Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by an acute left ventricular dysfunction and is associated with life-threating complications in the acute phase. The underlying disease mechanism in TTS is still unknown. A genetic basis has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis. The aims of the study were to establish an in vitro induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) model of TTS, to test the hypothesis of altered β-adrenergic signaling in TTS iPSC-cardiomyocytes (CMs), and to explore whether genetic susceptibility underlies the pathophysiology of TTS. Somatic cells of patients with TTS and control subjects were reprogrammed to iPSCs and differentiated into CMs. Three-month-old CMs were subjected to catecholamine stimulation to simulate neurohumoral overstimulation. We investigated β-adrenergic signaling and TTS cardiomyocyte function. Enhanced β-adrenergic signaling in TTS-iPSC-CMs under catecholamine-induced stress increased expression of the cardiac stress marker NR4A1; cyclic adenosine monophosphate levels; and cyclic adenosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase A-mediated hyperphosphorylation of RYR2-S2808, PLN-S16, TNI-S23/24, and Cav1.2-S1928, and leads to a reduced calcium time to transient 50% decay. These cellular catecholamine-dependent responses were mainly mediated by β1-adrenoceptor signaling in TTS. Engineered heart muscles from TTS-iPSC-CMs showed an impaired force of contraction and a higher sensitivity to isoprenaline-stimulated inotropy compared with control subjects. In addition, altered electrical activity and increased lipid accumulation were detected in catecholamine-treated TTS-iPSC-CMs, and were confirmed by differentially expressed lipid transporters CD36 and CPT1C. Furthermore, we uncovered genetic variants in different key regulators of cardiac function. Enhanced β-adrenergic signaling and higher sensitivity to catecholamine-induced toxicity were identified as mechanisms associated with the TTS phenotype. (International Takotsubo Registry [InterTAK Registry] [InterTAK]; NCT01947621).

Stable expression of truncated titin proteins and titin haploinsufficiency characterizeTTNcardiomyopathy and represent targets for therapy.

Rationale: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure often coexist, but their interaction is poorly understood. Clinical data indicate that the arrhythmic component of AF may contribute to left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Objective: This study investigates the effects and molecular mechanisms of AF on the human LV. Methods and Results: Ventricular myocardium from patients with aortic stenosis and preserved LV function with sinus rhythm or rate-controlled AF was studied. LV myocardium from patients with sinus rhythm and patients with AF showed no differences in fibrosis. In functional studies, systolic Ca ²⁺ transient amplitude of LV cardiomyocytes was reduced in patients with AF, while diastolic Ca ²⁺ levels and Ca ²⁺ transient kinetics were not statistically different. These results were confirmed in LV cardiomyocytes from nonfailing donors with sinus rhythm or AF. Moreover, normofrequent AF was simulated in vitro using arrhythmic or rhythmic pacing (both at 60 bpm). After 24 hours of AF-simulation, human LV cardiomyocytes from nonfailing donors showed an impaired Ca ²⁺ transient amplitude. For a standardized investigation of AF-simulation, human iPSC-cardiomyocytes were tested. Seven days of AF-simulation caused reduced systolic Ca ²⁺ transient amplitude and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca ²⁺ load likely because of an increased diastolic sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca ²⁺ leak. Moreover, cytosolic Na ⁺ concentration was elevated and action potential duration was prolonged after AF-simulation. We detected an increased late Na ⁺ current as a potential trigger for the detrimentally altered Ca ²⁺ /Na ⁺ -interplay. Mechanistically, reactive oxygen species were higher in the LV of patients with AF. CaMKII (Ca ²⁺ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIδc) was found to be more oxidized at Met281/282 in the LV of patients with AF leading to an increased CaMKII activity and consequent increased RyR2 phosphorylation. CaMKII inhibition and ROS scavenging ameliorated impaired systolic Ca ²⁺ handling after AF-simulation. Conclusions: AF causes distinct functional and molecular remodeling of the human LV. This translational study provides the first mechanistic characterization and the potential negative impact of AF in the absence of tachycardia on the human ventricle.

Cells subjected to environmental stresses undergo regulated cell death (RCD) when homeostatic programs fail to maintain viability. A major mechanism of RCD is the excessive calcium loading of mitochondria and consequent triggering of the mitochondrial permeability transition (mPT), which is especially important in post‐mitotic cells such as cardiomyocytes and neurons. Here, we show that stress‐induced upregulation of the ROS‐generating protein Nox4 at the ER‐mitochondria contact sites (MAMs) is a pro‐survival mechanism that inhibits calcium transfer through InsP ₃ receptors (InsP ₃ R). Nox4 mediates redox signaling at the MAM of stressed cells to augment Akt‐dependent phosphorylation of InsP ₃ R, thereby inhibiting calcium flux and mPT‐dependent necrosis. In hearts subjected to ischemia–reperfusion, Nox4 limits infarct size through this mechanism. These results uncover a hitherto unrecognized stress pathway, whereby a ROS‐generating protein mediates pro‐survival effects through spatially confined signaling at the MAM to regulate ER to mitochondria calcium flux and triggering of the mPT.

Heart failure (HF) is a major global and life-threatening disease. Despite advances in therapies, the prevalence of HF is increasing owing to an ageing population and the pervasive pandemic of obesity and metabolic disorders, which have transformed the pathophysiology of HF. Changes in cardiac energy metabolism and the related energy deficit crucially contribute to the severity and type of HF. Furthermore, perturbations in excitation–contraction coupling, mitochondrial function and oxidative stress are characteristic features of HF. In this Review, we focus on the close interaction between cardiac mechanics and mitochondrial energetics, and decipher how this mechano-energetic coupling is disturbed in various acquired and hereditary forms of HF. In HF with reduced ejection fraction, defects in excitation–contraction coupling are key drivers of mechano-energetic uncoupling, whereas in HF with preserved ejection fraction, increased preload and afterload imposed by obesity, hypertension and age-dependent vascular stiffness increase mechanical workload, which is insufficiently matched by mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle activity and ATP supply. In both scenarios, oxidative stress results from depletion of the antioxidative capacity and contributes to maladaptive cardiac remodelling and dysfunction. Several established and emerging treatments for HF target this mechano-energetic uncoupling, and a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms will open new therapeutic opportunities to alleviate the burden of HF.

Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are increasingly used for personalised medicine and preclinical cardiotoxicity testing. Reports on hiPSC-CM commonly describe heterogenous functional readouts and underdeveloped or immature phenotypical properties. Cost-effective, fully defined monolayer culture is approaching mainstream adoption; however, the optimal age at which to utilise hiPSC-CM is unknown. In this study, we identify, track and model the dynamic developmental behaviour of key ionic currents and Ca²⁺-handling properties in hiPSC-CM over long-term culture (30–80 days). hiPSC-CMs > 50 days post differentiation show significantly larger I_Ca,L density along with an increased I_Ca,L-triggered Ca²⁺-transient. I_Na and I_K1 densities significantly increase in late-stage cells, contributing to increased upstroke velocity and reduced action potential duration, respectively. Importantly, our in silico model of hiPSC-CM electrophysiological age dependence confirmed I_K1 as the key ionic determinant of action potential shortening in older cells. We have made this model available through an open source software interface that easily allows users to simulate hiPSC-CM electrophysiology and Ca²⁺-handling and select the appropriate age range for their parameter of interest. This tool, together with the insights from our comprehensive experimental characterisation, could be useful in future optimisation of the culture-to-characterisation pipeline in the field of hiPSC-CM research.