http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9264-5073
Figures
Abstract
Background
The SCN5A mutation, P1332L, is linked to a malignant form of congenital long QT syndrome, type 3 (LQT3), and affected patients are highly responsive to the Na+ channel blocking drug, mexiletine. In contrast, A647D is an atypical SCN5A mutation causing Brugada syndrome. An asymptomatic male with both P1332L and A647D presented with varying P wave/QRS aberrancy and mild QTc prolongation which did not shorten measurably with mexiletine.
Objective
We characterized the biophysical properties of P1332L, A647D and wild-type (WT) Na+ channels as well as their combinations in order to understand our proband’s phenotype and to guide mexilitine therapy.
Methods
Na+ channel biophysics and mexilitine-binding kinetics were assessed using heterologous expression studies in CHO-K1 cells and human ventricular myocyte modeling.
Results
Compared to WT, P1332L channels displayed a hyperpolarizing shift in inactivation, slower inactivation and prominent late Na+ currents (INa). While A647D had no effect on the biophysical properties of INa, it reduced peak and late INa density when co-expressed with either WT or P1332L. Additionally, while P1332L channels had greater sensitivity to block by mexiletine compared to WT, this was reduced in the presence of A647D. Modelling studies revealed that mixing P1332L with A647D channels, action potential durations were shortened compared to P1332L, while peak INa was reduced compared to either A647D coexpressing with WT or WT alone.
Conclusions
While A647D mitigates the lethal LQT3 phenotype seen with P1332L, it also reduces mexilitine sensitivity and decreases INa density. These results explain our proband’s mild repolarization abnormality and prominent conduction defect in the atria and ventricles, but also suggest that expression of P1332L with A647D yields a novel disease phenotype for which mexiletine pharmacotherapy is no longer suitable.
Citation: Liu J, Bayer JD, Aschar-Sobbi R, Wauchop M, Spears D, Gollob M, et al. (2018) Complex interactions in a novel SCN5A compound mutation associated with long QT and Brugada syndrome: Implications for Na+ channel blocking pharmacotherapy for de novo conduction disease. PLoS ONE 13(5): e0197273. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0197273
Editor: Andrea Barbuti, University of Milan, ITALY
Received: September 25, 2017; Accepted: April 30, 2018; Published: May 23, 2018
Copyright: © 2018 Liu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Data Availability: All relevant data are within the paper.
Funding: This study received financial support from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario Career Award (MC 7577 to VSC); Canadian Institute for Health Research Program Grant (MOPs 125950 and 142382 to PHB); French National Research Agency grants ANR-16-CE19-0009 to JDB and ANR-10-IAHU-04 to JDB and EJV. EJV acknowledges PRACE for awarding access to Marconi at CINECA, Italy, and to ARCHER UK National Supercomputing Service. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Abbreviations: AF, atrial fibrillation; APD, action potential duration; AV, atrioventricular; CS, coronary sinus; ERP, effective refractory period; GFP, green fluorescent protein; HV, His-ventricular; INa, whole cell sodium current; OVVR, O’Hara-Virag-Varro-Rudy model; RBBB, right bundle branch block; WT, wild type
Introduction
Mutations in SCN5A can alter the biophysical properties of the cardiac Na+ channel and lead to several different hereditary arrhythmias, including long QT syndrome (LQTS type 3 or LQT3), Brugada syndrome, sick sinus syndrome, heart block and atrial fibrillation (AF) [1]. Although conduction abnormalities have been described with these mutations in the ventricle, sinoatrial node, and atrioventricular (AV) node, the effect on atrial activation has not been previously reported. In some LQT3 SCN5A mutations, Na+ channel blockers, such as mexiletine, can shorten the QTc interval and reduce the risk of cardiac events. The P1332L LQT3 mutation is particularly virulent causing marked QTc prolongation (>500 ms), AV block and juvenile sudden cardiac death [2–4]. This mutation is highly sensitive to mexiletine and treated patients have reversal of their lethal phenotype [2–4]. In contrast, the atypical A647D SCN5A mutation is reported to cause Brugada syndrome without appreciably altering the Na+ channel biophysical profile compared to WT [5, 6].
Compound SCN5A mutations causing LQT3 are uncommon, and in some instances one mutation rescues the Na+ channel abnormalities of the other [7–9]. In these cases, the implications of continuing Na+ channel blocking pharmacotherapy have not been investigated. We present a case of a compound SCN5A mutation, P1332L and A647D, found in an asymptomatic adult male, who manifested a novel pleiotropic phenotype of mild QTc prolongation, atypical ST elevation and abnormal conduction in both the atrium and ventricle. While mexiletine was initially indicated to treat the P1332L-related LQT3 phenotype, the proband’s resting conduction defects and Brugada-associated A647D mutation caused us to reconsider this treatment strategy [10]. In order to understand the complex phenotype of our proband and to clarify whether mexiletine therapy was suitable, we combined heterologous expression studies of these mutant SCN5A channels with computer modeling of ventricular myocyte electrophysiology. In the absence of genetic validation of whether the P1332L and A647D mutations were oriented as cis versus trans, our expression studies considered both possibilities.
Materials and methods
Clinical evaluation
The proband’s clinical evaluation included a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), which was recorded at baseline and after intravenous procainamide challenge (10mg/kg infused over 15 minutes). The latter was performed to assess Brugada syndrome. In addition, an invasive electrophysiology study was performed in the fasting state, whereby multielectrode recording catheters were placed percutaneously in the right ventricular apex, high right atrium, His bundle region and coronary sinus. Intracardiac bipolar electrograms (bandpass filter: 30-500Hz, sampling rate: 1000Hz) were recording from these sites during baseline sinus rhythm. The clinical diagnosis was based on this evaluation and performed at University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of University Health Network and written informed consent was obtained.
