Functional modulation of the transient outward current Ito by KCNE beta-subunits and regional distribution in human non-failing and failing hearts

Objectives: The function of Kv4.3 (KCND3) channels, which underlie the transient outward current I,, in human heart, can be modulated by several accessory subunits such as KChIP2 and KCNE1-KCNE5. Here we aimed to determine the regional expression of Kv4.3, KChIP2, and KCNE mRNAs in non-failing and failing human hearts and to investigate the functional consequences of subunit coexpression in heterologous expression systems. Methods: We quantified mRNA levels for two Kv4.3 isoforms, Kv4.3-S and Kv4.3-L, and for KChIP2 as well as KCNE1-KCNE5 with real-time RT-PCR. We also studied the effects of KCNEs on Kv4.3 + KChIP2 current characteristics in CHO cells with the whole-cell voltage-clamp method. Results: In non-failing hearts, low expression was found for KCNE1, KCNE3, and KCNE5, three times higher expression for KCNE2, and 60 times higher for KCNE4. Transmural gradients were detected only for KChIP2 in left and right ventricles. Compared to non-failing tissue, failing hearts showed higher expression of Kv4.3-L and KCNE1 and lower of Kv4.3-S, KChIP2, KCNE4, and KCNE5. In CHO cells, Kv4.3 + KChIP2 currents were differentially modified by co-expressed KCNEs: time constants of inactivation were shorter with KCNE1 and KCNE3-5 while time-to-peak was decreased, and V-0.5 of steady-state inactivation was shifted to more negative potentials by all KCNE subunits. Importantly, KCNE2 induced a unique and prominent 'overshoot' of peak current during recovery from inactivation similar to that described for human I-to while other KCNE subunits induced little (KCNE4,5) or no overshoot. Conclusions: All KCNEs are expressed in the human heart at the transcript level. Compared to It. in native human myocytes, none of the combination of KChIP2 and KCNE produced an ideal congruency in current characteristics, suggesting that additional factors contribute to the regulation of the native I-to channel

The KCNE genes in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a candidate gene study

The original publication is available at http://www.jnrbm.com/content/10/1/12Includes bibliographyAbstract Background The gene family KCNE1-5, which encode modulating β-subunits of several repolarising K+-ion channels, has been associated with genetic cardiac diseases such as long QT syndrome, atrial fibrillation and Brugada syndrome. The minK peptide, encoded by KCNE1, is attached to the Z-disc of the sarcomere as well as the T-tubules of the sarcolemma. It has been suggested that minK forms part of an "electro-mechanical feed-back" which links cardiomyocyte stretching to changes in ion channel function. We examined whether mutations in KCNE genes were associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a genetic disease associated with an improper hypertrophic response. Results The coding regions of KCNE1, KCNE2, KCNE3, KCNE4, and KCNE5 were examined, by direct DNA sequencing, in a cohort of 93 unrelated HCM probands and 188 blood donor controls. Fifteen genetic variants, four previously unknown, were identified in the HCM probands. Eight variants were non-synonymous and one was located in the 3'UTR-region of KCNE4. No disease-causing mutations were found and no significant difference in the frequency of genetic variants was found between HCM probands and controls. Two variants of likely functional significance were found in controls only. Conclusions Mutations in KCNE genes are not a common cause of HCM and polymorphisms in these genes do not seem to be associated with a propensity to develop arrhythmiaPeer Reviewe

Expression and function of dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase-like protein 6 (DPPX) as a putative b-subunit of human cardiac transient outward current encoded by Kv4.3

Dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase-like protein 6 (DPPX) was recently shown in the brain to modulate the kinetics of transient A-type currents by accelerating inactivation and recovery from inactivation. Since the kinetics of human cardiac transient outward current (I(to)) are not mimicked by coexpression of the alpha-subunit Kv4.3 with its known beta-subunit KChIP2, we have tested the hypothesis that DPPX may serve as an additional beta-subunit in the human heart. With quantitative real-time RT-PCR strong mRNA expression of DPPX was detected in human ventricles and was verified at the protein level in human but not in rat heart by a DPPX-specific antibody. Co-expression of DPPX with Kv4.3 in Chinese hamster ovary cells produced I(to)-like currents, but compared with expression of KChIP2a and Kv4.3, the time constant of inactivation was faster, the potential of half-maximum steady-state inactivation was more negative and recovery from inactivation was delayed. Co-expression of DPPX in addition to Kv4.3 and KChIP2a produced similar current kinetics as in human ventricular myocytes. We therefore propose that DPPX is an essential component of the native cardiac I(to) channel complex in human heart

