miR-19b Regulates Ventricular Action Potential Duration in Zebrafish

Sci Rep. 2016 Nov 2:6:36033. doi: 10.1038/srep36033.

Abstract

Sudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmias often caused by action potential duration (APD) prolongation is a common mode of death in heart failure (HF). microRNAs, noncoding RNAs that fine tune gene expression, are frequently dysregulated during HF, suggesting a potential involvement in the electrical remodeling process accompanying HF progression. Here, we identified miR-19b as an important regulator of heart function. Zebrafish lacking miR-19b developed severe bradycardia and reduced cardiac contractility. miR-19b deficient fish displayed increased sensitivity to AV-block, a characteristic feature of long QT syndrome in zebrafish. Patch clamp experiments from whole hearts showed that miR-19b deficient zebrafish exhibit significantly prolonged ventricular APD caused by impaired repolarization. We found that miR-19b directly and indirectly regulates the expression of crucial modulatory subunits of cardiac ion channels, and thereby modulates AP duration and shape. Interestingly, miR-19b knockdown mediated APD prolongation can rescue a genetically induced short QT phenotype. Thus, miR-19b might represent a crucial modifier of the cardiac electrical activity, and our work establishes miR-19b as a potential candidate for human long QT syndrome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Action Potentials / genetics*
  • Animals
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / genetics*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / physiopathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Heart Ventricles / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Long QT Syndrome / genetics*
  • Long QT Syndrome / physiopathology
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Myocardial Contraction / genetics
  • Potassium Channels / genetics
  • Zebrafish / genetics
  • Zebrafish / physiology

Substances

  • MIRN19 microRNA, zebrafish
  • MicroRNAs
  • Potassium Channels