Genetic testing
Genetic testing was performed by an accredited commercial laboratory (Invitae Corp™, San Francisco, CA) on a panel of 57 genes implicated in inherited arrhythmias, including LQTS and Brugada syndrome. Genomic DNA was extracted from white blood cells using standard protocols. Next generation sequencing was used to evaluate exons and splice junctions for sequence variants and large deletions or duplications. The following genes were evaluated: ABCC9, ACTN2, AKAP9, ANK2, ANKRD1, CACNA1C, CACNA2D1, CACNB2, CALM1, CALM2, CALM3, CASQ2, CAV3, CTNNA3, DES, DSC2, DSG2, DSP, EMD, GPD1L, HCN4, JUP, KCND3, KCNE1, KCNE2, KCNE3, KCNE5, KCNH2, KCNJ2, KCHJ5, KCNJ8, KCNQ1, LDB3, LMNA, NKX2-5, PDLIM3, PKP2, PLN, PRKAG2, RANGRF, RBM20, RYR2, SCN10A, SCN1B, SCN2B, SCN3B, SCN4B, SCN5A, SLMAP, SNTA1, TGFB3, TMEM43, TNNI3, TNNT2, TRDN, TRPM4, TTN. Control data on variants were obtained from population databases (ExAC).
Site-directed mutagenesis and heterologous expression
Mutations were introduced into the human SCN5A cDNA in the ngPAH1 plasmid using site-directed mutagenesis and verified by full sequencing. The specific mutations introduced into the SCN5A cDNA were a A647D mutation, a P1332L mutation, or a combination of the A647D and P1332L mutations. CHO-K1 cells were transfected using lipofectamine 3000 (Life technologies, USA) according to the manufacturer’s protocol. The SCN5A cDNA plasmids (1μg) were coexpressed with plasmids containing the GFP-marker plus the β1-subunit cDNA (1μg). When combinations of two SCN5A genes were expressed, the total SCN5A cDNA contained 0.5μg of each channels type. For example, when wild-type (WT) SCN5A was coexpressed with the A647D SCN5A mutant (i.e. WT+A647D), we mixed 0.5μg of WT SCN5A cDNA plasmid with 0.5μg of A647D SCN5A cDNA plasmid.
Cellular electrophysiology studies
Whole cell Na+ currents (INa) in green fluorescent protein-positive CHO-K1 cells, showing green fluorescence under mercury light, were recorded at room temperature using an Axopatch 200B amplifier (Molecular device, USA) under whole-cell patch clamp mode with 80–85% series resistance compensation. The bath solution contained (in mM): 140 NaCl, 4 CsCl, 1 MgCl2, 1.2 CaCl2, 10 HEPES, 10 D-glucose, pH 7.35 with NaOH. Internal solution contained (in mM): 10 NaCl, 1 CaCl2, 135 CsCl, 1 MgCl2, 4 MgATP, 10 HEPES, 10 EGTA, pH 7.2 with CsOH. Different mexiletine concentration solutions were prepared by diluting freshly made mexiletine methanol stock (200mM) (Sigma, Mississauga, Canada).
INa was measured as a function of voltage in response to 500ms depolarizing pulses (Vm) ranging between -80 to +50mV from a holding potential at -110mV. To assess the activation properties and densities of Na+ channel expression, we estimated the whole-cell Na+ channel conductance (GNa) at various depolarizing voltages (Vm) by dividing the measured peak INa (INapeak) by the electrochemical driving force Vm-ENa, where ENa is the equilibrium voltage (estimated to be +55mV). To assess the steady state activation and the densities of Na+ expression, we plotted GNa as a function of Vm and fitted to the Boltzmann equation:
(1)
where GNaMax is the maximal conductance, V1/2act is the voltage (Vm) at which the Na+ channels are activated by 50% and k is the slope factor.
Steady-state inactivation was determined by applying a family of 500ms conditioning pulses to voltages ranging from -100 to -10mV followed by a 50ms test pulse to 0mV. The holding potential was -110mV which was applied for 4 seconds between each conditioning pulse. To assess steady-state inactivation properties, peak INa measured during the test pulse to 0mV was normalized to the maximum peak INa (INaMax) and plotted against the conditioning voltage. These data were fit to a Boltzmann equation:
(2)
where V1/2inact is the voltage (Vm) at which the Na+ channels are inactivated by 50% and k is the slope factor.
To assess the inactivation kinetics of SCN5A channels, we measured the time for 50% decay of INa from its peak. We also fit the time course of INa decay to multi-exponential functions using algorithms previously reported [11]. We found that in the majority of CHO-K1 cells, INa was best fit statistically with a tri-exponential function:
(3)
where τ are inactivation time constants, A are the proportion of each component and C is a measure of the non-inactivating (sustained) current. We also assessed inactivation properties of SCN5A channels by applying ramp protocols which involved initially activating the INa by a 5ms step to +20mV from a holding potential of -100mV followed by a 150ms ramp back to -100mV. To eliminate the background leak currents, we applied a P/4 protocol from -120mV 5 seconds prior to the voltage protocol.
