hERG Potassium Currents Research Articles

Mutagenicity and safety pharmacology of a standardized antidiabetic polyherbal formulation

Synacinn is a standardized polyherbal extract formulated for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications. This study aims to assess the mutagenicity potential of Synacinn by Ames assay and in vivo bone marrow micronucleus (MN) test on Sprague Dawley rat. Human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) assay and Functional Observation Battery (FOB) were done for the safety pharmacology tests. In the Ames assay, Dose Range Finding (DRF) study and mutagenicity assays (+/− S9) were carried out. For the MN test, a preliminary and definitive study were conducted. In-life observations and number of immature and mature erythrocytes in the bone marrow cells were recorded. The hERG assay was conducted to determine the inhibitory effect on hERG potassium channel current expressed in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293). FOB tests were performed orally (250, 750, and 2000 mg/kg) on Sprague Dawley rats. Synacinn is non-mutagenic against all tested strains of Salmonella typhimurium and did not induce any clastogenicity in the rat bone marrow. Synacinn also did not produce any significant inhibition (p ≤ 0.05) on hERG potassium current. Synacinn did not cause any neurobehavioural changes in rats up to 2000 mg/kg. Thus, no mutagenicity, cardiotoxicity and neurotoxicity effects of Synacinn were observed in this study.

Norquetiapine blocks the human cardiac sodium channel Nav1.5 in a state-dependent manner

Quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic drug, is used for the treatment of schizophrenia and acute mania. Although a previous report showed that quetiapine blocked hERG potassium current, quetiapine has been considered relatively safe in terms of cardiovascular side effects. In the present study, we used the whole-cell patch-clamp technique to investigate the effect that quetiapine and its major metabolite norquetiapine can exert on human cardiac sodium channels (hNav1.5). The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of quetiapine and norquetiapine at a holding potential of −90 mV near the resting potential of cardiomyocytes were 30 and 6 μM, respectively. Norquetiapine as well as quetiapine was preferentially bound in the inactivated state of the hNav1.5 channel. Norquetiapine slowed the recovery from inactivation of hNav1.5 and consequently induced strong use-dependent inhibition. Our results indicate that norquetiapine blocks hNav1.5 current in concentration-, state- and use-dependent manners, suggesting that the blockade of hNav1.5 current by norquetiapine may shorten the cardiac action potential duration and reduce the risk of QT interval prolongation induced by the inhibition of hERG potassium currents.

Inhibition of Human Ether-A-Go-Go-Related Gene (hERG) Potassium Current by the Novel Sotalol Analogue, Soestalol.

The clinical utility of intravenous sotalol is limited due to an extended half-life combined with the potential to generate life-threatening arrhythmias. The authors developed a novel sotalol analogue, soestalol, with an ester linkage introduced to the molecule to shorten half-life. Their hypothesis was that soestalol, but not the acid metabolite, would inhibit the hERG potassium current. Whole-cell, voltage-clamp experiments were performed on cells expressing hERG. Soestalol inhibited outward IhERG tail current density in a manner similar to conventional sotalol. Additionally, soestalol right shifted the voltage dependence of activation. These results warrant further assessment of soestalol as a short-acting, Class III antiarrhythmic drug.

Performance of machine learning algorithms for qualitative and quantitative prediction drug blockade of hERG1 channel

