Abstract
Abstract
Background
Initially discovered and published in 2017, the heterozygous mutation (p.Arg52Leu) in the
GNB2
gene is associated with sinus node dysfunction (SND) and atrioventricular block (AVB). Electrophysiological characterization using heterologous expression systems has demonstrated that this R52L
GNB2
variant results in a larger G-protein–activated K
+
(GIRK/I
K, ACh
) current. So far, this has not been functionally validated in patient-derived disease modelling using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (CM).
Methods
Here, we differentiated CMs derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CMs) of a patient carrying the pathogenic p.Arg52Leu
GNB2
variant (hiPSC
R52L
-CMs) and compared electrophysiological properties with those of two unrelated healthy hiPSC-CMs control lines. Retinoic acid (RA) treatment during the differentiation was used to generate hiPSC-CMs with robust acetylcholine-activated K
+
currents (I
K, ACh
).
Results
Patch-clamp experiments demonstrated that without GIRK channel stimulation the maximal diastolic potential (MDP) and spontaneous pacing rate did not differ between mutant and control cell lines and, moreover, a constitutively active I
K, ACh
was not observed. Upon stimulation of GIRK channels with carbachol (CCh), hiPSC
R52L
-CMs displayed an increased I
K, ACh
density, a more hyperpolarized MDP and a slower spontaneous activity as compared to both control hiPSC-CMs cell lines, thus explaining the bradycardia reported from patients carrying the R52L
GNB2
variant. Application of the specific I
K, ACh
blocker XAF-1407 rescued the phenotype.
Conclusion
The reported, mutant
GNB2
in patient-derived CMs is associated with a gain-of function upon GIRK channel stimulation and thereby a larger I
K, ACh
, which could be potentially targeted and rescued by I
K, ACh
blockers.
Clinical trial number
not applicable.