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Key points Mutations in genes encoding cardiac troponin I (TNNI3) and cardiac troponin T (TNNT2) caused altered troponin protein stoichiometry in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. TNNI3p.98trunc resulted in haploinsufficiency, increased Ca2+-sensitivity and reduced length-dependent activation. TNNT2p.K217del caused increased passive tension. A mutation in the gene encoding Lamin A/C (LMNAp.R331Q) led to reduced maximal force development through secondary disease remodelling in patients suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy. Our study shows that different gene mutations induce dilated cardiomyopathy via diverse cellular pathways. Abstract Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) can be caused by mutations in sarcomeric and non-sarcomeric genes. In this study we defined the pathogenic effects of three DCM-causing mutations: the sarcomeric mutations in genes encoding cardiac troponin I (TNNI3p.98truncation) and cardiac troponin T (TNNT2p.K217deletion; also known as the p.K210del) and the non-sarcomeric gene mutation encoding lamin A/C (LMNAp.R331Q). We assessed sarcomeric protein expression and phosphorylation and contractile behaviour in single membrane-permeabilized cardiomyocytes in human left ventricular heart tissue. Exchange with recombinant troponin complex was used to establish the direct pathogenic effects of the mutations in TNNI3 and TNNT2. The TNNI3p.98trunc and TNNT2p.K217del mutation showed reduced expression of troponin I to 39% and 51%, troponin T to 64% and 53%, and troponin C to 73% and 97% of controls, respectively, and altered stoichiometry between the three cardiac troponin subunits. The TNNI3p.98trunc showed pure haploinsufficiency, increased Ca2+-sensitivity and impaired length-dependent activation. The TNNT2p.K217del mutation showed a significant increase in passive tension that was not due to changes in titin isoform composition or phosphorylation. Exchange with wild-type troponin complex corrected troponin protein levels to 83% of controls in the TNNI3p.98trunc sample. Moreover, upon exchange all functional deficits in the TNNI3p.98trunc and TNNT2p.K217del samples were normalized to control values confirming the pathogenic effects of the troponin mutations. The LMNAp.R331Q mutation resulted in reduced maximal force development due to disease remodelling. Our study shows that different gene mutations induce DCM via diverse cellular pathways.

Aim Mutations in the RS-domain of RNA-binding motif protein 20 (RBM20) have recently been identified to segregate with aggressive forms of familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Loss of RBM20 in rats results in missplicing of the sarcomeric gene titin (TTN). The functional and physiological consequences of RBM20 mutations outside the mutational hotspot of RBM20 have not been explored to date. In this study, we investigated the pathomechanism of DCM caused by a novel RBM20 mutation in human cardiomyocytes. Methods and results We identified a family with DCM carrying a mutation (RBM20 E913K/+) in a glutamate-rich region of RBM20. Western blot analysis of endogenous RBM20 protein revealed strongly reduced protein levels in the heart of an RBM20 E913K/+ carrier. RNA deep-sequencing demonstrated massive inclusion of exons coding for the spring region of titin in the RBM20 E913K/+ carrier. Titin isoform analysis revealed a dramatic shift from the less compliant N2B towards the highly compliant N2BA isoforms in RBM20 E913K/+ heart. Moreover, an increased sarcomere resting-length was observed in single cardiomyocytes and isometric force measurements revealed an attenuated Frank-Starling mechanism (FSM), which was rescued by protein kinase A treatment. Conclusion A mutation outside the mutational hotspot of RBM20 results in haploinsufficiency of RBM20. This leads to disturbed alternative splicing of TTN, resulting in a dramatic shift to highly compliant titin isoforms and an impaired FSM. These effects may contribute to the early onset, and malignant course of DCM caused by RBM20 mutations. Altogether, our results demonstrate that heterozygous loss of RBM20 suffices to profoundly impair myocyte biomechanics by its disturbance of TTN splicing.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most frequent genetic cardiac disease with a prevalence of 1:500 to 1:200. While most patients show obstructive HCM and a relatively stable clinical phenotype (stage II), a small group of patients progresses to end-stage HCM (stage IV) within a relatively brief period. Previous research has shown sex-differences in stage II HCM with more diastolic dysfunction in female than in male patients. Moreover, female patients more often show progression to heart failure. Here we investigated if differences in functional and structural properties of the heart may underlie sex-differences in disease progression from stage II to stage IV HCM. Cardiac tissue from stage II and IV patients was obtained during myectomy (n = 54) and heart transplantation (n = 10), respectively. Isometric force was measured in membrane-permeabilized cardiomyocytes to define active and passive myofilament force development. Titin isoform composition was assessed using gel electrophoresis, and the amount of fibrosis and capillary density were determined with histology. In accordance with disease stage-dependent adverse cardiac remodeling end-stage patients showed a thinner interventricular septal wall and larger left ventricular and atrial diameters compared to stage II patients. Cardiomyocyte contractile properties and fibrosis were comparable between stage II and IV, while capillary density was significantly lower in stage IV compared to stage II. Women showed more adverse cellular remodeling compared to men at stage II, evident from more compliant titin, more fibrosis and lower capillary density. However, the disease stage-dependent reduction in capillary density was largest in men. In conclusion, the more severe cellular remodeling in female compared to male stage II patients suggests a more advanced disease stage at the time of myectomy in women. Changes in cardiomyocyte contractile properties do not explain the progression of stage II to stage IV, while reduced capillary density may underlie disease progression to end-stage heart failure.

Background: One of the first clinically detectable alterations in heart function in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a decline in diastolic function. Diastolic dysfunction is caused by changes in intrinsic properties of cardiomyocytes or an increase in fibrosis. We investigated whether clinical and cellular parameters of diastolic function are different between male and female patients with HCM at the time of myectomy. Methods and Results: Cardiac tissue from the interventricular septum of patients with HCM (27 women and 44 men) was obtained during myectomy preceded by echocardiography. At myectomy, female patients were 7 years older than male patients and showed more advanced diastolic dysfunction than men evident from significantly higher values for E/e′ ratio, left ventricular filling pattern, tricuspid regurgitation velocity, and left atrial diameter indexed for body surface. Whereas most male patients (56%) showed mild (grade I) diastolic dysfunction, 50% of female patients showed grade III diastolic dysfunction. Passive tension in HCM cardiomyocytes was comparable with controls, and myofilament calcium sensitivity was higher in HCM compared with controls, but no sex differences were observed in myofilament function. In female patients with HCM, titin was more compliant, and more fibrosis was present compared with men. Differences between female and male patients with HCM remained significant after correction for age. Conclusions: Female patients with HCM are older at the time of myectomy and show greater impairment of diastolic function. Furthermore, left ventricular and left atrial remodeling is increased in women when corrected for body surface area. At a cellular level, HCM women showed increased compliant titin and a larger degree of interstitial fibrosis.

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) show similarities in clinical presentation. However, although DCM patients do not recover and slowly deteriorate further, PPCM patients show either a fast cardiac deterioration or complete recovery. The aim of this study was to assess if underlying cellular changes can explain the clinical similarities and differences in the two diseases. We, therefore, assessed sarcomeric protein expression, modification, titin isoform shift, and contractile behavior of cardiomyocytes in heart tissue of PPCM and DCM patients and compared these with nonfailing controls. Heart samples from ischemic heart disease (ISHD) patients served as heart failure control samples. Passive force was only increased in PPCM samples compared with controls, whereas PPCM, DCM, and ISHD samples all showed increased myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity. Length-dependent activation was significantly impaired in PPCM compared with controls, no impairment was observed in ISHD samples, and DCM samples showed an intermediate response. Contractile impairments were caused by impaired protein kinase A (PKA)–mediated phosphorylation because exogenous PKA restored all parameters to control levels. Although DCM samples showed reexpression of EH-myomesin, an isoform usually only expressed in the heart before birth, PPCM and ISHD did not. The lack of EH-myomesin, combined with low PKA-mediated phosphorylation of myofilament proteins and increased compliant titin isoform, may explain the increase in passive force and blunted length-dependent activation of myofilaments in PPCM samples.

Background— Interpretation of missense variants can be especially difficult when the variant is also found in control populations. This is what we encountered for the LMNA c.992G>A (p.(Arg331Gln)) variant. Therefore, to evaluate the effect of this variant, we combined an evaluation of clinical data with functional experiments and morphological studies. Methods and Results— Clinical data of 23 probands and 35 family members carrying this variant were retrospectively collected. A time-to-event analysis was performed to compare the course of the disease with carriers of other LMNA mutations. Myocardial biopsies were studied with electron microscopy and by measuring force development of the sarcomeres. Morphology of the nuclear envelope was assessed with immunofluorescence on cultured fibroblasts. The phenotype in probands and family members was characterized by atrioventricular conduction disturbances (61% and 44%, respectively), supraventricular arrhythmias (69% and 52%, respectively), and dilated cardiomyopathy (74% and 14%, respectively). LMNA p.(Arg331Gln) carriers had a significantly better outcome regarding the composite end point (malignant ventricular arrhythmias, end-stage heart failure, or death) compared with carriers of other pathogenic LMNA mutations. A shared haplotype of 1 Mb around LMNA suggested a common founder. The combined logarithm of the odds score was 3.46. Force development in membrane-permeabilized cardiomyocytes was reduced because of decreased myofibril density. Structural nuclear LMNA -associated envelope abnormalities, that is, blebs, were confirmed by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy. Conclusions— Clinical, morphological, functional, haplotype, and segregation data all indicate that LMNA p.(Arg331Gln) is a pathogenic founder mutation with a phenotype reminiscent of other LMNA mutations but with a more benign course.

Aim Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) can be an initial manifestation of familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We aimed to identify mutations in families that could underlie their PPCM and DCM.Methods and results We collected 18 families with PPCM and DCM cases from various countries. We studied the clinical characteristics of the PPCM patients and affected relatives, and applied a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) approach to detect mutations in 48 genes known to be involved in inherited cardiomyopathies. We identified 4 pathogenic mutations in 4 of 18 families (22%): 3 in TTN and 1 in BAG3. In addition, we identified 6 variants of unknown clinical significance that may be pathogenic in 6 other families (33%): 4 in TTN, 1 in TNNC1, and 1 in MYH7. Measurements of passive force in single cardiomyocytes and titin isoform composition potentially support an upgrade of one of the variants of unknown clinical significance in TTN to a pathogenic mutation. Only 2 of 20 PPCM cases in these families showed the recovery of left ventricular function.Conclusion Targeted NGS shows that potentially causal mutations in cardiomyopathy-related genes are common in families with both PPCM and DCM. This supports the earlier finding that PPCM can be part of familial DCM. Our cohort is particularly characterized by a high proportion of TTN mutations and a low recovery rate in PPCM cases.

Aims Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been associated with reduced β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signalling, leading downstream to a low protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated phosphorylation. It remained undefined whether all PKA targets will be affected similarly by diminished β-AR signalling in HCM. We aimed to investigate the role of β-AR signalling on regulating myofilament and calcium handling in an HCM mouse model harbouring a gene mutation (G > A transition on the last nucleotide of exon 6) in Mybpc3 encoding cardiac myosin-binding protein C. Methods and results Cardiomyocyte contractile properties and phosphorylation state were measured in left ventricular permeabilized and intact cardiomyocytes isolated from heterozygous (HET) or homozygous (KI) Mybpc3 -targeted knock-in mice. Significantly higher myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity and passive tension were detected in KI mice, which were normalized after PKA treatment. Loaded intact cardiomyocyte force–sarcomere length relation was impaired in both HET and KI mice, suggesting a reduced length-dependent activation. Unloaded cardiomyocyte function revealed an impaired myofilament contractile response to isoprenaline (ISO) in KI, whereas the calcium-handling response to ISO was maintained. This disparity was explained by an attenuated increase in cardiac troponin I (cTnI) phosphorylation in KI, whereas the increase in phospholamban (PLN) phosphorylation was maintained to wild-type values. Conclusion These data provide evidence that in the KI HCM mouse model, β-AR stimulation leads to preferential PKA phosphorylation of PLN over cTnI, resulting in an impaired inotropic and lusitropic response.

Diastolic dysfunction in heart failure patients is evident from stiffening of the passive properties of the ventricular wall. Increased actomyosin interactions may significantly limit diastolic capacity, however, direct evidence is absent. From experiments at the cellular and whole organ level, in humans and rats, we show that actomyosin-related force development contributes significantly to high diastolic stiffness in environments where high ADP and increased diastolic [Ca(2+) ] are present, such as the failing myocardium. Our basal study provides a mechanical mechanism which may partly underlie diastolic dysfunction. Heart failure (HF) with diastolic dysfunction has been attributed to increased myocardial stiffness that limits proper filling of the ventricle. Altered cross-bridge interaction may significantly contribute to high diastolic stiffness, but this has not been shown thus far. Cross-bridge interactions are dependent on cytosolic [Ca(2+) ] and the regeneration of ATP from ADP. Depletion of myocardial energy reserve is a hallmark of HF leading to ADP accumulation and disturbed Ca(2+) handling. Here, we investigated if ADP elevation in concert with increased diastolic [Ca(2+) ] promotes diastolic cross-bridge formation and force generation and thereby increases diastolic stiffness. ADP dose-dependently increased force production in the absence of Ca(2+) in membrane-permeabilized cardiomyocytes from human hearts. Moreover, physiological levels of ADP increased actomyosin force generation in the presence of Ca(2+) both in human and rat membrane-permeabilized cardiomyocytes. Diastolic stress measured at physiological lattice spacing and 37°C in the presence of pathological levels of ADP and diastolic [Ca(2+) ] revealed a 76 ± 1% contribution of cross-bridge interaction to total diastolic stress in rat membrane-permeabilized cardiomyocytes. Inhibition of creatine kinase (CK), which increases cytosolic ADP, in enzyme-isolated intact rat cardiomyocytes impaired diastolic re-lengthening associated with diastolic Ca(2+) overload. In isolated Langendorff-perfused rat hearts, CK inhibition increased ventricular stiffness only in the presence of diastolic [Ca(2+) ]. We propose that elevations of intracellular ADP in specific types of cardiac disease, including those where myocardial energy reserve is limited, contribute to diastolic dysfunction by recruiting cross-bridges, even at low Ca(2+) , and thereby increase myocardial stiffness.

The giant myofilament protein titin has an extendable region that functions as a molecular spring. Cardiomyocytes have exquisite control over the length of titin, through splicing, enabling it to regulate passive stiffness. We hypothesized that titin as it sets the preload on the cardiomyocyte when stretched, together with diastolic Ca2+ pre-activates the cardiomyocyte during diastole and that this pre-activation is a major determinant for force production in the subsequent systolic phase. Via this route titin is thought to play an important role in active force development. Mutations in the splicing factor RNA binding motif protein (RBM20) results in the expression of large, highly compliant titin isoforms. In the present study we aimed to investigate the effect of long, highly compliant titin on the contractile properties of single cardiomyocytes. We measured single cardiomyocyte work-loops that mimic the cardiac cycle, in wildtype (WT) and heterozygous (HET) RBM20 deficient rats. In addition we studied detergent-permeabilized human patient samples that had known variations in titin based passive stiffness. At low pacing frequencies, myocytes isolated from HET left ventricles were unable to produce normal levels of work (55% of WT), but this difference disappeared when diastolic calcium increased at high pacing frequencies (>6 Hz). HET myocytes operated at higher SL to achieve the same level of work (2.1µm vs. 1.94µm at 6 Hz). In detergent-permeabilized cardiomyocytes isolated from human and rat heart we simulated cardiac twitches by transiently (0.5 s) exposing the cell to a physiological calcium concentration of pCa 5.7. Increasing pre-activation by bathing the cells in pCa 6.7 or pre-stretching the myocyte increased the kinetics of force development and thus the total force development within a transient activation. This is consistent with our hypothesis that pre-activation can increase force development in a time limited contraction such as a cardiac twitch. Pre-activation was pre-load dependent as the sarcomere length to which the myocytes had to be stretched for equivalent levels of pre-activation varied with the compliance of titin.