Drug-induced abnormal heart rhythm known as Torsades de Pointes (TdP) is a potential lethal ventricular tachycardia found in many patients. Even newly released anti-arrhythmic drugs, like ivabradine with HCN channel as a primary target, block the hERG potassium current in overlapping concentration interval. Promiscuous drug block to hERG channel may potentially lead to perturbation of the action potential duration (APD) and TdP, especially when combined with polypharmacy and/or electrolyte disturbances. The example of novel anti-arrhythmic ivabradine illustrates clinically important and ongoing deficits in drug design and warrants for better screening methods. There is an urgent need to develop new approaches for rapid and accurate assessment of how drugs with complex interactions and multiple subcellular targets can predispose or protect from drug-induced TdP. One of the unexpected outcomes of compulsory hERG screening implemented in USA and European Union resulted in large datasets of IC50 values for various molecules entering the market. The abundant data allows now to construct predictive machine-learning (ML) models. Novel ML algorithms and techniques promise better accuracy in determining IC50 values of hERG blockade that is comparable or surpassing that of the earlier QSAR or molecular modeling techniques. To test the performance of modern ML techniques, we have developed a computational platform integrating various workflows for quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) models using data from the ChEMBL database. To establish predictive powers of ML-based algorithms we computed IC50 values for large dataset of molecules and compared it to automated patch clamp systems for a large dataset of hERG blocking and non-blocking drugs, an industry gold standard in studies of cardiotoxicity. The optimal protocol with high sensitivity and predictive power is based on the novel eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) algorithm. The ML-platform with XGBoost displays excellent performance with a coefficient of determination of up to R2 ∼0.8 for pIC50 values in evaluation datasets, surpassing other metrics and approaches available in literature. Ultimately, the ML-based platform developed in our work is a scalable framework with automation potential to interact with other developing technologies in the cardiotoxicity field, including high-throughput electrophysiology measurements delivering large datasets of profiled drugs, rapid synthesis and drug development via progress in synthetic biology.

Increased sodium channel use-dependent inhibition by a new potent analogue of tocainide greatly enhances in vivo antimyotonic activity

Although the sodium channel blocker, mexiletine, is the first choice drug in myotonia, some myotonic patients remain unsatisfied due to contraindications, lack of tolerability, or incomplete response. More therapeutic options are thus needed for myotonic patients, which require clinical trials based on solid preclinical data. In previous structure-activity relationship studies, we identified two newly-synthesized derivatives of tocainide, To040 and To042, with greatly enhanced potency and use-dependent behavior in inhibiting sodium currents in frog skeletal muscle fibers. The current study was performed to verify their potential as antimyotonic agents. Patch-clamp experiments show that both compounds, especially To042, are greatly more potent and use-dependent blockers of human skeletal muscle hNav1.4 channels compared to tocainide and mexiletine. Reduced effects on F1586C hNav1.4 mutant suggest that the compounds bind to the local anesthetic receptor, but that the increased hindrance and lipophilia of the N-substituent may further strengthen drug-receptor interaction and use-dependence. Compared to mexiletine, To042 was 120 times more potent to block hNav1.4 channels in a myotonia-like cellular condition and 100 times more potent to improve muscle stiffness in vivo in a previously-validated rat model of myotonia. To explore toxicological profile, To042 was tested on hERG potassium currents, motor coordination using rotarod, and C2C12 cell line for cytotoxicity. All these experiments suggest a satisfactory therapeutic index for To042. This study shows that, owing to a huge use-dependent block of sodium channels, To042 is a promising candidate drug for myotonia and possibly other membrane excitability disorders, warranting further preclinical and human studies.

Discovery of INCB3284, a Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable hCCR2 Antagonist.

We report the identification of 13 (INCB3284) as a potent human CCR2 (hCCR2) antagonist. INCB3284 exhibited an IC50 of 3.7 nM in antagonism of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 binding to hCCR2, an IC50 of 4.7 nM in antagonism of chemotaxis activity, an IC50 of 84 μM in inhibition of the hERG potassium current, a free fraction of 58% in protein binding, high selectivity over other chemokine receptors and G-protein-coupled receptors, and acceptable oral bioavailability in rodents and primates. In human clinical trials, INCB3284 exhibited a pharmacokinetic profile suitable for once-a-day dosing (T 1/2 = 15 h).

Rapid Mobilization of Murine Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells with TG-0054, a Novel CXCR4 Antagonist.