Recovery from inactivation of INa was assessed by applying the standard double pulse protocol wherein channels were held at -100mV after which a depolarizing pulse to -20mV was applied for 50ms (i.e. the conditioning pulse) which ensures complete inactivation. The membrane was then repolarized back to -100mV for variable periods of time ranging from 10ms to several seconds, followed by a second step to -20mV (i.e. the test pulse). Peak INa measured in the test pulse was normalized to peak INa during the conditioning pulse and plotted as a function of the period between the conditioning and test pulses. These data (i.e. recovery ratio versus time) were fit with a mono-exponential function:
(4)
where τ is the recovery time constant, A is the amplitude of the component (equal to 1 in mono-phase recovery).
It has previously been established [12] that most Na+ channel blockers cause the recovery from inactivation kinetics to display a bi-exponential time-course, with the slow recovering component arising from unblock of the channels and the faster component mapping the time course of recovery from inactivation of the unblocked Na+ channels. It is noted that the slow time constant estimated from the bi-exponential fit of the recovery from inactivation does not depend on the blocker concentration while the amplitude of the slow recovering component is a direct measure of the number of Na+ channels that are blocked by the drug [13, 14]. Using these properties, we estimated the affinity of mexiletine binding to the channels using the following Sigmoidal function:
(5)
where f(x) is the fractional amplitude of the slow recovering component, “x” is the concentration of mexiletine applied and EC50 is the estimate of mexiletine blocking effectiveness.
Simulation studies
To investigate the effects of SCN5A mutations on human ventricular myocyte electrophysiology, we modeled their Na+ channel behavior using the O’Hara-Virag-Varro-Rudy model (OVVR) [15] and the voltage clamp data (see Results). OVVR Na+ channel model parameters were iteratively adjusted one-by-one until the average absolute difference between experimental and simulation data was <0.1%. The parameters used for the simulation study can be found in the Results and were determined in the following order: Maximal GNa scaled according to the ratios in experimental data (normalized with respect to WT) since human atrial and CHO-K1 cells do not have equivalent GNa; V1/2 and k for m∞ adjusted to match steady-state activation in experimental data; V1/2 and k for h∞ adjusted to match steady-state inactivation in experimental data; Sτj adjusted to match recovery from inactivation in experimental data; Sτh adjusted to match INa decay at 50% in experimental data; and maximal GNaL scaled to match the ratios in experimental data (see Results).
All voltage clamping protocols applied to the modified OVVR models were identical to those in the experimental study. An S1S2 pacing protocol was applied to each OVVR model parameter set (see Results) to investigate the effects of the SCN5A mutations on action potential dynamics. Each OVVR model was preconditioned by basal pacing at a cycle length (CL) of 700ms for 100 beats using a 2ms-long stimulus at twice capture amplitude. Single S2 stimuli were then applied beginning at a CL of 690ms, and decreased by 10ms decrements until loss of stimulus capture. Action potential duration (APD) at 90% repolarization was computed for each S2 beat according to Bayer et al [16], in addition to the maximum change in membrane potential (dVm/dt) during action potential upstroke, action potential activation times at the 0mV threshold crossing of the action potential upstroke, and peak whole-cell INa (early and late) by summing all Na+ dependent currents in the OVVR model. Each was plotted against the S2 diastolic interval (DI).
Single-cell voltage clamping and pacing simulations were performed using the Cardiac Arrhythmia Research Package CARP [17] running on a single CPU of a generic desktop computer. A time step and temporal output of 20μs was used for all simulations in order to sufficiently capture rapidly changing INa behavior.
Statistical analysis
Pclamp 8.2 and Clampfit 10 (Molecular device, USA), Excel (Microsoft, USA) and Prism 5.3 (Graphpadsoftware, CA, USA) were used for data acquisition and analysis. Data are presented as mean±standard error. Unpaired student t test and one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey test were used to compare the means. Statistical significance was considered when p<0.05.
Results
Clinical profile
The proband is a 22-year old asymptomatic male, with a structurally normal heart and no family history of sudden death, who presented with an abnormal resting 12-lead ECG showing sinus tachycardia at 105bpm, mild QTc prolongation (420-470ms) and atypical ST elevation in V2 and V3. Striking beat-to-beat variation in P wave morphology and RBBB-aberrancy were seen in the absence of premature ectopy or heart rate acceleration (Fig 1A). Invasive electrophysiology testing revealed normal atrio-ventricular (AV) nodal and His-Purkinje conduction, based on normal atrio-Hisian (AH) interval, AV nodal effective refractory period (ERP) and His-ventricular (HV) interval (Fig 1B).
A. Resting 12-lead ECG showing sinus tachycardia, mild QTc prolongation (470ms), atypical ST elevation in lead V2, rate-independent varying QRS aberrancy (solid arrow), and rate-independent changes in P wave morphology (dashed arrow). B. Surface ECG and intracardiac electrograms during sinus rhythm showing varying QRS aberrancy and normal HV interval of 55ms. Abbreviations: surface ECG leads I, II, aVL, V1, V2; bipolar electrograms from high right atrium (HRA), His bundle-proximal (HIS-P), His bundle-distal (HIS-D), right ventricular apex (RVA).
Atrial activation in sinus rhythm gradually changed along the left atrium-coronary sinus (CS) (CSdistal→CSproximal transitioning to CSproximal→CSdistal) despite constant heart rate (Fig 2A). Spontaneous changes in right atrial activation also occurred as manifested by varying high right atrial to His bundle activation times without a change in heart rate. These spontaneous abnormal shifts in right and left atrial activation were accompanied by alterations in surface P wave morphology (Fig 2B).
