Eag Domains Regulate LQT Mutant hERG Channels in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes.

Human Ether á go-go Related Gene potassium channels form the rapid component of the delayed-rectifier (IKr) current in the heart. The N-terminal 'eag' domain, which is composed of a Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain and a short PAS-cap region, is a critical regulator of hERG channel function. In previous studies, we showed that isolated eag (i-eag) domains rescued the dysfunction of long QT type-2 associated mutant hERG R56Q channels, by substituting for defective eag domains, when the channels were expressed in Xenopus oocytes or HEK 293 cells.Here, our goal was to determine whether the rescue of hERG R56Q channels by i-eag domains could be translated into the environment of cardiac myocytes. We expressed hERG R56Q channels in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and measured electrical properties of the cells with whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. We found that, like in non-myocyte cells, hERG R56Q had defective, fast closing (deactivation) kinetics when expressed in hiPSC-CMs. We report here that i-eag domains slowed the deactivation kinetics of hERG R56Q channels in hiPSC-CMs. hERG R56Q channels prolonged the AP of hiPSCs, and the AP was shortened by co-expression of i-eag domains and hERG R56Q channels. We measured robust Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) between i-eag domains tagged with Cyan fluorescent protein (CFP) and hERG R56Q channels tagged with Citrine fluorescent proteins (Citrine), indicating their close proximity at the cell membrane in live iPSC-CMs. Together, functional regulation and FRET spectroscopy measurements indicated that i-eag domains interacted directly with hERG R56Q channels in hiPSC-CMs. These results mean that the regulatory role of i-eag domains is conserved in the cellular environment of human cardiomyocytes, indicating that i-eag domains may be useful as a biological therapeutic.

Neuroprotective effect of dauricine after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats: involvement of Bcl-2 family proteins.

Previous studies have shown that the bisbenzyl isoquinoline alkaloid dauricine can protect the brain against ischemic damage. We investigated here whether dauricine could inhibit neuronal apoptosis and modulate Bcl-2 family protein levels in a rat model of transient focal cerebral ischemia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a 60 min temporary occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO). Two doses of dauricine (5 and 10 mg/kg as low and high dose respectively) were administered intraperitoneally at 1 hour after MCAO. After neurological deficits were assessed at 3 hours and 24 hours of reperfusion, rats were killed and brain samples were collected. Apoptotic changes were evaluated by TUNEL method. The immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to assess the protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax. RT-PCR was used to determine Bcl-2 and Bax mRNA expressions. Dauricine (5 and 10 mg/kg) treatment improved neurological deficits, diminished DNA fragmentation, increased Bcl-2 expression and reduced Bax expression in the penumbra. The infarct-reducing effects of dauricine may be due, in part, to the inhibition of apoptotic cell death via modulation Bcl-2 family protein in the penumbra.

Daurisoline suppressed early afterdepolarizations and inhibited L-type calcium current.

Our previous studies have shown that daurisoline (DS) exerted antiarrhythmic effects on various experimental arrhythmias. In this study, the effects of DS on early afterdepolarizations (EADs) and its possible mechanisms have been investigated. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced in rabbits by coarctating the abdominal aorta. The effects of DS on action potential duration (APD) and the incidences of EADs were studied in hypertrophied papillary muscles of rabbits in the conditions of low external K(+) concentration ([K(+)]o) and dofetilide (dof) by using standard microelectrode technique. The whole-cell patch clamp was used to record the L-type calcium current (I(Ca-L)) in isolated left ventricular cells of rabbits. The results showed that in hypertrophied papillary muscles of rabbits with low [K(+)]o ([K(+)]o = 2.7 mM), 1 microM dof prolonged APD(50) and APD(90) markedly and the incidence of EADs was 66.7% (4/6, p < 0.01); when 15 microM DS was applied, the incidence of EADs was 0% (0/4, p < 0.01) and the prolonged APD was shortened (p < 0.01). In a single myocyte, DS could also inhibit EADs induced by dof, low [K(+)]o and low external Mg(2+) concentration ([Mg(2+)]o) ([Mg(2+)](o) = 0.5 mM). DS could decrease the triangulation. In a single myocyte, DS could make the I-V curve upward, shift the steady-state activation curves to the right and the steady-state inactivation curves to the left and prolong the tau value of recovery curve obviously. These results suggested that DS could inhibit EADs which may be associated with its blockade effects on I(Ca-L).

Inhibitory effects of dauricine on early afterdepolarizations and L-type calcium current.

We have previously reported that dauricine exerted antiarrhythmic effects on various experimental arrhythmias. To further clarify its mechanism, the effects of dauricine on action potential duration (APD), early afterdepolarizations (EADs), triangulation, which is defined as the repolarization time from APD at 30% level (APD30) to APD at 90% level (APD90), and L-type calcium current (I(Ca-L)) were studied using standard microelectrode techniques on rabbit papillary muscles and whole-cell patch clamp techniques on single myocytes isolated from rabbits by enzymatic digestion, respectively. Cardiac hypertrophy was induced by coarctating the abdominal aorta of rabbits. The results showed that in papillary muscles of hypertrophied rabbits, 1 micromol/L dofetilide, a selective IKr blocker, prolonged APD50 and APD90 and induced EADs (4/6, p < 0.01) with hypokalemia ([K+]o = 2.7 mmol/L). Dauricine inhibited EADs (p < 0.01) and shortened the prolonged APD (p < 0.01). In single myocytes, dauricine also inhibited EADs induced by dofetilide, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesaemia. Dauricine decreased the triangulation and reduced the peak amplitude of I(Ca-L) at all potentials tested. Dauricine shifted the steady-state activation curves to the right and steady-state inactivation curves to the left and prolonged the tau value of the recovery curve. These results suggest that dauricine inhibits EADs and this effect may be associated with its blockade of I(Ca-L).

Inhibitory effect of dauricine on inflammatory process following focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats.

Our previous experimental studies showed that dauricine could protect the brain from ischemic damage, but the underlying mechanisms were unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of dauricine on the changes of the inflammation process induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). After I/R, the enzyme activity of MPO, the expression of ICAM-1 and the transcription of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mRNA were all significantly increased (p < 0.01). And after treatment with dauricine, they were all significantly reduced compared to the vehicle-treated I/R group (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). These results suggest that dauricin attenuates the inflammation process induced by I/R. The neuroprotective effect of dauricine may partly due to the inhibition acute inflammation induced by I/R.