Abstract 3542Poster Board III-479 BackgroundThe interaction between SDF-1 and its receptor, CXCR4, is responsible for retaining of stem cells in the bone marrow. CXCR4 antagonist disrupts the SDF-1/CXCR4 interaction and mobilizes CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (CD34+ HSCs) and CD133+ endothelial progenitor cells (CD133+ EPCs) from bone marrow into circulation, which can be used as a source for stem cell transplantation and other potential clinical indications. TG-0054 is a novel CXCR4 antagonist. In vitro CXCR4 antagonistic activity and in vivo stem cell mobilization activity of TG-0054 were determined in this study. Materials and MethodsIn vitro pharmacological assays, including GTP-binding assay, calcium mobilization assay, and chemotaxis assays, were performed to assess the potency of TG-0054 as a CXCR4 antagonist. In addition, receptor-binding assays against a panel of human chemokine receptors as well as other 68 cellular receptors were screened to evaluate the specificity of TG-0054. Kinetics and dose-dependent response of stem cell mobilization by TG-0054 were demonstrated in BALB/c mice. Activity of stem cell mobilization of TG-0054 when used alone or combined with G-CSF was also studied. ResultsTG-0054 blocked SDF-1-binding to CXCR4 receptor with an IC50 of 10 nM and inhibited SDF-1–induced GTP-binding (IC50 = 6 nM), chemotaxis (IC50 = 43 nM), and calcium mobilization (IC50 = 59 nM). TG-0054 showed greater than 3000-fold selectivity for CXCR4 receptor over other chemokine receptors. It is noteworthy that the IC50 for the inhibitory effect of TG-0054 on hERG potassium currents was greater than 1000 μM when human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells were used to examine the in vitro effects on the hERG potassium channel currents. In animal studies, TG-0054 rapidly and effectively mobilized CD34+ HSCs and CD133+ EPCs into circulation. Single intravenous (IV) administration of TG-0054 resulted in a rapid increase of total white blood cell (WBC) counts, as well as CXCR4+, CD34+, and CD133+ cells in peripheral blood between 1–3 hour post-injection and the cell counts returned to baseline within 6 hours. At their maximum tolerated doses (MTD), TG-0054 increased CXCR4+ cells by 28.7-fold in mice. Furthermore, TG-0054 efficiently mobilized CD34+ (14.5-fold) and CD133+ (7.9-fold) cells. The combined effects of TG-0054 and G-CSF on HSCs and EPCs mobilization from the bone marrow in mice were also investigated. G-CSF (100 μg/kg/day) was administered subcutaneously (SC) from Day 1 to Day 4 followed by a single IV injection of TG-0054 or AMD3100 on Day 5. Synergistic effects were observed in all cell types in mice receiving combination of G-CSF and 50 mg/kg of TG-0054 (total WBC 23.0-fold, CXCR4+ 29.0-fold, CD34+ 37.1-fold, CD133+ 110.8-fold of increase in combination group). ConclusionIt was concluded that TG-0054 was a potent and selective CXCR4 antagonist intended for the use of stem cell transplant and other clinical indications. It showed strong stem cell mobilization activity comparable to G-CSF when used alone, and demonstrated synergistic effects when combined with G-CSF in a nonclinical model. Disclosures:Huang:TaiGen Biotechnology Inc.: Employment. Liu:TaiGen Biotechnology Inc.: Employment. Yen:TaiGen Biotechnology Inc.: Employment. Chen:TaiGen Biotechnology Inc.: Consultancy. Chen:TaiGen Biotechnology Inc.: Consultancy. King:TaiGen Biotechnology Inc.: Employment. Hsu:TaiGen Biotechnology, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Block effect of capsaicin on hERG potassium currents is enhanced by S6 mutation at Y652

The objectives of this study were to investigate the inhibitory action of capsaicin on wild-type (WT) and mutation human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channel currents (I(hERG)), and to determine whether mutations in the S6 region are significant for the inhibition of I(hERG) by capsaicin. The hERG channel (WT, Y652A and F656A) was expressed in Xenopus oocytes and studied using standard two-microelectrode voltage-clamp techniques. The results show that capsaicin blocks WT hERG in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC(50) of 17.45microM and a negative shift in the steady-state inactivation curve. Characteristics of blockade were consistent with capsaicin causing components of block in both the closed and open channel states. However, mutating the Y652 residue to Ala enhances the blockade effect of capsaicin with an IC(50) of 4.11microM, whereas mutation of F656A does not significantly alter drug potency. Simultaneously, for Y652A, the steady-state activation parameter is shifted to a more positive value by 5mV and the inactivation parameter is shifted to a more negative value by -29mV in the presence of 25microM capsaicin. In conclusion, capsaicin blocks hERG channels by binding to both the closed and open channel states.Y652 was important as a molecular determinant of blockade. Mutation Y652A enhances the drug block, which may cause some patients to be particularly sensitive to capsaicin clinically.

