Using a Failing Human Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Model to Re-Evaluate Ca<sup>2+</sup> Cycling, Voltage Dependence, and Spark Characteristics

Previous studies have observed alterations in excitation–contraction (EC) coupling during end-stage heart failure that include action potential and calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) transient prolongation and a reduction of the Ca<sup>2+</sup> transient amplitude. Underlying these ph...

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Main Authors: Jerome Anthony E. Alvarez, Mohsin Saleet Jafri, Aman Ullah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Biomolecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1371
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author Jerome Anthony E. Alvarez
Mohsin Saleet Jafri
Aman Ullah
author_facet Jerome Anthony E. Alvarez
Mohsin Saleet Jafri
Aman Ullah
author_sort Jerome Anthony E. Alvarez
collection DOAJ
description Previous studies have observed alterations in excitation–contraction (EC) coupling during end-stage heart failure that include action potential and calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) transient prolongation and a reduction of the Ca<sup>2+</sup> transient amplitude. Underlying these phenomena are the downregulation of potassium (K<sup>+</sup>) currents, downregulation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca<sup>2+</sup> ATPase (SERCA), increase Ca<sup>2+</sup> sensitivity of the ryanodine receptor, and the upregulation of the sodium–calcium (Na<sup>=</sup>-Ca<sup>2+</sup>) exchanger. However, in human heart failure (HF), debate continues about the relative contributions of the changes in calcium handling vs. the changes in the membrane currents. To understand the consequences of the above changes, they are incorporated into a computational human ventricular myocyte HF model that can explore the contributions of the spontaneous Ca<sup>2+</sup> release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The reduction of transient outward K<sup>+</sup> current (I<sub>to</sub>) is the main membrane current contributor to the decrease in RyR2 open probability and L-type calcium channel (LCC) density which emphasizes its importance to phase 1 of the action potential (AP) shape and duration (APD). During current-clamp conditions, RyR2 hyperphosphorylation exhibits the least amount of Ca<sup>2+</sup> release from the SR into the cytosol and SR Ca<sup>2+</sup> fractional release during a dynamic slow–rapid–slow (0.5–2.5–0.5 Hz) pacing, but it displays the most abundant and more lasting Ca<sup>2+</sup> sparks two-fold longer than a normal cell. On the other hand, under voltage-clamp conditions, HF by decreased SERCA and upregulated I<sub>NCX</sub> show the least SR Ca<sup>2+</sup> uptake and EC coupling gain, as compared to HF by hyperphosphorylated RyR2s. Overall, this study demonstrates that the (a) combined effect of SERCA and NCX, and the (b) RyR2 dysfunction, along with the downregulation of the cardiomyocyte’s potassium currents, could substantially contribute to Ca<sup>2+</sup> mishandling at the spark level that leads to heart failure.
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spelling doaj-art-06a1d2fc0b2b40e39addabbf525127652025-08-20T02:08:12ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2024-10-011411137110.3390/biom14111371Using a Failing Human Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Model to Re-Evaluate Ca<sup>2+</sup> Cycling, Voltage Dependence, and Spark CharacteristicsJerome Anthony E. Alvarez0Mohsin Saleet Jafri1Aman Ullah2School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USASchool of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USASchool of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA 22030, USAPrevious studies have observed alterations in excitation–contraction (EC) coupling during end-stage heart failure that include action potential and calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>) transient prolongation and a reduction of the Ca<sup>2+</sup> transient amplitude. Underlying these phenomena are the downregulation of potassium (K<sup>+</sup>) currents, downregulation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca<sup>2+</sup> ATPase (SERCA), increase Ca<sup>2+</sup> sensitivity of the ryanodine receptor, and the upregulation of the sodium–calcium (Na<sup>=</sup>-Ca<sup>2+</sup>) exchanger. However, in human heart failure (HF), debate continues about the relative contributions of the changes in calcium handling vs. the changes in the membrane currents. To understand the consequences of the above changes, they are incorporated into a computational human ventricular myocyte HF model that can explore the contributions of the spontaneous Ca<sup>2+</sup> release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The reduction of transient outward K<sup>+</sup> current (I<sub>to</sub>) is the main membrane current contributor to the decrease in RyR2 open probability and L-type calcium channel (LCC) density which emphasizes its importance to phase 1 of the action potential (AP) shape and duration (APD). During current-clamp conditions, RyR2 hyperphosphorylation exhibits the least amount of Ca<sup>2+</sup> release from the SR into the cytosol and SR Ca<sup>2+</sup> fractional release during a dynamic slow–rapid–slow (0.5–2.5–0.5 Hz) pacing, but it displays the most abundant and more lasting Ca<sup>2+</sup> sparks two-fold longer than a normal cell. On the other hand, under voltage-clamp conditions, HF by decreased SERCA and upregulated I<sub>NCX</sub> show the least SR Ca<sup>2+</sup> uptake and EC coupling gain, as compared to HF by hyperphosphorylated RyR2s. Overall, this study demonstrates that the (a) combined effect of SERCA and NCX, and the (b) RyR2 dysfunction, along with the downregulation of the cardiomyocyte’s potassium currents, could substantially contribute to Ca<sup>2+</sup> mishandling at the spark level that leads to heart failure.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1371calciumheart failurecalcium sparksventricular myocytecardiac cellionic currents
spellingShingle Jerome Anthony E. Alvarez
Mohsin Saleet Jafri
Aman Ullah
Using a Failing Human Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Model to Re-Evaluate Ca<sup>2+</sup> Cycling, Voltage Dependence, and Spark Characteristics
Biomolecules
calcium
heart failure
calcium sparks
ventricular myocyte
cardiac cell
ionic currents
title Using a Failing Human Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Model to Re-Evaluate Ca<sup>2+</sup> Cycling, Voltage Dependence, and Spark Characteristics
title_full Using a Failing Human Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Model to Re-Evaluate Ca<sup>2+</sup> Cycling, Voltage Dependence, and Spark Characteristics
title_fullStr Using a Failing Human Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Model to Re-Evaluate Ca<sup>2+</sup> Cycling, Voltage Dependence, and Spark Characteristics
title_full_unstemmed Using a Failing Human Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Model to Re-Evaluate Ca<sup>2+</sup> Cycling, Voltage Dependence, and Spark Characteristics
title_short Using a Failing Human Ventricular Cardiomyocyte Model to Re-Evaluate Ca<sup>2+</sup> Cycling, Voltage Dependence, and Spark Characteristics
title_sort using a failing human ventricular cardiomyocyte model to re evaluate ca sup 2 sup cycling voltage dependence and spark characteristics
topic calcium
heart failure
calcium sparks
ventricular myocyte
cardiac cell
ionic currents
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/11/1371
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