Absence of Functional Nav1.8 Channels in Non-diseased Atrial and Ventricular Cardiomyocytes

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Simona Casini - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Gerard A. Marchal - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Makiri Kawasaki - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Fransisca A. Nariswari - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Vincent Portero - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Nicoline W.E. van den Berg - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Kaomei Guan - , Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Antoine H.G. Driessen - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Marieke W. Veldkamp - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Isabella Mengarelli - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Joris R. de Groot - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Arie O. Verkerk - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • Carol Ann Remme - , University of Amsterdam (Author)

Abstract

Purpose: Several studies have indicated a potential role for SCN10A/NaV1.8 in modulating cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmia susceptibility. However, by which mechanism SCN10A/NaV1.8 impacts on cardiac electrical function is still a matter of debate. To address this, we here investigated the functional relevance of NaV1.8 in atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes (CMs), focusing on the contribution of NaV1.8 to the peak and late sodium current (INa) under normal conditions in different species. Methods: The effects of the NaV1.8 blocker A-803467 were investigated through patch-clamp analysis in freshly isolated rabbit left ventricular CMs, human left atrial CMs and human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs (hiPSC-CMs). Results: A-803467 treatment caused a slight shortening of the action potential duration (APD) in rabbit CMs and hiPSC-CMs, while it had no effect on APD in human atrial cells. Resting membrane potential, action potential (AP) amplitude, and AP upstroke velocity were unaffected by A-803467 application. Similarly, INa density was unchanged after exposure to A-803467 and NaV1.8-based late INa was undetectable in all cell types analysed. Finally, low to absent expression levels of SCN10A were observed in human atrial tissue, rabbit ventricular tissue and hiPSC-CMs. Conclusion: We here demonstrate the absence of functional NaV1.8 channels in non-diseased atrial and ventricular CMs. Hence, the association of SCN10A variants with cardiac electrophysiology observed in, e.g. genome wide association studies, is likely the result of indirect effects on SCN5A expression and/or NaV1.8 activity in cell types other than CMs.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)649-660
Number of pages12
JournalCardiovascular drugs and therapy
Volume33
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2019
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 31916131

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Cardiomyocytes, hiPSC-CMs, Late sodium current, Patch-clamp, SCN10A/Na1.8, Sodium channel