Rationale Fibrillation-defibrillation episodes in failing ventricles may be followed by action potential duration (APD) shortening and recurrent spontaneous ventricular fibrillation (SVF). Objective We hypothesized that activation of apamin-sensitive small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channels are responsible for the postshock APD shortening in failing ventricles. Methods and Results A rabbit model of tachycardia-induced heart failure was used. Simultaneous optical mapping of intracellular Ca2+ and membrane potential (Vm) was performed in failing and non-failing ventricles. Three failing ventricles developed SVF (SVF group), 9 did not (no-SVF group). None of the 10 non-failing ventricles developed SVF. Increased pacing rate and duration augmented the magnitude of APD shortening. Apamin (1 μmol/L) eliminated recurrent SVF, increased postshock APD80 in SVF group from 126±5 ms to 153±4 ms (p<0.05), in no-SVF group from147±2 ms to 162±3 ms (p<0.05) but did not change of APD80 in non-failing group. Whole cell patch-clamp studies at 36°C showed that the apamin-sensitive K+ current (IKAS) density was significantly larger in the failing than in the normal ventricular epicardial myocytes, and epicardial IKAS density is significantly higher than midmyocardial and endocardial myocytes. Steady-state Ca2+ response of IKAS was leftward-shifted in the failing cells compared with the normal control cells, indicating increased Ca2+ sensitivity of IKAS in failing ventricles. The Kd was 232 ± 5 nM for failing myocytes and 553 ± 78 nM for normal myocytes (p = 0.002). Conclusions Heart failure heterogeneously increases the sensitivity of IKAS to intracellular Ca2+, leading to upregulation of IKAS, postshock APD shortening and recurrent SVF.

Background: The cardiomyopathies, classically categorized as hypertrophic (HCM), dilated (DCM), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular (ARVC), each have a signature genetic theme. HCM and ARVC are largely understood as genetic diseases of sarcomere or desmosome proteins, respectively. In contrast, >250 genes spanning more than 10 gene ontologies have been implicated in DCM, representing a complex and diverse genetic architecture. To clarify this, a systematic curation of evidence to establish the relationship of genes with DCM was conducted. Methods: An international Panel with clinical and scientific expertise in DCM genetics evaluated evidence supporting monogenic relationships of genes with idiopathic DCM. The Panel utilized the ClinGen semi-quantitative gene-disease clinical validity classification framework with modifications for DCM genetics to classify genes into categories based on the strength of currently available evidence. Representation of DCM genes on clinically available genetic testing panels was evaluated. Results: Fifty-one genes with human genetic evidence were curated. Twelve genes (23%) from eight gene ontologies were classified as having definitive ( BAG3, DES, FLNC, LMNA, MYH7, PLN, RBM20, SCN5A, TNNC1, TNNT2, TTN ) or strong ( DSP ) evidence. Seven genes (14%) ( ACTC1, ACTN2, JPH2, NEXN, TNNI3, TPM1, VCL ) including two additional ontologies were classified as moderate evidence; these genes are likely to emerge as strong or definitive with additional evidence. Of these 19 genes, six were similarly classified for HCM and three for ARVC. Of the remaining 32 genes (63%), 25 (49%) had limited evidence, 4 (8%) were disputed, 2 (4%) had no disease relationship, and 1 (2%) was supported by animal model data only. Of 16 evaluated clinical genetic testing panels, most definitive genes were included, but panels also included numerous genes with minimal human evidence. Conclusions: In the curation of 51 genes, 19 had high evidence (12 definitive/strong; seven moderate). Notably, these 19 genes only explain a minority of cases, leaving the remainder of DCM genetic architecture incompletely addressed. Clinical genetic testing panels include most high evidence genes, however genes lacking robust evidence are also commonly included. We recommend that high evidence DCM genes be used for clinical practice and to exercise caution when interpreting variants in variable evidence DCM genes.

Background-Experimental studies suggest that the interval between peak and end of T wave (Tpe) in transmural ECGs reflects transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR), which is amplified by ␤-adrenergic stimulation in the LQT1 model. In 82 patients with genetically identified long-QT syndrome (LQTS) and 33 control subjects, we examined T-wave morphology and various parameters for repolarization in 12-lead ECGs including corrected QT (QTc; QT/R-R 1/2 ) and corrected Tpe (Tpec; Tpe/R-R 1/2 ) before and during exercise stress tests. Methods and Results-Under baseline conditions, LQT1 (nϭ51) showed 3 cardinal T-wave patterns (broad-based, normal-appearing, late-onset) and LQT2 (nϭ31) 3 patterns (broad-based, bifid with a small or large notch). The QTc and Tpec were 510Ϯ68 ms and 143Ϯ53 ms in LQT1 and 520Ϯ61 ms and 195Ϯ69 ms in LQT2, respectively, which were both significantly larger than those in control subjects (402Ϯ36 ms and 99Ϯ36 ms). Both QTc and Tpec were significantly prolonged during exercise in LQT1 (599Ϯ54 ms and 215Ϯ46 ms) with morphological change into a broad-based T-wave pattern. In contrast, exercise produced a prominent notch on the descending limb of the T wave, with no significant changes in the QTc and Tpec (502Ϯ82 ms and 163Ϯ86 ms: nϭ19) in LQT2. Conclusions-Tpe interval increases during exercise in LQT1 but not in LQT2, which may partially account for the finding that fatal cardiac events in LQT1 are more often associated with exercise.

RBM20 is a major regulator of heart-specific alternative pre-mRNA splicing of TTN encoding a giant sarcomeric protein titin. Mutation in RBM20 is linked to autosomal-dominant familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), yet most of the RBM20 missense mutations in familial and sporadic cases were mapped to an RSRSP stretch in an arginine/serine-rich region of which function remains unknown. In the present study, we identified an R634W missense mutation within the stretch and a G1031X nonsense mutation in cohorts of DCM patients. We demonstrate that the two serine residues in the RSRSP stretch are constitutively phosphorylated and mutations in the stretch disturb nuclear localization of RBM20. Rbm20S637A knock-in mouse mimicking an S635A mutation reported in a familial case showed a remarkable effect on titin isoform expression like in a patient carrying the mutation. These results revealed the function of the RSRSP stretch as a critical part of a nuclear localization signal and offer the Rbm20S637A mouse as a good model for in vivo study.