A. Surface ECG and intracardiac electrograms showing varying P wave morphology and CS activation during sinus rhythm without changing heart rate. Note CS activation is distal to proximal on the first two beats, but then reverses by the fourth beat. B. Surface ECG and intracardiac electrograms showing varying P wave morphology and right atrial activation during sinus rhythm without a change in heart rate. Note the difference in high right atrial to His bundle activation time between the first and second beats. Abbreviations are the same as in Fig 1. CS indicates bipolar electrograms recorded from the proximal CS (CS 9–10) to distal CS (CS 1–2).
Mexiletine therapy (100mg twice daily) produced no change in P wave or QRS morphology, no appreciable change in the QTc interval or ST segments, and no effect on resting sinus rate. Mixed Na+ and K+ channel blockade with procainamide (10mg/kg infused at 50mg/min) did not provoke a Brugada type 1 ECG pattern, although interpretation was confounded by the baseline QRS aberrancy and atypical ST elevation in the anterior precordial leads. Beta-blocker challenge with nadolol (80mg daily) produced sinus slowing without marked QTc prolongation (i.e. >500 ms) (Fig 3).
Baseline resting ECG shows sinus tachycardia, normal QTc interval, atypical ST elevation in V3, and one right bundle branch block (RBBB) aberrant sinus beat. Procainamide resulted in sinus slowing, marked ST elevation in V1 and V2, but no Brugada type 1 ECG pattern. Mexilitine did not change the resting sinus rate, nor shorten the QTc interval. QRS aberrancy in one sinus beat is still present. Nadolol produced sinus slowing without marked QTc prolongation (i.e. >500 ms).
Genetic testing
Genetic testing of the proband revealed two heterozygous, missense mutations in SCN5A, A647D and P1332L. The P1332L mutation was de novo, but the A647D mutation was inherited from the father, who manifested an asymptomatic type 3 Brugada ECG pattern. No mutations were identified in the proband’s mother and only sibling, both of whom had normal ECGs (Fig 4).
A. Schematic representation of the membrane topology of SCN5A and the location of the A647D and P1332L mutations. The Na+ channel consists of 4 homologous domains (labelled I to IV), each with 6 transmembrane segments. B. Pedigree of patient’s family. The proband is the son with both the P1332L and A647D SCN5A mutations.
Cis/trans genotyping of the proband’s compound mutation was evaluated as follows: First, the family’s genotype was considered, but cis/trans could not be clarified because one mutation was de novo and the proband had no offspring. Next, cis/trans status was assessed using reverse-transcriptase PCR and amplification of cDNA from isolated RNA from the proband’s white blood cells. TA cloning of cDNA PCR products then allows for direct sequencing of specific alleles. We attempted this for SCN5A and used KCNQ1 as a control from our proband. Although our protocol generating KCNQ1 cDNA, SCN5A cDNA could not be generated, which is somewhat expected since there is essentially no SCN5A expression in white blood cells [18, 19]. In absence of data establishing whether our mutations were present in the cis versus trans configuration, we considered both possibilities in our heterologous expression studies. In particular, we compared the INa properties of A647D-P1332L SCN5A channels (i.e. cis) with the mixture of P1332L SCN5A channels and A647D SCN5A channels coexpressed (i.e. trans, P1332L+A647D).
Peak Na+ currents and steady-state activation
Since previous studies have established that A647D is linked to Brugada syndrome, in association with reduced current densities when co-expressed with WT in heterozygous system [5], we hypothesized initially that the A647D and P1332L mutations were present in our proband in a trans configuration, thereby mitigating the QT prolongation induced by the P1332L mutation as a result of A647D-dependent reductions in the late INa currents generated by P1332L channels. Fig 5 confirms previous studies [5], showing that co-expression of A647D and WT SCN5A channels reduced peak INa densities in CHO-K1 cells compared to either WT channels or A647D SCN5A channels alone. Specifically, Fig 5A shows typical raw INa traces from WT, A647D alone and WT+A647D channels, recorded in response to depolarizing steps to -20mV from a holding potential of -110mV. Fig 5B shows the mean peak INa densities as a function of voltage and establishes that peak INa is reduced when WT and A647D channels are co-expressed (in equal amounts). To more accurately quantify the ability of A647D to reduce peak INa densities, we estimated the INa conductance (i.e. GNa(Vm)), normalized to cell capacitance, as a function of Vm. Fitting G(Vm) to the Boltzmann equation revealed that the Gmax of A647D alone (1.37±0.21pS/pF) was similar (P = 0.48) to WT (1.58±0.10pS/pF); but that Gmax was significantly reduced (P = 0.036) when A467D was co-expressed with WT Na+ channels (1.05±0.22pS/pF) (Fig 5C). Having validated the previous studies by Hoshi et al [5], we next explored whether A647D could also reduce INa generated by P1332L channels.
A. Typical whole-cell traces of INa recorded in CHO-K1 cells expressing WT or P1332L channels with or without A647D channels. B. Summary of peak INa density measurements as a function of voltage in CHO-K1 cells (n = 7 in each group). C. Summary of the whole-cell Na+ channel conductance (GNa) as a function of voltage with the lines showing the best fits to a Boltzmann function (n = 7 in each group). D. Comparison of Gmax (estimated by Boltzmann fits to the data in Panel C) for the indicated channels expressed in CHO-K1 cells. #: P = 0.036 versus WT alone; *: P = 0.039 versus P1332L alone.
