Potent hERG channel inhibition by sarizotan, an investigative treatment for Rett Syndrome

Hongwei Cheng, Chunyun Du, Yihong Zhang, Andrew James, Christopher Dempsey, Ana Paula Abdala, Jules Hancox*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)
316 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Rett Syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder associated with respiratory abnormalities and, in up to ~40% of patients, with prolongation of the cardiac QTc interval. QTc prolongation calls for cautious use of drugs with a propensity to inhibit hERG channels. The ongoing STARS trial has been undertaken to investigate the efficacy of sarizotan, a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, at correcting RTT respiratory abnormalities. This study investigated whether sarizotan inhibits hERG potassium channels and prolongs ventricular repolarization. Whole-cell patch-clamp measurements were made at 37 °C from hERG-expressing HEK293 cells. Docking analysis was conducted using a recent cryo-EM structure of hERG. Sarizotan was a potent inhibitor of hERG current (IhERG; IC50 of 183 nM) and of native ventricular IKr from guinea-pig ventricular myocytes. 100 nM and 1 μM sarizotan prolonged ventricular action potential (AP) duration (APD90) by 14.1 ± 3.3% (n = 6) and 29.8 ± 3.1% (n = 5) respectively and promoted AP triangulation. High affinity IhERG inhibition by sarizotan was contingent upon channel gating and intact inactivation. Mutagenesis experiments and docking analysis implicated F557, S624 and Y652 residues in sarizotan binding, with weaker contribution from F656. In conclusion, sarizotan inhibits IKr/IhERG, accessing key binding residues on channel gating. This action and consequent ventricular AP prolongation occur at concentrations relevant to those proposed to treat breathing dysrhythmia in RTT. Sarizotan should only be used in RTT patients with careful evaluation of risk factors for QTc prolongation.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)22-30
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
Volume135
Early online date27 Jul 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2019

Keywords

  • sarizotan
  • Rett Syndrome
  • long QT syndrome
  • KCNH2
  • hERG

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Potent hERG channel inhibition by sarizotan, an investigative treatment for Rett Syndrome'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this