Collation, assessment and analysis of literature in vitro data on hERG receptor blocking potency for subsequent modeling of drugs' cardiotoxic properties

The assessment of the torsadogenic potency of a new chemical entity is a crucial issue during lead optimization and the drug development process. It is required by the regulatory agencies during the registration process. In recent years, there has been a considerable interest in developing in silico models, which allow prediction of drug-hERG channel interaction at the early stage of a drug development process. The main mechanism underlying an acquired QT syndrome and a potentially fatal arrhythmia called torsades de pointes is the inhibition of potassium channel encoded by hERG (the human ether-a-go-go-related gene). The concentration producing half-maximal block of the hERG potassium current (IC(50)) is a surrogate marker for proarrhythmic properties of compounds and is considered a test for cardiac safety of drugs or drug candidates. The IC(50) values, obtained from data collected during electrophysiological studies, are highly dependent on experimental conditions (i.e. model, temperature, voltage protocol). For the in silico models' quality and performance, the data quality and consistency is a crucial issue. Therefore the main objective of our work was to collect and assess the hERG IC(50) data available in accessible scientific literature to provide a high-quality data set for further studies.

Modulation of hERG potassium currents in HEK‐293 cells by protein kinase C. Evidence for direct phosphorylation of pore forming subunits

The human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) potassium channel is expressed in a variety of tissues including the heart, neurons and some cancer cells. hERG channels are modulated by several intracellular signalling pathways and these provide important mechanisms for regulating cellular excitability. In this study, we investigated muscarinic modulation of hERG currents and direct phosphorylation of channel subunits expressed in HEK-293 cells at physiologically relevant temperatures by protein kinase C (PKC). Activation of G(alpha q/11)-coupled M(3)-muscarinic receptors with methacholine, reduced current amplitudes at all potentials with minor effects on the voltage dependence of activation and inactivation. The response to methacholine was insensitive to intracellular BAPTA, but was attenuated by either acute inhibition of PKC with 300 nm bisindolylmaleimide-1 (bis-1) or chronic down-regulation of PKC isoforms by 24 h pretreatment of cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Stimulation of PKC with 1-oleoyl 2-acetylglycerol (OAG), an analogue of diacylglycerol (DAG), mimicked the actions of muscarinic receptor stimulation. Direct phosphorylation of hERG was measured by [(32)P]orthophosphate labelling of immunoprecipitated protein with an anti-hERG antibody. Basal phosphorylation was high in unstimulated cells and further increased by OAG. The OAG dependent increase was abolished by bis-1 and down-regulation of PKC, but basal levels of phosphorylation were unchanged. Deletion of the amino-terminus of hERG prevented both the modulation of channel activity and the increase of phosphorylation by OAG. Our results are consistent with calcium and/or DAG sensitive isotypes of PKC modulating hERG currents through a mechanism that involves direct phosphorylation of sites on the amino terminus of hERG.

Reduction of hERG potassium currents by hyperosmolar solutions

We investigated the effects of hyperosmolar solutions on human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) potassium currents in chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. The addition of d-mannitol to the external solution caused cell shrinkage and reduced current amplitude. The effects were at least partially reversible. Exposure to 108 mM mannitol decreased current amplitude by 57 ± 13%. Major effects on current–voltage relations were not observed. Exposure to 308 mM mannitol reduced the current by 89 ± 5%, i.e. comparable to the block induced by 1 μM of the selective hERG channel blocker E-4031. We conclude that the investigation of hyperosmolar drug formulations requires control solutions of comparable osmolarity to separate specific drug effects from non-specific effects of hyperosmolarity.

