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The TRPV4 channel is a calcium-permeable channel (PCa/PNa ∼ 10). Its expression has been reported in ventricular myocytes, where it is involved in several cardiac pathological mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the implication of TRPV4 in ventricular electrical activity. Left ventricular myocytes were isolated from trpv4+/+ and trpv4−/− mice. TRPV4 membrane expression and its colocalization with L-type calcium channels (Cav1.2) was confirmed using Western blot biotinylation, immunoprecipitation, and immunostaining experiments. Then, electrocardiograms (ECGs) and patch-clamp recordings showed shortened QTc and action potential (AP) duration in trpv4−/− compared with trpv4+/+ mice. Thus, TRPV4 activator GSK1016790A produced a transient and dose-dependent increase in AP duration at 90% of repolarization (APD90) in trpv4+/+ but not in trpv4−/− myocytes or when combined with TRPV4 inhibitor GSK2193874 (100 nM). Hence, GSK1016790A increased calcium transient (CaT) amplitude in trpv4+/+ but not in trpv4−/− myocytes, suggesting that TRPV4 carries an inward Ca2+ current in myocytes. Conversely, TRPV4 inhibitor GSK2193874 (100 nM) alone reduced APD90 in trpv4+/+ but not in trpv4−/− myocytes, suggesting that TRPV4 prolongs AP duration in basal condition. Finally, introducing TRPV4 parameters in a mathematical model predicted the development of an inward TRPV4 current during repolarization that increases AP duration and CaT amplitude, in accord with what was found experimentally. This study shows for the first time that TRPV4 modulates AP and QTc durations. It would be interesting to evaluate whether TRPV4 could be involved in long QT-mediated ventricular arrhythmias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac automaticity is set by pacemaker activity of the sinus node (SAN). In addition to the ubiquitously expressed cardiac voltage-gated L-type Cav1.2 Ca2+ channel isoform, pacemaker cells within the SAN and the atrioventricular node co-express voltage-gated L-type Cav1.3 and T-type Cav3.1 Ca2+ channels (SAN-VGCCs). The role of SAN-VGCCs in automaticity is incompletely understood. We used knockout mice carrying individual genetic ablation of Cav1.3 (Cav1.3−/−) or Cav3.1 (Cav3.1−/−) channels and double mutant Cav1.3−/−/Cav3.1−/− mice expressing only Cav1.2 channels. We show that concomitant loss of SAN-VGCCs prevents physiological SAN automaticity, blocks impulse conduction and compromises ventricular rhythmicity. Coexpression of SAN-VGCCs is necessary for impulse formation in the central SAN. In mice lacking SAN-VGCCs, residual pacemaker activity is predominantly generated in peripheral nodal and extranodal sites by f-channels and TTX-sensitive Na+ channels. In beating SAN cells, ablation of SAN-VGCCs disrupted late diastolic local intracellular Ca2+ release, which demonstrates an important role for these channels in supporting the sarcoplasmic reticulum based "Ca2+clock" mechanism during normal pacemaking. These data implicate an underappreciated role for co-expression of SAN-VGCCs in heart automaticity and define an integral role for these channels in mechanisms that control the heartbeat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Type 1 long QT syndrome (LQT1) is caused by pathogenic variants in the KCNQ1-encoded Kv7.1 potassium channels, which pathologically prolong ventricular action potential duration (APD). Herein, the pathologic phenotype in transgenic LQT1 rabbits is rescued using a novel KCNQ1 suppression-replacement (SupRep) gene therapy., Methods: KCNQ1-SupRep gene therapy was developed by combining into a single construct a KCNQ1 shRNA (suppression) and an shRNA-immune KCNQ1 cDNA (replacement), packaged into adeno-associated virus serotype 9, and delivered in vivo via an intra-aortic root injection (1E10 vg/kg). To ascertain the efficacy of SupRep, 12-lead electrocardiograms were assessed in adult LQT1 and wild-type (WT) rabbits and patch-clamp experiments were performed on isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes., Results: KCNQ1-SupRep treatment of LQT1 rabbits resulted in significant shortening of the pathologically prolonged QT index (QTi) towards WT levels. Ventricular cardiomyocytes isolated from treated LQT1 rabbits demonstrated pronounced shortening of APD compared to LQT1 controls, leading to levels similar to WT (LQT1-UT vs. LQT1-SupRep, P < .0001, LQT1-SupRep vs. WT, P = ns). Under β-adrenergic stimulation with isoproterenol, SupRep-treated rabbits demonstrated a WT-like physiological QTi and APD90 behaviour., Conclusions: This study provides the first animal-model, proof-of-concept gene therapy for correction of LQT1. In LQT1 