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A novel computational model of the human ventricular action potential and Ca transient.

ABSTRACT: We have developed a detailed mathematical model for Ca handling and ionic currents in the human ventricular myocyte. Our aims were to: (1) simulate basic excitation-contraction coupling phenomena; (2) use realistic repolarizing K current densities; (3) reach steady-state. The model relies on the framework of the rabbit myocyte model previously developed by our group, with subsarcolemmal and junctional compartments where ion channels sense higher [Ca] vs. bulk cytosol. Ion channels and transporters have been modeled on the basis of the most recent experimental data from human ventricular myocytes. Rapidly and slowly inactivating components of I(to) have been formulated to differentiate between endocardial and epicardial myocytes. Transmural gradients of Ca handling proteins and Na pump were also simulated. The model has been validated against a wide set of experimental data including action potential duration (APD) adaptation and restitution, frequency-dependent increase in Ca transient peak and [Na](i). Interestingly, Na accumulation at fast heart rate is a major determinant of APD shortening, via outward shifts in Na pump and Na-Ca exchange currents. We investigated the effects of blocking K currents on APD and repolarization reserve: I(Ks) block does not affect the former and slightly reduces the latter; I(K1) blockade modestly increases APD and more strongly reduces repolarization reserve; I(Kr) blockers significantly prolong APD, an effect exacerbated as pacing frequency is decreased, in good agreement with experimental results in human myocytes. We conclude that this model provides a useful framework to explore excitation-contraction coupling mechanisms and repolarization abnormalities at the single myocyte level.

SUBMITTER: Grandi E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2813400 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A novel computational model of the human ventricular action potential and Ca transient.

Grandi Eleonora E Pasqualini Francesco S FS Bers Donald M DM

Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology 20091014 1

We have developed a detailed mathematical model for Ca handling and ionic currents in the human ventricular myocyte. Our aims were to: (1) simulate basic excitation-contraction coupling phenomena; (2) use realistic repolarizing K current densities; (3) reach steady-state. The model relies on the framework of the rabbit myocyte model previously developed by our group, with subsarcolemmal and junctional compartments where ion channels sense higher [Ca] vs. bulk cytosol. Ion channels and transporte ...[more]

PMID: 19835882

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Project description:Cellular electrophysiology experiments, important for understanding cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms, are usually performed with channels expressed in non myocytes, or with non-human myocytes. Differences between cell types and species affect results. Thus, an accurate model for the undiseased human ventricular action potential (AP) which reproduces a broad range of physiological behaviors is needed. Such a model requires extensive experimental data, but essential elements have been unavailable. Here, we develop a human ventricular AP model using new undiseased human ventricular data: Ca(2+) versus voltage dependent inactivation of L-type Ca(2+) current (I(CaL)); kinetics for the transient outward, rapid delayed rectifier (I(Kr)), Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchange (I(NaCa)), and inward rectifier currents; AP recordings at all physiological cycle lengths; and rate dependence and restitution of AP duration (APD) with and without a variety of specific channel blockers. Simulated APs reproduced the experimental AP morphology, APD rate dependence, and restitution. Using undiseased human mRNA and protein data, models for different transmural cell types were developed. Experiments for rate dependence of Ca(2+) (including peak and decay) and intracellular sodium ([Na(+)](i)) in undiseased human myocytes were quantitatively reproduced by the model. Early afterdepolarizations were induced by I(Kr) block during slow pacing, and AP and Ca(2+) alternans appeared at rates >200 bpm, as observed in the nonfailing human ventricle. Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK) modulated rate dependence of Ca(2+) cycling. I(NaCa) linked Ca(2+) alternation to AP alternans. CaMK suppression or SERCA upregulation eliminated alternans. Steady state APD rate dependence was caused primarily by changes in [Na(+)](i), via its modulation of the electrogenic Na(+)/K(+) ATPase current. At fast pacing rates, late Na(+) current and I(CaL) were also contributors. APD shortening during restitution was primarily dependent on reduced late Na(+) and I(CaL) currents due to inactivation at short diastolic intervals, with additional contribution from elevated I(Kr) due to incomplete deactivation.