As summarized in Fig 5B, co-expression of A647D with P1332L reduced peak INa at all the voltages studied compared to P1332L. Gmax calculated in CHO-K1 cells expressing P1332L channels alone was 1.64±0.21pS/pF and was reduced (P = 0.039) to 1.08±0.17pS/pF when A647D and P1332L were co-expressed. The magnitude of reduction was similar to that seen when A647D and WT channels were co-expressed. In contrast, Gmax was not decreased in the cis construct, A647D-P1332L, (1.65±0.28pS/pF) compared to WT. Taken together, these results are consistent with our hypothesis that A647D and P1332L, in the trans configuration, can lead to reduced peak INa; thereby explaining the conduction abnormalities seen in our patient.
Inactivation properties and late Na+ currents
We next sought to assess the impact of A647D on late INa generated by P1332L by considering both cis versus trans arrangement of the mutations, in order to explain the mild QTc prolongation in our patient. Consistent with previous studies [4], P1332L channels displayed pronounced slowing of INa current decay compared to WT channels. Specifically, the time required for 50% decay of INa at -30mV was prolonged (P = 0.021) in P1332L channels (1.28±0.11ms, n = 8) compared to WT channels (0.94±0.06ms, n = 8) as summarized in Fig 6A. Moreover, fitting the time course of INa decay (see Methods) revealed that the slowest decay component was prolonged in P1332L channels compared to WT channels (Table 1). This slowing of INa decay in P1332L channels was associated, as expected, with a marked increase in the magnitude of INa measured 150ms after initiation of depolarizing steps to 0mV (late INa). Indeed, late INa / peak INa was 0.32±0.03% (n = 14) in P1332L channels which was almost 3-fold larger (P<0.0001) than 0.12±0.02% (n = 8) in WT channels (Figs 7A–7C).
A. The time for 50% decay of INa measured from its peak as a function of membrane voltage. B. The whole-cell Na+ channel conductance is plotted as a function of the membrane potential for the voltage protocols shown. Conductance was estimated as described in the Methods. The lines were generated from a non-linear least-squares fit to the Boltzmann equation and the parameters for the voltage for 50% activation and the slope factor are summarized in Table 2. C. Steady-state inactivation curve, whole-cell Na+ channel conductance; the 50% inactivation and slope are listed in Table 2. D. INa recovery from inactivation curve; the recovery time constants and sample size are listed in Table 2.
A. Typical current traces normalized for membrane capacitance recorded from CHO-K1 expressed with WT or P1332L channels with or without A647D channels. B. Same currents (as in A) beginning after the peak INa at a higher magnification, late INa. C. Summarizes the ratio of INa measured at 150ms to peak INa (*: P<0.05 for P1332L (n = 14) compared to WT (n = 8), A647D (n = 5), WT+A647D (n = 7), A647D-P1334L (n = 7) and P1332L+A647D (n = 10)). D. Typical traces normalized for cell capacitance recorded with voltage protocol in the inset. E. The same traces (as shown in D) displayed at a higher current amplitude resolution to more clearly illustrate late INa. The broken line represents the zero current level with all currents being leak-corrected. F. Summarized the integral of absolute (not normalized) inward Na+ charge movement during the ramp protocol (*: P<0.05 for P1332L (n = 6) when compared to WT (n = 6), A647D (n = 5), WT+A647D (n = 6), A647D-P1332L (n = 6) and P1332L+A647D (n = 9)).
To assess the potential impact of slowed inactivation rates of the INa generated by P1332L channels, we applied voltage protocols to our CHO-K1 cells that crudely mimic the voltage profile of ventricular action potentials in humans. As can be seen in Figs 7D–7F, P1332L channels displayed much larger leak-subtracted inward INa during slow ramp repolarizations compared to WT channels. The net inward Na+ charge movement estimated by integrating the INa during the repolarization ramp was 121.9±25.9mC/F (n = 6) for P1332L channels which was more than 2-fold greater (P<0.0001) than that for WT channels (52.2±19.8mC/F, n = 6).
In addition to slowed inactivation rates in P1332L channels, the steady-state activation properties (as measured by V1/2) were shifted (P = 0.027) markedly toward negative voltages in P1332L (to -42.02±1.97mV) compared to WT channels (-33.67±2.32mV) (Table 2, Fig 6B). Steady-state inactivation was also shifted (P = 0.036) negatively in P1332L (to -85.10±1.66mV) compared to WT channels (-75.26±0.52mV) (Table 2, Fig 6C) while the rate of recovery from inactivation was slowed (P<0.0001) in P1332L (11.68±0.57ms) compared to WT channels (6.05±0.29ms) (Table 2, Fig 6D). Taken together, these biophysical results collectively indicate that the rate of entry into, and exit from, the inactivation state in P1332L channels was slowed relative WT channels, as reported previously [4].
In order to assess the consequences of the trans configuration of the A647D and P1332L mutations on late INa, the late INa/ peak INa ratio was measured at 150ms after depolarizing steps to 0mV. As shown in Fig 7C, the late INa / peak INa ratio was smaller (P = 0.0003) when A647D and P1332L channels were coexpressed (0.17±0.02%, n = 10) compared to P1332L channels alone (0.32±0.02%, n = 14). These reductions were associated with less (P = 0.0099) net inward Na+ charge entry in co-expressed A647D+P1332L channels (54.57±8.65mC/F, n = 9) versus P1332L channels alone (121.90±25.91mC/F, n = 5) as summarized in Fig 7F. These effects of A647D channels on the late INa generated by P1332L were accompanied by small changes in the rate inactivation (Table 1, Fig 6A), steady-state activation properties (Fig 6B), steady-state inactivation properties (Fig 6C) and recovery from inactivation (Fig 6D) to values that were intermediate between values recorded when A647D and P1332L were expressed alone, thereby assisting in reducing the next impact of the P1332L channel on late INa (Table 2).
