrated   that  enhanced  palmitoylation  in  both  cardiomyocytes  and  HEK293  cells   increases  sodium  channel  availability  and  late  sodium  current  activity,  leading  to   enhanced  cardiac  excitability  and  prolonged  action  potential  duration.  In  contrast,   blocking  palmitoylation  by  2-­Br-­palmitiate  increases  closed-­state  channel inactivation  and  reduces  myocyte  excitability.  Our  computer  simulation  results   confirmed  that  the  observed  modification  in  Nav1.5  gating  properties  by  protein   palmitoylation  are  adequate  for  the  alterations  in  cardiac  excitability.  Mutations  of   potential  palmitoylation  sites  predicted  by  CSS-­Palm  bioinformatics  tool  were   introduced  into  wild-­type  Nav1.5  constructs  using  site-­directed  mutagenesis.   Further  studies  revealed  four  cysteines  (C981,  C1176,  C1178,  C1179)  as   possible  Nav1.5  palmitoylation  sites.  In  particular,  a  mutation  of  one  of  these   sites(C981)  is  associated  with  cardiac  arrhythmia  disease.  Cysteine  to   phenylalanine  mutation  at  this  site  largely  enhances  of  channel  closed-­state   inactivation  and  ablates  sensitivity  to  depalmitoylation.  Therefore,  C981  might  be   the  most  important  site  that  regulates  Nav1.5  palmitoylation.  In  summary,  this   dissertation  research  identified  novel  post-­translational  modification  on  Nav1.5   and  revealed  important  details  behind  this  process.  Our  data  provides  new   insights  on  how  post-­translational  lipid  modification  alters  cardiomyocyte   excitability  and  its  potential  role  in  arrhythmogenesis.
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    Cardiac Troponin I-interacting Kinase impacts cardiomyocyte S-phase activity but not cardiomyocyte proliferation
    (American Heart Association, 2023) Reuter, Sean P.; Soonpaa, Mark H.; Field, Dorothy; Simpson, Ed; Rubart-von der Lohe, Michael; Lee, Han Kyu; Sridhar, Arthi; Ware, Stephanie M.; Green, Nick; Li, Xiaochun; Ofner, Susan; Marchuk, Douglas A.; Wollert, Kai C.; Field, Loren J.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background: Identifying genetic variants that affect the level of cell cycle reentry and establishing the degree of cell cycle progression in those variants could help guide development of therapeutic interventions aimed at effecting cardiac regeneration. We observed that C57Bl6/NCR (B6N) mice have a marked increase in cardiomyocyte S-phase activity after permanent coronary artery ligation compared with infarcted DBA/2J (D2J) mice. Methods: Cardiomyocyte cell cycle activity after infarction was monitored in D2J, (D2J×B6N)-F1, and (D2J×B6N)-F1×D2J backcross mice by means of bromodeoxyuridine or 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation using a nuclear-localized transgenic reporter to identify cardiomyocyte nuclei. Genome-wide quantitative trait locus analysis, fine scale genetic mapping, whole exome sequencing, and RNA sequencing analyses of the backcross mice were performed to identify the gene responsible for the elevated cardiomyocyte S-phase phenotype. Results: (D2J×B6N)-F1 mice exhibited a 14-fold increase in cardiomyocyte S-phase activity in ventricular regions remote from infarct scar compared with D2J mice (0.798±0.09% versus 0.056±0.004%; P<0.001). Quantitative trait locus analysis of (D2J×B6N)-F1×D2J backcross mice revealed that the gene responsible for differential S-phase activity was located on the distal arm of chromosome 3 (logarithm of the odds score=6.38; P<0.001). Additional genetic and molecular analyses identified 3 potential candidates. Of these, Tnni3k (troponin I-interacting kinase) is expressed in B6N hearts but not in D2J hearts. Transgenic expression of TNNI3K in a D2J genetic background results in elevated cardiomyocyte S-phase activity after injury. Cardiomyocyte S-phase activity in both Tnni3k-expressing and Tnni3k-nonexpressing mice results in the formation of polyploid nuclei. Conclusions: These data indicate that Tnni3k expression increases the level of cardiomyocyte S-phase activity after injury.