Project description:To assess drug-induced pro-arrhythmic risk, especially Torsades de Pointe (TdP), new models have been proposed, such as in-silico modeling of ventricular action potential (AP) and stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (SC-CMs). Previously we evaluated the electrophysiological profile of 15 reference drugs in hESC-CMs and hiPSC-CMs for their effects on intracellular AP and extracellular field potential, respectively. Our findings indicated that SC-CMs exhibited immature phenotype and had the propensity to generate false positives in predicting TdP risk. To expand our knowledge with mature human cardiac tissues for drug-induced pro-arrhythmic risk assessment, human ventricular trabeculae (hVT) from ethically consented organ donors were used to evaluate the effects of the same 15 drugs (8 torsadogenic, 5 non-torsadogenic, and 2 discovery molecules) on AP parameters at 1 and 2 Hz. Each drug was tested blindly with 4 concentrations in duplicate trabeculae from 2 hearts. To identify the pro-arrhythmic risk of each drug, a pro-arrhythmic score was calculated as the weighted sum of percent drug-induced changes compared to baseline in various AP parameters, including AP duration and recognized pro-arrhythmia predictors such as triangulation, beat-to-beat variability and incidence of early-afterdepolarizations, at each concentration. In addition, to understand the translation of this preclinical hVT AP-based model to clinical studies, a ratio that relates each testing concentration to the human therapeutic unbound Cmax (Cmax) was calculated. At a ratio of 10, for the 8 torsadogenic drugs, 7 were correctly identified by the pro-arrhythmic score; 1 was mislabeled. For the 5 non-torsadogenic drugs, 4 were correctly identified as safe; 1 was mislabeled. Calculation of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value indicated excellent performance. For example, at a ratio of 10, scores for sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values were 0.88, 0.8, 0.88 and 0.8, respectively. Thus, the hVT AP-based model combined with the integrated analysis of pro-arrhythmic score can differentiate between torsadogenic and non-torsadogenic drugs, and has a greater predictive performance when compared to human SC-CM models.

Project description:Force-frequency relationships of isolated cardiac myocytes show complex behaviors that are thought to be specific to both the species and the conditions associated with the experimental preparation. Ca(2+) signaling plays an important role in shaping the force-frequency relationship, and understanding the properties of the force-frequency relationship in vivo requires an understanding of Ca(2+) dynamics under physiologically relevant conditions. Ca(2+) signaling is itself a complicated process that is best understood on a quantitative level via biophysically based computational simulation. Although a large number of models are available in the literature, the models are often a conglomeration of components parameterized to data of incompatible species and/or experimental conditions. In addition, few models account for modulation of Ca(2+) dynamics via ?-adrenergic and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling pathways even though they are hypothesized to play an important regulatory role in vivo. Both protein-kinase-A and CaMKII are known to phosphorylate a variety of targets known to be involved in Ca(2+) signaling, but the effects of these pathways on the frequency- and inotrope-dependence of Ca(2+) dynamics are not currently well understood. In order to better understand Ca(2+) dynamics under physiological conditions relevant to rat, a previous computational model is adapted and re-parameterized to a self-consistent dataset obtained under physiological temperature and pacing frequency and updated to include ?-adrenergic and CaMKII regulatory pathways. The necessity of specific effector mechanisms of these pathways in capturing inotrope- and frequency-dependence of the data is tested by attempting to fit the data while including and/or excluding those effector components. We find that: (1) ?-adrenergic-mediated phosphorylation of the L-type calcium channel (LCC) (and not of phospholamban (PLB)) is sufficient to explain the inotrope-dependence; and (2) that CaMKII-mediated regulation of neither the LCC nor of PLB is required to explain the frequency-dependence of the data.

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A novel computational model of the human ventricular action potential and Ca transient.

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A novel computational model of the human ventricular action potential and Ca transient.

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