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Dysregulation of L-type Ca(2+) currents in sinoatrial nodal (SAN) cells causes cardiac arrhythmia. Both Ca(v)1.2 and Ca(v)1.3 channels mediate sinoatrial L-type currents. Whether these channels exhibit differences in modulation and localization, which could affect their contribution to pacemaking, is unknown. In this study, we characterized voltage-dependent facilitation (VDF) and subcellular localization of Ca(v)1.2 and Ca(v)1.3 channels in mouse SAN cells and determined how these properties of Ca(v)1.3 affect sinoatrial pacemaking in a mathematical model. Whole cell Ba(2+) currents were recorded from SAN cells from mice carrying a point mutation that renders Ca(v)1.2 channels relatively insensitive to dihydropyridine antagonists. The Ca(v)1.2-mediated current was isolated in the presence of nimodipine (1 μm), which was subtracted from the total current to yield the Ca(v)1.3 component. With strong depolarizations (+80 mV), Ca(v)1.2 underwent significantly stronger inactivation than Ca(v)1.3. VDF of Ca(v)1.3 was evident during recovery from inactivation at a time when Ca(v)1.2 remained inactivated. By immunofluorescence, Ca(v)1.3 colocalized with ryanodine receptors in sarcomeric structures while Ca(v)1.2 was largely restricted to the delimiting plasma membrane. Ca(v)1.3 VDF enhanced recovery of pacemaker activity after pauses and positively regulated pacemaking during slow heart rate in a numerical model of mouse SAN automaticity, including preferential coupling of Ca(v)1.3 to ryanodine receptor-mediated Ca(2+) release. We conclude that strong VDF and colocalization with ryanodine receptors in mouse SAN cells are unique properties that may underlie a specific role for Ca(v)1.3 in opposing abnormal slowing of heart rate.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2012.239954 | DOI Listing |
Calcif Tissue Int
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FirmoLab, Fondazione F.I.R.M.O. Onlus and Stabilimento Chimico Farmaceutico Militare (SCFM), 50141, Florence, Italy.
X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a rare and progressive disease, due to inactivating mutations in the phosphate-regulating endopeptidase homolog X-linked (PHEX) gene. These pathogenic variants result in elevated circulating levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), responsible for the main clinical manifestations of XLH, such as hypophosphatemia, skeletal deformities, and mineralization defects. However, XLH also involves muscular disorders (muscle weakness, pain, reduced muscle density, peak strength, and power).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Cell Biol
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Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Durotaxis, cell migration along stiffness gradients, is linked to embryonic development, tissue repair and disease. Despite solid in vitro evidence, its role in vivo remains largely speculative. Here we demonstrate that durotaxis actively drives disease progression in vivo in mouse models of lung fibrosis and metastatic pancreatic cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Syst
September 2025
Ray and Stephanie Lane Computational Biology Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Electronic address:
Identifying cell types in highly multiplexed images is essential for understanding tissue spatial organization. Current cell-type annotation methods often rely on extensive reference images and manual adjustments. In this work, we present a tool, the Robust Image-Based Cell Annotator (RIBCA), that enables accurate, automated, unbiased, and fine-grained cell-type annotation for images with a wide range of antibody panels without requiring additional model training or human intervention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDev Cell
September 2025
Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK. Electronic address:
Single-cell studies on breast tissue have contributed to a change in our understanding of breast epithelial diversity that has, in turn, precipitated a lack of consensus on breast cell types. The confusion surrounding this issue highlights a possible challenge for advancing breast atlas efforts. In this perspective, we present our consensus on the identities, properties, and naming conventions for breast epithelial cell types and propose goals for future atlas endeavors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDev Cell
September 2025
Division of Surgical Sciences, Department of Surgery, UC San Diego Health, 3855 Health Sciences Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA. Electronic address:
In this issue of Developmental Cell, Li et al. show that ETS variant transcription factor 1 (Etv1) SUMOylation not only maintains cancer stem cells (CSCs) but also enables their communications with non-CSC cancer cells to induce tumorigenesis of non-CSCs. The finding reveals a new function of CSCs in driving aggressive tumorigenesis that is SUMOylation dependent.
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