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    Concomitant SK current activation and sodium current inhibition cause J wave syndrome
    (American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2018-11-15) Chen, Mu; Xu, Dong-Zhu; Wu, Adonis Z.; Guo, Shuai; Wan, Juyi; Yin, Dechun; Lin, Shien-Fong; Chen, Zhenhui; Rubart-von der Lohe, Michael; Everett, Thomas H., IV; Qu, Zhilin; Weiss, James N.; Chen, Peng-Sheng; Medicine, School of Medicine
    The mechanisms of J wave syndrome (JWS) are incompletely understood. Here, we showed that the concomitant activation of small-conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) current (IKAS) and inhibition of sodium current by cyclohexyl-[2-(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)-6-methyl-pyrimidin-4-yl]-amine (CyPPA) recapitulate the phenotypes of JWS in Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts. CyPPA induced significant J wave elevation and frequent spontaneous ventricular fibrillation (SVF), as well as sinus bradycardia, atrioventricular block, and intraventricular conduction delay. IKAS activation by CyPPA resulted in heterogeneous shortening of action potential (AP) duration (APD) and repolarization alternans. CyPPA inhibited cardiac sodium current (INa) and decelerated AP upstroke and intracellular calcium transient. SVFs were typically triggered by short-coupled premature ventricular contractions, initiated with phase 2 reentry and originated more frequently from the right than the left ventricles. Subsequent IKAS blockade by apamin reduced J wave elevation and eliminated SVF. β-Adrenergic stimulation was antiarrhythmic in CyPPA-induced electrical storm. Like CyPPA, hypothermia (32.0°C) also induced J wave elevation and SVF. It facilitated negative calcium-voltage coupling and phase 2 repolarization alternans with spatial and electromechanical discordance, which were ameliorated by apamin. These findings suggest that IKAS activation contributes to the development of JWS in rabbit ventricles.
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    Effects of ondansetron on apamin-sensitive small conductance calcium-activated potassium currents in pacing-induced failing rabbit hearts
    (Elsevier, 2019) Yin, Dechun; Yang, Na; Tian, Zhipeng; Wu, Adonis Z.; Xu, Dongzhu; Chen, Mu; Kamp, Nicholas J.; Wang, Zhuo; Shen, Changyu; Chen, Zhenhui; Lin, Shien-Fong; Rubart-von der Lohe, Michael; Chen, Peng-Sheng; Everett, Thomas H., IV; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Background Ondansetron, a widely prescribed antiemetic, has been implicated in drug-induced long QT syndrome. Recent patch clamp experiments have shown that ondansetron inhibits the apamin-sensitive small conductance calcium-activated potassium current (IKAS). Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether ondansetron causes action potential duration (APD) prolongation by IKAS inhibition. Methods Optical mapping was performed in rabbit hearts with pacing-induced heart failure (HF) and in normal hearts before and after ondansetron (100 nM) infusion. APD at 80% repolarization (APD80) and arrhythmia inducibility were determined. Additional studies with ondansetron were performed in normal hearts perfused with hypokalemic Tyrode's (2.4 mM) solution before or after apamin administration. Results The corrected QT interval in HF was 326 ms (95% confidence interval [CI] 306–347 ms) at baseline and 364 ms (95% CI 351–378 ms) after ondansetron infusion (P < .001). Ondansetron significantly prolonged APD80 in the HF group and promoted early afterdepolarizations, steepened the APD restitution curve, and increased ventricular vulnerability. Ventricular fibrillation was not inducible in HF ventricles at baseline, but after ondansetron infusion, ventricular fibrillation was induced in 5 of the 7 ventricles (P = .021). In hypokalemia, apamin prolonged APD80 from 163 ms (95% CI 146–180 ms) to 180 ms (95% CI 156–204 ms) (P = .018). Subsequent administration of ondansetron failed to further prolong APD80 (180 ms [95% CI 156–204 ms] vs 179 ms [95% CI 165–194 ms]; P = .789). The results were similar when ondansetron was administered first, followed by apamin. Conclusion Ondansetron is a specific IKAS blocker at therapeutic concentrations. Ondansetron may prolong the QT interval in HF by inhibiting small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels, which increases the vulnerability to ventricular arrhythmias.
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    Genome-wide analyses reveal the detrimental impacts of SARS-CoV-2 viral gene Orf9c on human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes
    (Cell Press, 2022) Liu, Juli; Zhang, Yucheng; Han, Lei; Guo, Shuai; Wu, Shiyong; Doud, Emma Helen; Wang, Cheng; Chen, Hanying; Rubart-von der Lohe, Michael; Wan, Jun; Yang, Lei; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) commonly have manifestations of heart disease. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome encodes 27 proteins. Currently, SARS-CoV-2 gene-induced abnormalities of human heart muscle cells remain elusive. Here, we comprehensively characterized the detrimental effects of a SARS-CoV-2 gene, Orf9c, on human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) by preforming multi-omic analyses. Transcriptomic analyses of hPSC-CMs infected by SARS-CoV-2 with Orf9c overexpression (Orf9cOE) identified concordantly up-regulated genes enriched into stress-related apoptosis and inflammation signaling pathways, and down-regulated CM functional genes. Proteomic analysis revealed enhanced expressions of apoptotic factors, whereas reduced protein factors for ATP synthesis by Orf9cOE. Orf9cOE significantly reduced cellular ATP level, induced apoptosis, and caused electrical dysfunctions of hPSC-CMs. Finally, drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, namely, ivermectin and meclizine, restored ATP levels and ameliorated CM death and functional abnormalities of Orf9cOE hPSC-CMs. Overall, we defined the molecular mechanisms underlying the detrimental impacts of Orf9c on hPSC-CMs and explored potentially therapeutic approaches to ameliorate Orf9c-induced cardiac injury and abnormalities.