By comparison, A647D channels expressed alone or co-expressed with WT had no impact on late INa at 150ms following depolarizations to 0mV (Fig 7C), the net inward Na+ charge movement (Fig 7F), the rate of entry into inactivation (Table 1, Fig 6A), steady-state activation properties (Fig 6B), steady-state inactivation properties (Fig 6C) and rate of the recovery from inactivation (Fig 6D) (Table 2).
On the other hand, A647D-P1332L channels also displayed reductions (P<0.05) in the late INa / peak INa ratio (0.20±0.02%) and the net inward Na+ charge entry (63.13±17.26mC/F) (Fig 7) in association with alterations (P<0.05) in activation and inactivation properties (Fig 6) compared to P1332L channels, suggesting that the A647D mutation also modulates the impact of the P1332L mutation when the two mutations occur together in the same channel protein. The implications of these observations are discussed further below.
Mexiletine blockade of Na+ currents expressed in CHO-K1 cells
As described in the Methods section, the relative blocking efficacy [15] for Na+ channel blockers was also assessed by quantifying the recovery from inactivation kinetics of INa in the presence of mexiletine. As expected [20], mexiletine application resulted in the appearance of a slow, concentration-dependent, kinetic component in INa recovery from inactivation with a time constant ranging from 301 to 635ms depending on the channel type (Fig 8A). Fitting the recovery from inactivation with bi-exponential functions allows quantification of the fraction of blocked channels from the amplitude of the slowly recovering component [12]. As shown in Fig 8A, in the presence of 80μM mexiletine, the amplitude of the slow recovering component was larger (P<0.0001) in P1332L (0.73±0.03, n = 7) compared to WT (0.35±0.01, n = 6), indicating greater channel blockade. While the co-expression of A647D channels had no effect on the amplitude of this slower recovering component in WT (0.35±0.02, n = 6), it did reduce (P<0.0001) the fraction of channels blocked by mexiletine to 0.45±0.02 (n = 6) when A647D+P1332L were co-expressed. Consistent with these results, Fig 8B shows that the effective concentration required for 50% block of Na+ channels by mexiletine was lower (P<0.0001) for P1332L channels (43.29±5.02μM, n = 7) compared to WT (103.61±6.71μM, n = 6), indicating more potent block of P1332L channels relative to WT channels. On the other hand, the blocking efficacy of mexilitine was not different from WT when cells expressed either A647D (117.41±8.32μM, n = 6) or WT+A647D channels (111.73±5.92μM, n = 6). However, the EC50 was shifted to higher (P<0.05) mexilitine concentrations when A647D and P1332L channels were co-expressed (91.65±7.07μM n = 6) compared to P1332L alone.
A. The blockage of mexiletine (80μM) on SCN5A Na+ current was estimated by recovery from inactivation using the protocol shown in the inset with 8 s start-to-start interval. B. The dose-response for mexiletine block was determined by plotting the relative amplitude of the slower component of the INa recovery from inactivation as a function of mexiletine concentration.
To further characterize the blocking properties of mexiletine in our channels, use-dependence of INa blockade was also examined. As summarized in Fig 9, the ratio of peak INa recorded at the 7th pulse to peak INa in pulse 1 (i.e. peak I7/ peak I1), recorded when cells were stimulated at 2Hz in the presence of 20μM mexiletine, was 0.75±0.01 (n = 7) in P1332L, which was smaller (P<0.05) than WT channels (0.84±0.02, n = 6) as well as A647D channels (0.86±0.02, n = 6) or WT+A647D co-expressed channels (0.83±0.02, n = 7). Thus, mexilitine showed an increased blocking efficacy for P1332L channels compared to WT, A647D or WT+A647D co-expressed channels. Consistent with the increased EC50 for mexilitine blockade in P1332L+A647D co-expressed channels, the peak I7/ peak I1 was greater, although not statistically significant, when P1332L+A647D were co-expressed (0.79±0.01, n = 8) compared to P1332L channels alone. Interestingly, A647D-P1332L channels also showed a slightly higher EC50 (70.54±7.18μM, n = 6) compared to P1332L alone and this was matched by a trend towards an increase in peak I7/ peak I1 (0.78±0.02, n = 6). The implications of this are considered in the Discussion.
A Normalized representative recordings of INa in CHO-K1 cells over-expressed with WT and mutant Na+ channels using the protocol shown in insets; B. Comparison of the ratio of INapeak of the 7th trace in 20μM mexiletine to INapeak of baseline; *: P<0.05, compared to all other groups.
Modelling INa kinetics and action potential properties
The OVVR model was implemented using the parameters in Table 3 to simulate WT and mutant human ventricular myocytes based on the experimental data presented in Table 2 and Figs 5–7. INa kinetics for WT and mutant Na+ channels, P1332L, WT+A647D and P1332L+A647D, generated by the model are presented in Fig 10. We did not specifically model the cis construct, A647D-P1332L, because its biophysical properties were similar to the trans construct, P1332L+A647D, and WT. Moreover, A647D-P1332L did not manifest reduced peak INa, unlike P1332+A647D, which made it less likely to explain our patient’s conduction abnormalities. INa kinetics of delay, steady-state activation, steady-state inactivation, and recovery from inactivation were matched closely to the respective voltage-clamp data, as shown in Fig 6.
A. 50% peak INa decay. B. Steady-state activation. C. Steady-state inactivation. D. Recovery from inactivation. In each panel, the kinetics matches the respective experimental data shown in Fig 6.