P5-4: Febuxostat, a non-purine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, has a voltage- dependent agonist effect on hERG potassium currents

P5-4: Febuxostat, a non-purine selective inhibitor of xanthine oxidase, has a voltage- dependent agonist effect on hERG potassium currents

Electrical alternans and hemodynamics in the anesthetized guinea pig can discriminate the cardiac safety of antidepressants

Introduction: The arrhythmogenic risk of fluoxetine, citalopram, and venlafaxine were evaluated through preclinical assays measuring hERG, blood pressure and electrical alternans over their respective clinical unbound concentration ranges. Methods:Anesthetized guinea pigs were instrumented with jugular and carotid cannulae for drug infusion and blood pressure monitoring respectively; a thoracotomy was performed for placement of a monophasic action potential probe on the left ventricle and for placement of pacing wires on the left ventricular apex. Drugs were infused as a 5-min loading dose immediately followed by a 10-min maintenance dose to achieve clinically relevant plasma concentrations; blood samples were taken at the end of each maintenance dose. Ventricular pacing was performed twice at baseline and at each dose level as follows: 50 preconditioning-beats at S1 = 220 (or 240) ms immediately followed by 30 test-beats at S2 = 200 ms. This S1–S2 protocol was repeated for S2 = 190 to 140 ms. HERG and calcium current measurements were recorded in HEK-293 cells stably expressing hERG potassium currents and freshly isolated guinea pig cardiac myocytes using the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique. Results:Physiologically relevant inhibition (IC 20) of hERG occurred at concentrations 22-fold (fluoxetine), 9-fold (citalopram), and 11-fold (venlafaxine) beyond their respective clinically effective concentration ( C eff). At the highest achievable levels, fluoxetine (20-fold C eff) and citalopram (28-fold C eff) significantly decreased heart rate and/or blood pressure as well as increasing electrical alternans by 5 and 18 ms respectively. Venlafaxine increased blood pressure at only 1.3-fold C eff, but did not increase electrical alternans at the highest achievable dose (3.1-fold C eff). Discussion:These data suggest that evaluating other dose limiting side effects in relation to a drug's therapeutic range may be crucial for accurate assessment of arrhythmia liability.

Flunarizine is a Highly Potent Inhibitor of Cardiac hERG Potassium Current

Flunarizine has been widely used for the management of a variety of disorders such as peripheral vascular diseases, migraine, and epilepsy. The majority of its beneficial effects have been attributed to its ability to inhibit voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in the low micromolar range, albeit non-selectively, as flunarizine has been shown to inhibit a variety of ion channels. We examined the effects of flunarizine on potassium currents through cardiac channels encoded by the human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) stably expressed in CHO cells. In this study, we have characterized the effect of flunarizine on biophysical properties of hERG potassium currents with standard whole-cell voltage-clamp techniques. Notably, flunarizine is a highly potent inhibitor of hERG current with an IC50 value of 5.7 nM. The effect of flunarizine on hERG potassium current is concentration and time dependent, and displays voltage dependence over the voltage range between -40 and 0 mV. At concentrations near or above the IC50, flunarizine causes a negative shift in the voltage dependence of hERG current activation and accelerates tail current deactivation. Flunarizine preferentially blocks the activated state of the channel and displays weak frequency dependence of inhibition. Flunarizine also inhibits KCNQ1/KCNE1 channel current with an IC50 of 0.76 microM.

Additive effects of ziprasidone and d, l-sotalol on the action potential in rabbit Purkinje fibres and on the hERG potassium current