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    HAND1 loss-of-function within the embryonic myocardium reveals survivable congenital cardiac defects and adult heart failure
    (Oxford University Press, 2020-03) Firulli, Beth A.; George, Rajani M.; Harkin, Jade; Toolan, Kevin P.; Gao, Hongyu; Liu, Yunlong; Zhang, Wenjun; Field, Loren J.; Liu, Ying; Shou, Weinian; Payne, Ronald Mark; Rubart-von der Lohe, Michael; Firulli, Anthony B.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Aims: To examine the role of the basic Helix-loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factor HAND1 in embryonic and adult myocardium. Methods and results: Hand1 is expressed within the cardiomyocytes of the left ventricle (LV) and myocardial cuff between embryonic days (E) 9.5-13.5. Hand gene dosage plays an important role in ventricular morphology and the contribution of Hand1 to congenital heart defects requires further interrogation. Conditional ablation of Hand1 was carried out using either Nkx2.5 knockin Cre (Nkx2.5Cre) or α-myosin heavy chain Cre (αMhc-Cre) driver. Interrogation of transcriptome data via ingenuity pathway analysis reveals several gene regulatory pathways disrupted including translation and cardiac hypertrophy-related pathways. Embryo and adult hearts were subjected to histological, functional, and molecular analyses. Myocardial deletion of Hand1 results in morphological defects that include cardiac conduction system defects, survivable interventricular septal defects, and abnormal LV papillary muscles (PMs). Resulting Hand1 conditional mutants are born at Mendelian frequencies; but the morphological alterations acquired during cardiac development result in, the mice developing diastolic heart failure. Conclusion: Collectively, these data reveal that HAND1 contributes to the morphogenic patterning and maturation of cardiomyocytes during embryogenesis and although survivable, indicates a role for Hand1 within the developing conduction system and PM development.
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    In situ three-dimensional reconstruction of mouse heart sympathetic innervation by two-photon excitation fluorescence imaging
    (2014-02-25) Freeman, Kim Renee; Rubart-von der Lohe, Michael; Atkinson, Simon; Hurley, Thomas D., 1961-; Gattone II, Vincent H.
    The sympathetic nervous system strongly modulates the contractile and electrical function of the heart. The anatomical underpinnings that enable a spatially and temporally coordinated dissemination of sympathetic signals within the cardiac tissue are only incompletely characterized. In this work we took the first step of unraveling the in situ 3D microarchitecture of the cardiac sympathetic nervous system. Using a combination of two-photon excitation fluorescence microscopy and computer-assisted image analyses, we reconstructed the sympathetic network in a portion of the left ventricular epicardium from adult transgenic mice expressing a fluorescent reporter protein in all peripheral sympathetic neurons. The reconstruction revealed several organizational principles of the local sympathetic tree that synergize to enable a coordinated and efficient signal transfer to the target tissue. First, synaptic boutons are aligned with high density along much of axon-cell contacts. Second, axon segments are oriented parallel to the main, i.e., longitudinal, axes of their apposed cardiomyocytes, optimizing the frequency of transmitter release sites per axon/per cardiomyocyte. Third, the local network was partitioned into branched and/or looped sub-trees which extended both radially and tangentially through the image volume. Fourth, sub-trees arrange to not much overlap, giving rise to multiple annexed innervation domains of variable complexity and configuration. The sympathetic network in the epicardial border zone of a chronic myocardial infarction was observed to undergo substantive remodeling, which included almost complete loss of fibers at depths >10 µm from the surface, spatially heterogeneous gain of axons, irregularly shaped synaptic boutons, and formation of axonal plexuses composed of nested loops of variable length. In conclusion, we provide, to the best of our knowledge, the first in situ 3D reconstruction of the local cardiac sympathetic network in normal and injured mammalian myocardium. Mapping the sympathetic network connectivity will aid in elucidating its role in sympathetic signal transmisson and processing.
