title: Contributions of HERG K+ current to repolarization of the human ventricular action potential.
abstract: Action potential repolarization in the mammalian heart is governed by interactions of a number of time- and voltage-dependent channel-mediated currents, as well as contributions from the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and the Na+/K+ pump. Recent work has shown that one of the K+ currents (HERG) which contributes to repolarization in mammalian ventricle is a locus at which a number of point mutations can have significant functional consequences. In addition, the remarkable sensitivity of this K+ channel isoform to inhibition by a variety of pharmacological agents and clinical drugs has resulted in HERG being a major focus for Safety Pharmacology requirements. For these reasons we and others have attempted to define the functional role for HERG-mediated K+ currents in repolarization of the action potential in the human ventricle. Here, we describe and evaluate changes in the formulations for two K+ currents, IK1 and HERG (or IK,r), within the framework of ten Tusscher model of the human ventricular action potential. In this computational study, new mathematical formulations for the two nonlinear K+ conductances, IK1 and HERG, have been developed based upon experimental data obtained from electrophysiological studies of excised human ventricular tissue and/or myocytes. The resulting mathematical model provides much improved simulations of the relative sizes and time courses of the K+ currents which modulate repolarization. Our new formulation represents an important first step in defining the mechanism(s) of repolarization of the membrane action potential in the human ventricle. Our overall goal is to understand the genesis of the T-wave of the human electrocardiogram.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Virag
authors.forename: Andras
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varro
authors.forename: Wayne R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Giles
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016276:Ventricular Function
chemical_list: D000072237:ERG1 Potassium Channel; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; C000606913:KCNH2 protein, human; D011188:Potassium