Introduction: Ziprasidone, an atypical antipsychotic has been shown to be devoid of cardiac adverse effects in spite of its propensity to prolong the QT-interval via a hERG current inhibition. However, the effects of ziprasidone on the action potential (AP) parameters have not been published yet. Moreover, very little information is available concerning pharmacodynamic interactions between ziprasidone and other hERG channel blockers. Thus, we investigated the putative interaction between ziprasidone and d, l-sotalol on the hERG channels at therapeutic concentrations and their consequences on the action potential prolongation. Methods: AP were recorded at 1 and 0.2 Hz. Increasing concentrations of ziprasidone (0.01–10 μmol/L) were successively superfused for 30 min alone or in d, l-sotalol 10 μmol/L pre-treated fibres. Moreover, the effects of ziprasidone, alone or in association with d, l-sotalol, were investigated on the hERG current. Results: Ziprasidone (1–10 μM) induced a concentration and reverse frequency-dependent increase in APD 90 (APD 90: + 27% and + 36%, respectively at 1 Hz and + 50% and + 70%, respectively at 0.2 Hz) due to a hERG current blockade (IC50: 0.24 μmol/L). A pre-treatment with d, l-sotalol 10 μmol/L led to an increase in APD 90 of + 23% at 1 Hz, stable at 66 ± 4 min. In these pre-treated fibres, ziprasidone (1 and 10 μmol/L) induced an additional AP prolongation (APD 90: + 16% and + 18%, respectively at 1 Hz) as compared to d, l-sotalol pre-treatment. Moreover, d, l-sotalol did not interact with the pharmacological profile of ziprasidone on the hERG channel. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that ziprasidone induces an AP prolongation due to its propensity to block the hERG channel. Moreover, ziprasidone and d, l-sotalol, superfused concomitantly exhibit additive effects on the AP duration since they do not interact as competitors for the hERG channel.

Preferential closed channel blockade of HERG potassium currents by chemically synthesised BeKm-1 scorpion toxin

The scorpion toxin peptide BeKm-1 was synthesised by fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl solid phase chemistry and folded by air oxidation. The peptide’s effects on heterologous human ether-a-go-go-related gene potassium current ( I HERG) in HEK293 cells were assessed using ‘whole-cell’ patch clamp. Blockade of I HERG by BeKm-1 was concentration-dependent, temperature-dependent, and rapid in onset and reversibility. Blockade also exhibited inverse voltage dependence, inverse dependence on duration of depolarisation, and reverse use- and frequency-dependence. Blockade by BeKm-1 and recombinant ergtoxin, another scorpion toxin known to block HERG, differed in their recovery from HERG current inactivation elicited by strong depolarisation and in their ability to block HERG when the channels were already activated. We conclude that synthetic BeKm-1 toxin blocks HERG preferentially through a closed (resting) state channel blockade mechanism, although some open channel blockade also occurs.

Modulation of HERG Potassium Channels by Extracellular Magnesium and Quinidine

Torsades de pointes is a polymorphic ventricular arrhythmia resulting from congenital or drug-induced (acquired) QT prolongation. Pharmacologic suppression of repolarizing potassium currents is one mechanism causing the acquired long QT (LQT) syndrome. Recent studies have linked mutations in a gene encoding a potassium channel subunit (HERG) to the LQT syndrome. Clinical experience indicates that intravenous magnesium sulfate is effective in reversing torsades de pointes, but the molecular basis of this effect is not understood. This study was designed to investigate the effects of extracellular magnesium (Mg2+) on HERG potassium currents. HERG potassium channels were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and in a human cell line and were examined by voltage-clamp methods. Extracellular Mg2+ (0.3-10 mM) caused a concentration-dependent shift in the membrane-potential dependence of HERG channel opening, causing a reduction in K+ current. This effect was much greater than that observed in another human delayed rectifier K+ channel, hKv1.5, suggesting a specific interaction with the HERG channel. Quinidine is an antiarrhythmic drug that also causes torsades de pointes under certain conditions. Quinidine (3 microM) inhibited HERG currents expressed in oocytes by 32.1 +/- 3.2% (n = 5), whereas 1 microM quinidine inhibited HERG currents in tsA201 cells by 75.8 +/- 2.4% (n = 12). Increasing extracellular Mg2+ did not relieve the inhibition by quinidine, but caused additional suppression. These results indicate that extracellular Mg2+ exerts a direct action on HERG potassium channels, resulting in suppression of outward repolarizing potassium current. It is concluded that modulation of this important K+ current is not the mechanism by which intravenous magnesium terminates drug-induced LQT and torsades de pointes. Potent suppression of HERG channel current by quinidine, compared with that of I(Ks) and I(Na), is a likely contributor to torsades de pointes arrhythmias.