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    Intermittent left cervical vagal nerve stimulation damages the stellate ganglia and reduces the ventricular rate during sustained atrial fibrillation in ambulatory dogs
    (Elsevier, 2016-03) Chinda, Kroekkiat; Tsai, Wei-Chung; Chan, Yi-Hsin; Lin, Andrew Y.-T.; Patel, Jheel; Zhao, Ye; Tan, Alex Y.; Shen, Mark J.; Lin, Hongbo; Shen, Changyu; Chattipakorn, Nipon; Rubart-von der Lohe, Michael; Chen, Lan S.; Fishbein, Michael C.; Lin, Shien-Fong; Chen, Zhenhui; Chen, Peng-Sheng; Department of Medicine, IU School of Medicine
    BACKGROUND: The effects of intermittent open-loop vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) on the ventricular rate (VR) during atrial fibrillation (AF) remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that VNS damages the stellate ganglion (SG) and improves VR control during persistent AF. METHODS: We performed left cervical VNS in ambulatory dogs while recording the left SG nerve activity (SGNA) and vagal nerve activity. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining were used to assess neuronal cell death in the SG. RESULTS: We induced persistent AF by atrial pacing in 6 dogs, followed by intermittent VNS with short ON-time (14 seconds) and long OFF-time (66 seconds). The integrated SGNA and VR during AF were 4.84 mV·s (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.08-6.60 mV·s) and 142 beats/min (95% CI 116-168 beats/min), respectively. During AF, VNS reduced the integrated SGNA and VR, respectively, to 3.74 mV·s (95% CI 2.27-5.20 mV·s; P = .021) and 115 beats/min (95% CI 96-134 beats/min; P = .016) during 66-second OFF-time and to 4.07 mV·s (95% CI 2.42-5.72 mV·s; P = .037) and 114 beats/min (95% CI 83-146 beats/min; P = .039) during 3-minute OFF-time. VNS increased the frequencies of prolonged (>3 seconds) pauses during AF. TH staining showed large confluent areas of damage in the left SG, characterized by pyknotic nuclei, reduced TH staining, increased percentage of TH-negative ganglion cells, and positive TUNEL staining. Occasional TUNEL-positive ganglion cells were also observed in the right SG. CONCLUSION: VNS damaged the SG, leading to reduced SGNA and better rate control during persistent AF.
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    Sex‐specific activation of SK current by isoproterenol facilitates action potential triangulation and arrhythmogenesis in rabbit ventricles
    (Wiley, 2018) Chen, Mu; Yin, Dechun; Guo, Shuai; Xu, Dong-Zhu; Wang, Zhuo; Chen, Zhenhui; Rubart-von der Lohe, Michael; Lin, Shien-Fong; Everett, Thomas H., IV; Weiss, James N.; Chen, Peng-Sheng; Medicine, School of Medicine
    Sex has a large influence on cardiac electrophysiological properties. Whether sex differences exist in apamin‐sensitive small conductance Ca2+‐activated K+ (SK) current (IKAS) remains unknown. We performed optical mapping, transmembrane potential, patch clamp, western blot and immunostaining in 62 normal rabbit ventricles, including 32 females and 30 males. IKAS blockade by apamin only minimally prolonged action potential (AP) duration (APD) in the basal condition for both sexes, but significantly prolonged APD in the presence of isoproterenol in females. Apamin prolonged APD at the level of 25% repolarization (APD25) more prominently than APD at the level of 80% repolarization (APD80), consequently reversing isoproterenol‐induced AP triangulation in females. In comparison, apamin prolonged APD to a significantly lesser extent in males and failed to restore the AP plateau during isoproterenol infusion. IKAS in males did not respond to the L‐type calcium current agonist BayK8644, but was amplified by the casein kinase 2 (CK2) inhibitor 4,5,6,7‐tetrabromobenzotriazole. In addition, whole‐cell outward IKAS densities in ventricular cardiomyocytes were significantly larger in females than in males. SK channel subtype 2 (SK2) protein expression was higher and the CK2/SK2 ratio was lower in females than in males. IKAS activation in females induced negative intracellular Ca2+–voltage coupling, promoted electromechanically discordant phase 2 repolarization alternans and facilitated ventricular fibrillation (VF). Apamin eliminated the negative Ca2+–voltage coupling, attenuated alternans and reduced VF inducibility, phase singularities and dominant frequencies in females, but not in males. We conclude that β‐adrenergic stimulation activates ventricular IKAS in females to a much greater extent than in males. IKAS activation plays an important role in ventricular arrhythmogenesis in females during sympathetic stimulation.