The dynamic effects of the SCN5A mutations on action potential properties were next examined by simulating pacing of ventricular myocytes in the OVVR model using the parameters in Table 3. Myocytes were first paced at a basal CL of 700ms from a resting membrane potential of -80mV. As expected, the APD was 70ms longer for the P1332L model compared to WT, whereas the WT+A647D and P1332L+A647D models had only small effects on APD compared to WT (<15ms) (Fig 11A). With tighter S1S2 coupling intervals during extrastimulus pacing, Fig 11B shows that the APD restitution slope, relative to WT, increased more for P1332 compared to WT+A647D or P1332L+A647D (1.2 vs. 0.7–0.8). Also, during basal pacing at 700ms, the maximum upstroke of the action potential for all three SCN5A mutants was less steep than WT (608 vs. 352-469mV/ms) with the lowest slope being observed in the P1332L+A647D model (352mV/ms), as summarized in Fig 11C. Similarly, during extrastimulus pacing with tightly coupled S1S2, the maximal upstroke velocity of the S2 action potential was much less for models with the P1332L mutant compared to WT (285 vs. 142-178mV/ms) (Fig 11D). Of note, the resting membrane potential during pacing did not change more than 1mV between WT and the various SCN5A mutants.
A. Transmembrane potential for the last S1 beat during S1 pacing. B. APD restitution for S2 during the S1S2 pacing protocol with the maximal slope listed for each curve. C. Transmembrane potential during the action potential upstroke for the last S1 beat during S1 pacing. D. The maximum dVm/dt during the action potential upstroke for S2 during the S1S2 pacing protocol.
Simulated early and late INa during pacing
To assess the underlying basis for the changes in action potential properties seen with the different SCN5A channels, we also quantified INa during action potentials generated from simulated pacing. During basal pacing at 700ms, peak INa was reduced for P1332, WT+A647D and P1332L+A647D compared to WT, with the greatest reduction seen in P1332L+A647D (Fig 12A). In accordance with action potential upstroke behavior shown in Fig 11D, only constructs with the P1332L mutation significantly reduced peak INa compared to WT at tighter S1S2 coupling intervals (-121-154 vs. -258pA) as summarized in Fig 12B. When compared to the baseline WT peak INa during basal pacing at 700ms, the reduction in peak INa was P1332L 23%, WT+A647D 34%, and P1332L+A647D 44% (Fig 12C). Notably, the early component of INa during basal pacing was lowest for P1332L+A647D (Fig 12D), while its late component (late INa) was similar to that of WT (Fig 12E).
A. Whole-cell INa for the last S1 beat during S1 pacing. B. Rate-dependent peak INa for each S2 in the S1S2 pacing protocol. C. The percentage of the baseline WT peak INa during S1 pacing for each S2 in the S1S2 pacing protocol for the four models. D. Early component of INa for the last S1 beat during S1 pacing. E. Late component of INa for the last S1 beat during S1 pacing.
Interestingly, the lower peak INa in P1332L+A647D compared to WT+A647D in our simulations was not seen in the experimental studies (i.e. Fig 5B). We suspected that these differences between simulation and experimental results arose from the differences in holding potential, particular since P1332L+A647D show a greater hyperpolarizing shift in steady state inactivation compared to WT+A647D. To test this notion, we repeated our simulation by forcing a resting membrane potential of -110mV as used in our experimental recordings. As shown in Fig 13, when a holding potential of -110mV was used, peak INa no longer differed between P1332L+A647D versus WT+A647D, consistent with our experimental results.
The plots in the top row are whole-cell INa for Vt -20 mV. The plots in the bottom row are peak INa computed for all Vt from -110 to 50 mV.
Discussion
While the P1332L and A647D SCN5A mutations have been individually reported, we describe for the first time the clinical presentation and biophysical properties of the compound mutations, which produced a novel, pleotrophic phenotype of resting sinus tachycardia, mild QTc prolongation, atypical anterior ST elevation and varying P wave and QRS aberrancy. Intracardiac recordings confirmed atrial and ventricular conduction abnormalities based on spontaneous rate-independent changes in atrial activation and RBBB aberrancy. Individually, the P1332L mutation causes a lethal form of LQT3 [4], while the A647D mutation is associated with an atypical form of Brugada syndrome [5]. Neither has been linked to conduction disease. Our proband’s benign clinical presentation and mixed phenotype (i.e. mild QT prolongation and conduction defects) suggested an interaction between these mutations. In support of this, our cellular studies revealed foremost that when A647D and P1332L channels are co-expressed both the peak and late INa are reduced compared to P1332L channels alone, which, assuming a trans presentation of the mutations, may explain the clinical pheotype of our patient. It should be mentioned, however, that late INa was also reduced in channels harbouring both the A647D and P1332L mutations (i.e. A647D-P1332L). Thus, it is conceivable that our patient possesses the compound mutations in a cis configuation. Unfortunately, without the ability to perform direct cis/trans genotyping, the finding of reduced peak INa with the trans construct likely supports the trans genotype in our proband.
The presence of the A647D channels also reduced the mexiletine sensitivity observed in the P1332L channels, whether in the cis or trans configuration. These results explain the mild LQT3 phenotype and the inability of mexiletine to appreciably shorten our probands’s QTc interval, despite the high sensitivity of P1332L channels to block by this drug [4]. Our simulation studies confirmed shorter APD in P1332L+A647D compared to P1332L, and further demonstrated lower peak INa in P1332L+A647D than P1332L or WT+A647D, which explains our proband’s mild QTc prolongation and conduction defect, respectively. Thus, although mexiletine is reported to be therapeutic in LQT3 patients possessing the P1332L mutation, long-term treatment with this agent was not considered in our proband because it would be ineffective and potentially exacerbate the inherent conduction abnormalities [5].
