Patient-specific, re-engineered cardiomyocyte model confirms the circumstance-dependent arrhythmia risk associated with the African-specific common SCN5A polymorphism p.S1103Y: Implications for the increased sudden deaths observed in black individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic

Samantha K. Hamrick, C. S. John Kim, David J. Tester, John R. Giudicessi, Michael J. Ackerman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: During the early stages of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a marked increase in sudden cardiac death (SCD) was observed. The p.S1103Y-SCN5A common variant, which is present in ∼8% of individuals of African descent, may be a circumstance-dependent, SCD-predisposing, proarrhythmic polymorphism in the setting of hypoxia-induced acidosis or QT-prolonging drug use. Objective: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effects of acidosis and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on the action potential duration (APD) in a patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocyte (iPSC-CM) model of p.S1103Y-SCN5A. Methods: iPSC-CMs were generated from a 14-year-old p.S1103Y-SCN5A-positive African American male. The patient's variant-corrected iPSC-CMs (isogenic control [IC]) were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. FluoVolt voltage-sensitive dye was used to assess APD90 values in p.S1103Y-SCN5A iPSC-CMs compared to IC before and after an acidotic state (pH 6.9) or 24 hours of treatment with 10 μM HCQ. Results: Under baseline conditions (pH 7.4), there was no difference in APD90 values of p.S1103Y-SCN5A vs IC iPSC-CMs (P = NS). In the setting of acidosis (pH 6.9), there was a significant increase in fold-change of APD90 in p.S1103Y-SCN5A iPSC-CMs compared to IC iPSC-CMs (P <.0001). Similarly, with 24-hour 10 μM HCQ treatment, the fold-change of APD90 was significantly higher in p.S1103Y-SCN5A iPSC-CMs compared to IC iPSC-CMs (P <.0001). Conclusion: Although the African-specific p.S1103Y-SCN5A common variant had no effect on APD90 under baseline conditions, the physiological stress of either acidosis or HCQ treatment significantly prolonged APD90 in patient-specific, re-engineered heart cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)822-827
Number of pages6
JournalHeart rhythm
Volume19
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2022

Keywords

  • Drug-induced long QT syndrome
  • Induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocyte
  • Long QT syndrome
  • p.Ser1103Tyr-SCN5A

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

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