Publication
Title
The resting membrane potential of hSC-CM in a syncytium is more hyperpolarised than that of isolated cells
Author
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) and stem cell (hSC) derived cardiomyocytes (CM) are gaining popularity as in vitro model for cardiology and pharmacology studies. A remaining flaw of these cells, as shown by single-cell electrophysiological characterization, is a more depolarized resting membrane potential (RMP) compared to native CM. Most reports attribute this to a lower expression of the Kir2.1 potassium channel that generates the I-K1 current. However, most RMP recordings are obtained from isolated hSC/hiPSC-CMs whereas in a more native setting these cells are interconnected with neighboring cells by connexin-based gap junctions, forming a syncytium. Hereby, these cells are electrically connected and the total pool of I-K1 increases. Therefore, the input resistance (Ri) of interconnected cells is lower than that of isolated cells. During patch clamp experiments pipettes need to be well attached or sealed to the cell, which is reflected in the seal resistance (Rs), because a nonspecific ionic current can leak through this pipette-cell contact or seal and balance out small currents within the cell such as I-K1. By recording the action potential of isolated hSC-CMs and that of hSC-CMs cultured in small monolayers, we show that the RMP of hSC-CMs in monolayer is approximately -20 mV more hyperpolarized compared to isolated cells. Accordingly, adding carbenoxolone, a connexin channel blocker, isolates the cell that is patch clamped from its neighboring cells of the monolayer and depolarizes the RMP. The presented data show that the recorded RMP of hSC-CMs in a syncytium is more negative than that determined from isolated hSC/hiPSC-CMs, most likely because the active pool of Kir2.1 channels increased.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Channels. - Place of publication unknown
Publication
Place of publication unknown : 2021
ISSN
1933-6950
1933-6969
DOI
10.1080/19336950.2021.1871815
Volume/pages
15 :1 (2021) , p. 239-252
ISI
000608852200001
Pubmed ID
33465001
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Inherited cardiac arrhythmias: identification of novel genes and development of a new diagnostic tool for translating genetic diagnosis into precision medicine.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 15.03.2021
Last edited 13.11.2024
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