Biology subjects

Wagner, K. T.

Publications and source records attributed to Wagner, K. T..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Knock-in Kcnh2 Rabbit Model of Long QT Syndrome Type-2, Epilepsy, and Sudden Death

BackgroundLong QT Syndrome Type-2 (LQT2) is due to loss-of-function KCNH2 variants. KCNH2 encodes Kv11.1 that forms a delayed-rectifier potassium channel in the brain and heart. LQT2 is associated with arrhythmias, seizures, sudden cardiac death, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The goal of the study is to develop a translational model that reproduces the neuro-cardiac electrical abnormalities and sudden death seen in people with LQT2. MethodsWe generated the first knock-in rabbit model of LQT2 (Kcnh2(+/7bp-del)), due to a 7 base-pair (7bp) deletion in the pore domain of the endogenous rabbit Kcnh2 gene. ResultsMutant Kcnh2 is expressed in the heart and brain and constitutes 11% of total Kcnh2 in Kcnh2(+/7bp-del) rabbits. Total Kcnh2, WT Kcnh2, and WT Kv11.1 expression is lower in Kcnh2(+/7bp-del) vs. WT rabbits. Kcnh2(+/7bp-del) rabbits exhibit prolonged cardiac ventricular repolarization (QTc, JTec, JTpc). There is an increased prevalence of spontaneous epileptiform activity and clinical seizures in Kcnh2(+/7bp-del) (7 of 37 rabbits) vs. WT rabbits (1:68 rabbits, p<0.003). 18.9% of Kcnh2(+/7bp-del) vs. 1.5% of WT rabbits died suddenly and spontaneously (p<0.003). We recorded 2 spontaneous lethal events in Kcnh2(+/7bp-del) rabbits: (1) sudden cardiac death and (2) seizure-mediated sudden death due to generalized tonic-clonic seizures, post-ictal generalized EEG suppression, bradycardia, ECG-T-wave inversion, focal cardiac activity, and asystole/death. ConclusionsWe developed the first genetic rabbit model of LQT2 that reproduces the cardiac and epileptic phenotypes seen in people with LQT2. Kcnh2(+/7bp-del) rabbits provide a valuable tool for future mechanistic studies, development of neurotherapeutics, and cardiac-safety testing.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Biomimetic fractal topography enhances podocyte maturation in vitro

Cells and tissues in their native environment are organized into intricate fractal structures, which are rarely recapitulated in their culture in vitro. The extent to which fractal patterns that resemble complex topography in vivo influence cell maturation, and the cellular responses to such shape stimulation remain inadequately elucidated. Yet, the application of fractal cues (topographical stimulation via self-similar patterns) as an external input may offer a much-needed solution to the challenge of improving the differentiated cell phenotype in vitro. Here, we established fractality in podocytes, branching highly differentiated kidney cells, and glomerulus structure. Biomimetic fractal patterns derived from glomerular histology were used to generate topographical (2.5-D) substrates for cell culture. Podocytes grown on fractal topography were found to express higher levels of functional markers and exhibit enhanced cell polarity. To track morphological complexities of differentiated podocytes, we employed a fluorescent labelling assay where labelled individual cells are tracked within otherwise optically silent confluent cell monolayer to reveal cell-cell interdigitation. RNAseq analysis suggests enhanced ECM deposition and remodeling in podocytes grown on fractal topography compared to flat surface or non-fractal microcurvature, mediated by YAP signaling. The incorporation of fractal topography into standard tissue culture well plates as demonstrated here may serve as a user-friendly bioengineered platform for high-fidelity cell culture.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

Heart-on-a-chip model of immune-induced cardiac dysfunction reveals the involvement of free mitochondrial DNA and therapeutic effects of endothelial exosomes

Cardiovascular disease continues to take more human lives than all cancer combined, prompting the need for improved research models and treatment options. Despite a significant progress in development of mature heart-on-a-chip models of fibrosis and cardiomyopathies starting from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), human cell-based models of myocardial inflammation are lacking. Here, we bioengineered a vascularized heart-on-a-chip system with circulating immune cells to model SARS-CoV-2-induced acute myocarditis. Briefly, we observed hallmarks of COVID-19-induced myocardial inflammation in the heart-on-a-chip model, as the presence of immune cells augmented the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines, triggered progressive impairment of contractile function and altered intracellular calcium transient activities. An elevation of circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (ccf-mtDNA) was measured first in the in vitro heart-on-a-chip model and then validated in COVID-19 patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), demonstrating that mitochondrial damage is an important pathophysiological hallmark of inflammation induced cardiac dysfunction. Leveraging this platform in the context of SARS-CoV-2 induced myocardial inflammation, we established that administration of human umbilical vein-derived EVs effectively rescued the contractile deficit, normalized intracellular calcium handling, elevated the contraction force and reduced the ccf- mtDNA and chemokine release via TLR-NF-kB signaling axis.

bioengineering↗