Comparing human iPSC-cardiomyocytes versus HEK293T cells unveils disease-causing effects of Brugada mutation A735V of NaV1.5 sodium channels

Sci Rep. 2019 Aug 1;9(1):11173. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-47632-4.

Abstract

Loss-of-function mutations of the SCN5A gene encoding for the sodium channel α-subunit NaV1.5 result in the autosomal dominant hereditary disease Brugada Syndrome (BrS) with a high risk of sudden cardiac death in the adult. We here engineered human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) carrying the CRISPR/Cas9 introduced BrS-mutation p.A735V-NaV1.5 (g.2204C > T in exon 14 of SCN5A) as a novel model independent of patient´s genetic background. Recent studies raised concern regarding the use of hiPSC-CMs for studying adult-onset hereditary diseases due to cells' immature phenotype. To tackle this concern, long-term cultivation of hiPSC-CMs on a stiff matrix (27-42 days) was applied to promote maturation. Patch clamp recordings of A735V mutated hiPSC-CMs revealed a substantially reduced upstroke velocity and sodium current density, a prominent rightward shift of the steady state activation curve and decelerated recovery from inactivation as compared to isogenic hiPSC-CMs controls. These observations were substantiated by a comparative study on mutant A735V-NaV1.5 channels heterologously expressed in HEK293T cells. In contrast to mutated hiPSC-CMs, a leftward shift of sodium channel inactivation was not observed in HEK293T, emphasizing the importance of investigating mechanisms of BrS in independent systems. Overall, our approach supports hiPSC-CMs' relevance for investigating channelopathies in a dish.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brugada Syndrome / genetics*
  • Brugada Syndrome / pathology
  • CRISPR-Cas Systems
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mutation*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology*
  • NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel / genetics*
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques

Substances

  • NAV1.5 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel