A cellular test system expressing hERG K+ channels for assaying drug cardiotoxicity: Elaboration and analysis

Abstract

Many drugs are cardiotoxic because they inhibit hERG K+ channels, thus prolonging the repolarization phase of the cardiomyocyte action potential giving rise to cardiac arrhythmias. Early detection of inhibiting effects of candidate drugs on the activity of K+ channels in cardiomyocytes is one of the main challenges in preclinical drug screening. The aim of this study was to obtain a cell line expressing recombinant hERG channels at a stable and reproducible level as a prerequisite to its further application as a test system.