Cellular and drug studies explain mild LQTS
Our studies confirmed that the P1332L LQT3 mutation, which is located in a highly conserved region of the S4-S5 cytoplasmic, slows inactivation of INa, in association with hyperpolarizing shifts in steady-state activation and inactivation while also increasing block by mexiletine. We further established that P1332L channels have marked elevation in the net charge entry during voltage ramp protocols designed to mimic human ventricular action potentials, which helps explain the profound QT prolongation and the malignant clinical phenotype seen in patients with this mutation [3,4].
Our studies also confirmed that the A647D SCN5A mutation, which is located in the intracellular linker between domains I and II (Fig 4A), caused peak INa reduction without appreciably affecting other biophysical properties of WT channels. According to Hoshi et al [5], the reduced peak INa with A647D and WT coexpression is due to an induced trafficking defect which affects cell surface expression of both WT and mutant protein. This explains the Brugada syndrome seen in patients harboring the A647D mutation [5] as well as the P wave and QRS aberrancy and the mild QT prolongation in our patient. Indeed, A647D channels, not only reduced late INa responsible for the virulent QTc prolongation, but also reduced the effects of the P1332L mutation on the slowed recovery from inactivation as well as the hyperpolarizing shift in steady-state inactivation, whose effects on abnormal conduction was uncovered in our simulation studies as discussed below.
The presence of A647D channels also shifted the steady-state inactivation of P1332L channels to more depolarized potentials, thereby reducing mexiltine block [21, 22] which can account for the lack of QTc shortening with mexiletine in our proband.
Simulation studies explain novel conduction defects
We used an OVVR-based model to further explore the underlying basis for the clinical features of our proband. While the A647D mutant reduce GMax when coexpressed with P1332L and thereby also reduced the large late INa generated by the P1332L channels, our simulation results revealed additionally that peak INa was actually lower in P1332L+A647D compared to WT+A647D. This effect can be traced to the prominent hyperpolarizing shift in the steady-state inactivation curve caused by the P1332L mutation which was more pronounced in P1332L+A647D versus WT+A647D. This in turn slowed action potential upstroke velocity in P1332L+A647D during simulated steady pacing, and the effect was further accentuated with extrastimulation, which is theoretically predicted to cause conduction velocity slowing during resting heart rates in our proband [23]. The importance of this mechanism is highlighted by the observation that when the model cell was hyperpolarized, the effects of either the P1332L or P1332L+A647D mutations on peak INa were much reduced. Thus, our simulation results suggest that the presence of A647D channels imparted a “double hit” in reducing P1332L INa; thereby accentuating the conduction defects in our proband, which would not be seen in patients harboring either mutation alone. This “double hit” was sufficient to cause beat-to-beat variability in atrial and ventricular conduction, but not fixed His-Purkinje or nodal dysfunction.
Prior studies on compound SCN5A mutations
Compound SCN5A mutations are uncommon (<5% of patients) [24] and some have been reported to accentuate disease phenotype, as with R34fx/60+R1195H [25] or W156X+R225W [26] or reduce phenotype as seen with the common SCN5A polymorphisms H558R [7, 8] or R1193Q [9]. Our report is the first to illustrate the ability of a compound SCN5A mutation to mitigate a lethal phenotype (i.e. LQT3), while concurrently introducing a new phenotype (i.e. conduction abnormalities) and modulating pharmacotherapy (i.e. Class IB agents like mexiletine for LQT3). The therapeutic benefit of these agents can be quite variable in single LQT3 mutations, in some cases due to differences in drug-binding affinity [4]. In one reported LQT3 patient, mexiletine caused paradoxical QTc lengthening and proarrhythmic death after it enhanced mutant channel protein trafficking [27]. Hence, caution should be exercised when prescribing Na+ channel blockers in LQT3 and our findings draw attention to the potential interaction of compound mutations on drug pharmacology.
Limitations
Cis/trans genotyping was not possible. While the trans genotype was initially assumed and was able to account for the ECG phenotype and lack of response to therapy of our patient, we also noted for the first time that the presence of both the A647D and P1332L mutations in the same protein also altered the biophysical properties in a manner that might explain some of the features in our patient. It is also acknowledged that our proband’s resting sinus tachycardia could not be readily explained, and this is contrary to the sinoatrial nodal disease reported with other Na+ channel mutations or LQTS [1]. Resting sinus tachycardia may have contributed to the shortened QTc our proband, as seen with rapid atrial pacing in the treatment of LQTS. However, sinus slowing with a trial of beta-blocker therapy (i.e. nadolol 80mg daily) in our proband did not result in excessively long QTc intervals (over 500ms), as reported in patients with P1332L (Fig 3).
Conclusions
We demonstrate a novel pleiotropic phenotype arising from the compound SCN5A mutation, P1332L and A647D. The lethal LQT3 phenotype of P1332L was mitigated with the Brugada- associated A647D, which negated the previously reported therapeutic benefit of mexiletine. Concurrently, the A647 mutant reduced INa sufficiently to produce a novel global cardiac conduction defect affecting the atria and ventricles, but not the sinoatrial or AV nodes. These finding highlight the complex, unpredictable biophysical interactions of LQT3-related compound mutations and the relevance of cellular expression studies in clarifying the role of Na+ channel blocking pharmacotherapy.
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