{"database":"biostudies-literature","file_versions":[],"scores":null,"additional":{"submitter":["Nowak MB"],"funding":["NHLBI NIH HHS","National Institutes of Health"],"pagination":["60-71"],"full_dataset_link":["https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8026540"],"repository":["biostudies-literature"],"omics_type":["Unknown"],"volume":["153"],"pubmed_abstract":["Cardiac action potentials are initiated by sodium ion (Na<sup>+</sup>) influx through voltage-gated Na<sup>+</sup> channels. Na<sup>+</sup> channel gain-of-function (GOF) can arise in inherited conditions due to mutations in the gene encoding the cardiac Na<sup>+</sup> channel, such as Long QT syndrome type 3 (LQT3). LQT3 can be a \"concealed\" disease, as patients with LQT3-associated mutations can remain asymptomatic until later in life; however, arrhythmias can also arise early in life in LQT3 patients, demonstrating a complex age-associated manifestation. We and others recently demonstrated that cardiac Na<sup>+</sup> channels preferentially localize at the intercalated disc (ID) in adult cardiac tissue, which facilitates ephaptic coupling and formation of intercellular Na<sup>+</sup> nanodomains that regulate pro-arrhythmic early afterdepolarization (EAD) formation in tissue with Na<sup>+</sup> channel GOF. Several properties related to ephaptic coupling vary with age, such as cell size and Na<sup>+</sup> channel and gap junction (GJ) expression and distribution: neonatal cells have immature IDs, with Na<sup>+</sup> channels and GJs primarily diffusively distributed, while adult myocytes have mature IDs with preferentially localized Na<sup>+</sup> channels and GJs. Here, we perform an in silico study varying critical age-dependent parameters to investigate mechanisms underlying age-associated manifestation of Na<sup>+</sup> channel GOF in a model of guinea pig cardiac tissue. Simulations predict that total Na<sup>+</sup> current conductance is a critical factor in action potential duration (APD) prolongation. We find a complex cell size/ Na<sup>+</sup> channel expression relationship: increases in cell size (without concurrent increases in Na<sup>+</sup> channel expression) suppress EAD formation, while increases in Na<sup>+</sup> channel expression (without concurrent increases in cell size) promotes EAD formation. Finally, simulations with neonatal and early age-associated parameters predict normal APD with minimal dependence on intercellular cleft width; however, variability in cellular properties can lead to EADs presenting in early developmental stages. In contrast, for adult-associated parameters, EAD formation is highly dependent on cleft width, consistent with a mechanism underlying the age-associated manifestation of the Na<sup>+</sup> channel GOF."],"journal":["Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology"],"pubmed_title":["Mechanisms underlying age-associated manifestation of cardiac sodium channel gain-of-function."],"pmcid":["PMC8026540"],"funding_grant_id":["R01 HL102298","R01 HL138003"],"pubmed_authors":["Poelzing S","Nowak MB","Weinberg SH"],"additional_accession":[]},"is_claimable":false,"name":"Mechanisms underlying age-associated manifestation of cardiac sodium channel gain-of-function.","description":"Cardiac action potentials are initiated by sodium ion (Na<sup>+</sup>) influx through voltage-gated Na<sup>+</sup> channels. Na<sup>+</sup> channel gain-of-function (GOF) can arise in inherited conditions due to mutations in the gene encoding the cardiac Na<sup>+</sup> channel, such as Long QT syndrome type 3 (LQT3). LQT3 can be a \"concealed\" disease, as patients with LQT3-associated mutations can remain asymptomatic until later in life; however, arrhythmias can also arise early in life in LQT3 patients, demonstrating a complex age-associated manifestation. We and others recently demonstrated that cardiac Na<sup>+</sup> channels preferentially localize at the intercalated disc (ID) in adult cardiac tissue, which facilitates ephaptic coupling and formation of intercellular Na<sup>+</sup> nanodomains that regulate pro-arrhythmic early afterdepolarization (EAD) formation in tissue with Na<sup>+</sup> channel GOF. Several properties related to ephaptic coupling vary with age, such as cell size and Na<sup>+</sup> channel and gap junction (GJ) expression and distribution: neonatal cells have immature IDs, with Na<sup>+</sup> channels and GJs primarily diffusively distributed, while adult myocytes have mature IDs with preferentially localized Na<sup>+</sup> channels and GJs. Here, we perform an in silico study varying critical age-dependent parameters to investigate mechanisms underlying age-associated manifestation of Na<sup>+</sup> channel GOF in a model of guinea pig cardiac tissue. Simulations predict that total Na<sup>+</sup> current conductance is a critical factor in action potential duration (APD) prolongation. We find a complex cell size/ Na<sup>+</sup> channel expression relationship: increases in cell size (without concurrent increases in Na<sup>+</sup> channel expression) suppress EAD formation, while increases in Na<sup>+</sup> channel expression (without concurrent increases in cell size) promotes EAD formation. Finally, simulations with neonatal and early age-associated parameters predict normal APD with minimal dependence on intercellular cleft width; however, variability in cellular properties can lead to EADs presenting in early developmental stages. In contrast, for adult-associated parameters, EAD formation is highly dependent on cleft width, consistent with a mechanism underlying the age-associated manifestation of the Na<sup>+</sup> channel GOF.","dates":{"release":"2021-01-01T00:00:00Z","publication":"2021 Apr","modification":"2025-04-29T11:28:13.912Z","creation":"2025-04-29T11:28:13.912Z"},"accession":"S-EPMC8026540","cross_references":{"pubmed":["33373643"],"doi":["10.1016/j.yjmcc.2020.12.008"]}}