Preclinical models of inflammatory diseases (e.g., neuropathic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis) have pointed to a critical role of the chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) and chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2). However, one of the biggest problems of high-affinity inhibitors of CCR2 is their lack of efficacy in clinical trials. We report a new approach for the design of high-affinity and long-residence-time CCR2 antagonists. We developed a new competition association assay for CCR2, which allows us to investigate the relation of the structure of the ligand and its receptor residence time [i.e., structure-kinetic relationship (SKR)] next to a traditional structure-affinity relationship (SAR). By applying combined knowledge of SAR and SKR, we were able to re-evaluate the hit-to-lead process of cyclopentylamines as CCR2 antagonists. Affinity-based optimization yielded compound 1 with good binding (Ki = 6.8 nM) but very short residence time (2.4 min). However, when the optimization was also based on residence time, the hit-to-lead process yielded compound 22a, a new high-affinity CCR2 antagonist (3.6 nM), with a residence time of 135 min.

Background Diastolic dysfunction is a key factor in the development and pathology of cardiac dysfunction in diabetes, however the exact underlying mechanism remains unknown, especially in humans. We aimed to measure contraction, relaxation, expression of calcium-handling proteins and fibrosis in myocardium of diabetic patients with preserved systolic function. Methods Right atrial appendages from patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM, n = 20) and non-diabetic patients (non-DM, n = 36), all with preserved ejection fraction and undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), were collected. From appendages, small cardiac muscles, trabeculae, were isolated to measure basal and β-adrenergic stimulated myocardial function. Expression levels of calcium-handling proteins, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA2a) and phospholamban (PLB), and of β1-adrenoreceptors were determined in tissue samples by Western blot. Collagen deposition was determined by picro-sirius red staining. Results In trabeculae from diabetic samples, contractile function was preserved, but relaxation was prolonged (Tau: 74 ± 13 ms vs. 93 ± 16 ms, non-DM vs. DM, p = 0.03). The expression of SERCA2a was increased in diabetic myocardial tissue (0.75 ± 0.09 vs. 1.23 ± 0.15, non-DM vs. DM, p = 0.007), whereas its endogenous inhibitor PLB was reduced (2.21 ± 0.45 vs. 0.42 ± 0.11, non-DM vs. DM, p = 0.01). Collagen deposition was increased in diabetic samples. Moreover, trabeculae from diabetic patients were unresponsive to β-adrenergic stimulation, despite no change in β1-adrenoreceptor expression levels. Conclusions Human type 2 diabetic atrial myocardium showed increased fibrosis without systolic dysfunction but with impaired relaxation, especially during β-adrenergic challenge. Interestingly, changes in calcium-handling protein expression suggests accelerated active calcium re-uptake, thus improved relaxation, indicating a compensatory calcium-handling mechanism in diabetes in an attempt to maintain diastolic function at rest despite impaired relaxation in the diabetic fibrotic atrial myocardium. Our study addresses important aspects of the underlying mechanisms of diabetes-associated diastolic dysfunction, which is crucial to developing new therapeutic treatments.