Synchronous force and Ca2+ measurements for repeated characterization of excitation-contraction coupling in human myocardium

Sun, Zhengwu; Lu, Kun; Kamla, Christine; Kameritsch, Petra; Seidel, Thomas; Dendorfer, Andreas (2024): Synchronous force and Ca2+ measurements for repeated characterization of excitation-contraction coupling in human myocardium. Communications Biology, 7 (1). ISSN 2399-3642

Abstract

Dysfunctional Ca2+ signaling affects the myocardial systole and diastole, may trigger arrhythmia and cause transcriptomic and proteomic modifications in heart failure. Thus, synchronous real-time measurement of Ca2+ and force is essential to investigate the relationship between contractility and Ca2+ signaling and the alteration of excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) in human failing myocardium. Here, we present a method for synchronized acquisition of intracellular Ca2+ and contraction force in long-term cultivated slices of human failing myocardium. Synchronous time series of contraction force and intracellular Ca2+ were used to calculate force-calcium loops and to analyze the dynamic alterations of ECC in response to various pacing frequencies, post-pause potentiation, high mechanical preload and pharmacological interventions in human failing myocardium. We provide an approach to simultaneously and repeatedly investigate alterations of contractility and Ca2+ signals in long-term cultured myocardium, which will allow detecting the effects of electrophysiological or pharmacological interventions on human myocardial ECC.

• Doc-Type: Article (LMU Hospital)
• Organisational unit (Faculties): 07 Medicine > Medical Center of the University of Munich
• DFG subject classification of scientific disciplines: Life sciences
• DFG: Funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) - 491502892