Dpp10 - A New Putative Regulatory f-subunit Of Ito In Failing And Non-failing Human Heart

Background: Recently we reported that the dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase-like protein DPP6 serves as a regulatory f-subunit for cardiac Kv4.3 channels. DPP6 is up-regulated in human failing hearts in which Kv4.3 and the f-subunit KChIP2 are down-regulated. Here, we provide evidence for the presence of a new member of this protein family, i.e. DPP10, in failing and non-failing human hearts and investigate the role of this putative f-subunit in regulating transient outward current. Methods: mRNA was extracted from samples of 5 failing and 5 non-failing human hearts and quantified by realtime PCR. Functional interaction of DPP10 and Kv4.3 was studied in co-expression experiments (Chinese hamster ovary CHO cells) with standard voltage clamp techniques. Results: Expression level of DPP10 was 85\ub113 fg/ng in failing and 33\ub16 fg/ng total RNA in non-failing hearts (P<0.01), amounting to a 2.6fold reduction. In comparison, DPP6 was up-regulated 1.3fold (P<0.001). After co-expression of Kv4.3 and DPP10 in CHO cells, channel complexes were verified in the plasma membrane by immunostaining, suggesting proper trafficking as with co-expression of Kv4.3 and KChIP2. Expression of Kv4.3 alone failed to yield Ito current, but robust Ito amplitudes were measured after co-expression of Kv4.3 and DPP10, DDP6, or KChIP2. Compared with the conventional co-expression combination of Kv4.3 and KChIP2, kinetics of Ito inactivation were accelerated in Kv4.3 plus DPP10 channels ({tau}fast: 56\ub1 3 ms and 5.9\ub10.4 ms, respectively; P<0.01), however, recovery from inactivation was not affected ({tau}rec: 53\ub1 7 ms vs. 58\ub113 ms). Co-expression of Kv4.3 with KChIP2 plus DPP10 maintained rapid inactivation of Ito ({tau}fast 8\ub11ms), but enhanced recovery kinetics ({tau}rec: 13\ub12 ms, P<0.001). The role of glycosylation for channel kinetics was studied with the glycosylation inhibitor tunicamicin (10 \ub5g/ml; 24h). In the presence of tunicamicin, Ito inactivation and recovery were slowed ({tau}fast 51\ub1 4 ms and {tau}rec: 42\ub13 ms), suggesting importance of glycosylation for channel function. Kinetics were similarly slowed when extracellular domain of DDP10 was deleted ({tau}fast: 48\ub15 ms, {tau}rec: 30\ub1 4 ms). Conclusion: DPP10, like DPP6 and KChIP2, contributes to regulation of Ito in normal and diseased human hearts

Silencing the cardiac potassium channel Kv4.3 by RNA interference in a CHO expression system

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful technique for gene silencing, in which the downregulation of mRNA is triggered by short RNAs complementary to a target mRNA sequence, with consequent reduction of the encoded protein. The aim of this study was to test the effects of silencing the expression of the cardiac potassium channel Kv4.3 in a heterologous expression system, in order to investigate the effect of RNAi on channel properties. A Chinese hamster ovary cell line stably expressing Kv4.3 and the accessory beta-subunit KChIP2 was transfected with small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting Kv4.3. Effects of RNAi were monitored at the mRNA, protein, and functional levels. Real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining revealed significant reduction of Kv4.3 mRNA and protein expression. These results were confirmed by functional patch-clamp measurements of the transient outward current (I(to)) which was reduced up to 80% by RNAi. We conclude that the use of siRNAs reagents for post-transcriptional gene silencing is a new effective method for the reduction of the expression and function of different ionic channels which may be adapted for studying their role also in native cells