rabbits, treatment with KCNQ1-SupRep gene therapy normalized the clinical QTi and cellular APD90 to near WT levels both at baseline and after isoproterenol. If similar QT/APD correction can be achieved with intravenous administration of KCNQ1-SupRep gene therapy in LQT1 rabbits, these encouraging data should compel continued development of this gene therapy for patients with LQT1., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Background: Sinoatrial node cells (SANC) automaticity is generated by functional association between the activity of plasmalemmal ion channels and local diastolic intracellular Ca 2+ release (LCR) from ryanodine receptors. Strikingly, most isolated SANC exhibit a "dormant" state, whereas only a fraction shows regular firing as observed in intact SAN. Recent studies showed that β-adrenergic stimulation can initiate spontaneous firing in dormant SANC, though this mechanism is not entirely understood., Methods: To investigate the role of L-type Ca v 1.3 Ca 2+ channels in the adrenergic regulation of automaticity in dormant SANC, we used a knock-in mouse strain in which the sensitivity of L-type Ca v 1.2 α1 subunits to dihydropyridines (DHPs) was inactivated ( Ca v 1.2 DHP-/- ), enabling the selective pharmacological inhibition of Ca v 1.3 by DHPs., Results: In dormant SANC, β-adrenergic stimulation with isoproterenol (ISO) induced spontaneous action potentials (AP) and Ca 2+ transients, which were completely arrested with concomitant perfusion of the DHP nifedipine. In spontaneously firing SANC at baseline, Ca v 1.3 inhibition completely reversed the effect of β-adrenergic stimulation on AP and the frequency of Ca 2+ transients. Confocal calcium imaging of SANC showed that the β-adrenergic-induced synchronization of LCRs is regulated by the activity of Ca v 1.3 channels., Conclusions: Our study shows a novel role of Ca v 1.3 channels in initiating and maintaining automaticity in dormant SANC upon β-adrenergic stimulation.

The TRPV4 channel is a calcium-permeable channel ( P Ca / P Na ∼ 10). Its expression has been reported in ventricular myocytes, where it is involved in several cardiac pathological mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the implication of TRPV4 in ventricular electrical activity. Left ventricular myocytes were isolated from trpv4 +/+ and trpv4 -/- mice. TRPV4 membrane expression and its colocalization with L-type calcium channels (Ca v 1.2) was confirmed using Western blot biotinylation, immunoprecipitation, and immunostaining experiments. Then, electrocardiograms (ECGs) and patch-clamp recordings showed shortened QTc and action potential (AP) duration in trpv4 -/- compared with trpv4 +/+ mice. Thus, TRPV4 activator GSK1016790A produced a transient and dose-dependent increase in AP duration at 90% of repolarization (APD 90 ) in trpv4 +/+ but not in trpv4 -/- myocytes or when combined with TRPV4 inhibitor GSK2193874 (100 nM). Hence, GSK1016790A increased calcium transient (CaT) amplitude in trpv4 +/+ but not in trpv4 -/- myocytes, suggesting that TRPV4 carries an inward Ca 2+ current in myocytes. Conversely, TRPV4 inhibitor GSK2193874 (100 nM) alone reduced APD 90 in trpv4 +/+ but not in trpv4 -/- myocytes, suggesting that TRPV4 prolongs AP duration in basal condition. Finally, introducing TRPV4 parameters in a mathematical model predicted the development of an inward TRPV4 current during repolarization that increases AP duration and CaT amplitude, in accord with what was found experimentally. This study shows for the first time that TRPV4 modulates AP and QTc durations. It would be interesting to evaluate whether TRPV4 could be involved in long QT-mediated ventricular arrhythmias. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is expressed at the membrane of mouse ventricular myocytes and colocalizes with non-T-tubular L-type calcium channels. Deletion of trpv4 gene in mice results in shortened QT interval on electrocardiogram and reduced action potential duration of ventricular myocytes. Pharmacological activation of TRPV4 channel leads to increased action potential duration and increased calcium transient amplitude in trpv4 -/- but not in trpv4 -/- ventricular myocytes. To the contrary, TRPV4 channel pharmacological inhibition reduces action potential duration in trpv4 +/+ but not in trpv4 -/- myocytes. Integration of TRPV4 channel in a computational model of mouse action potential shows that the channel carries an inward current contributing to slowing down action potential repolarization and to increase calcium transient amplitude, similarly to what is observed experimentally. This study highlights for the first time the involvement of TRPV4 channel in ventricular electrical activity.