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Florido MHC, Ziats NP. Endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases: The role of human induced pluripotent stem cells and tissue engineering. J Biomed Mater Res A 2024; 112:1286-1304. [PMID: 38230548 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains to be the leading cause of death globally today and therefore the need for the development of novel therapies has become increasingly important in the cardiovascular field. The mechanism(s) behind the pathophysiology of CVD have been laboriously investigated in both stem cell and bioengineering laboratories. Scientific breakthroughs have paved the way to better mimic cell types of interest in recent years, with the ability to generate any cell type from reprogrammed human pluripotent stem cells. Mimicking the native extracellular matrix using both organic and inorganic biomaterials has allowed full organs to be recapitulated in vitro. In this paper, we will review techniques from both stem cell biology and bioengineering which have been fruitfully combined and have fueled advances in the cardiovascular disease field. We will provide a brief introduction to CVD, reviewing some of the recent studies as related to the role of endothelial cells and endothelial cell dysfunction. Recent advances and the techniques widely used in both bioengineering and stem cell biology will be discussed, providing a broad overview of the collaboration between these two fields and their overall impact on tissue engineering in the cardiovascular devices and implications for treatment of cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary H C Florido
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nicholas P Ziats
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
- Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Anatomy, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Salih T, Caputo M, Ghorbel MT. Recent Advances in Hydrogel-Based 3D Bioprinting and Its Potential Application in the Treatment of Congenital Heart Disease. Biomolecules 2024; 14:861. [PMID: 39062575 PMCID: PMC11274841 DOI: 10.3390/biom14070861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect, requiring invasive surgery often before a child's first birthday. Current materials used during CHD surgery lack the ability to grow, remodel, and regenerate. To solve those limitations, 3D bioprinting is an emerging tool with the capability to create tailored constructs based on patients' own imaging data with the ability to grow and remodel once implanted in children with CHD. It has the potential to integrate multiple bioinks with several cell types and biomolecules within 3D-bioprinted constructs that exhibit good structural fidelity, stability, and mechanical integrity. This review gives an overview of CHD and recent advancements in 3D bioprinting technologies with potential use in the treatment of CHD. Moreover, the selection of appropriate biomaterials based on their chemical, physical, and biological properties that are further manipulated to suit their application are also discussed. An introduction to bioink formulations composed of various biomaterials with emphasis on multiple cell types and biomolecules is briefly overviewed. Vasculogenesis and angiogenesis of prefabricated 3D-bioprinted structures and novel 4D printing technology are also summarized. Finally, we discuss several restrictions and our perspective on future directions in 3D bioprinting technologies in the treatment of CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasneem Salih
- Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK; (T.S.); (M.C.)
| | - Massimo Caputo
- Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK; (T.S.); (M.C.)
- Cardiac Surgery, University Hospitals Bristol, NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK
| | - Mohamed T. Ghorbel
- Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS2 8HW, UK; (T.S.); (M.C.)
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Kandasamy A, Yeh YT, Serrano R, Mercola M, Del Álamo JC. Uncertainty-Aware Traction Force Microscopy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.05.602172. [PMID: 39026786 PMCID: PMC11257441 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.05.602172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Traction Force Microscopy (TFM) is a versatile tool to quantify cell-exerted forces by imaging and tracking fiduciary markers embedded in elastic substrates. The computations involved in TFM are ill-conditioned, and data smoothing or regularization is required to avoid overfitting the noise in the tracked substrate displacements. Most TFM calculations depend critically on the heuristic selection of regularization (hyper)parameters affecting the balance between overfitting and smoothing. However, TFM methods rarely estimate or account for measurement errors in substrate deformation to adjust the regularization level accordingly. Moreover, there is a lack of tools to quantify how these errors propagate to the recovered traction stresses. These limitations make it difficult to interpret TFM readouts and hinder comparing different experiments. This manuscript presents an uncertainty-aware TFM technique that estimates the variability in the magnitude and direction of the traction stress vector recovered at each point in space and time of each experiment. In this technique, substrate deformation and its uncertainty are quantified using a non-parametric bootstrap PIV method by resampling the microscopy image pixels (PIV-UQ). This information is passed to a hierarchical Bayesian framework that automatically selects its hyperparameters to perform spatially adaptive regularization conditioned on image quality and propagates the uncertainty to the traction stress readouts (TFM-UQ). We validate the performance of PIV-UQ and TFM-UQ using synthetic datasets with prescribed image quality variations and demonstrate the application of PIV-UQ and TFM-UQ to experimental datasets. These studies show that TFM-UQ locally adapts the level of smoothing, outperforming traditional regularization methods. They also illustrate how uncertainty-aware TFM tools can be used to objectively choose key image analysis parameters like PIV-UQ interrogation window size. We anticipate that these tools will allow for decoupling biological heterogeneity from measurement variability and facilitate automating the analysis of large datasets by parameter-free, input data-based regularization.
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Niro F, Fernandes S, Cassani M, Apostolico M, Oliver-De La Cruz J, Pereira-Sousa D, Pagliari S, Vinarsky V, Zdráhal Z, Potesil D, Pustka V, Pompilio G, Sommariva E, Rovina D, Maione AS, Bersanini L, Becker M, Rasponi M, Forte G. Fibrotic extracellular matrix impacts cardiomyocyte phenotype and function in an iPSC-derived isogenic model of cardiac fibrosis. Transl Res 2024; 273:58-77. [PMID: 39025226 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2024.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis occurs following insults to the myocardium and is characterized by the abnormal accumulation of non-compliant extracellular matrix (ECM), which compromises cardiomyocyte contractile activity and eventually leads to heart failure. This phenomenon is driven by the activation of cardiac fibroblasts (cFbs) to myofibroblasts and results in changes in ECM biochemical, structural and mechanical properties. The lack of predictive in vitro models of heart fibrosis has so far hampered the search for innovative treatments, as most of the cellular-based in vitro reductionist models do not take into account the leading role of ECM cues in driving the progression of the pathology. Here, we devised a single-step decellularization protocol to obtain and thoroughly characterize the biochemical and micro-mechanical properties of the ECM secreted by activated cFbs differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We activated iPSC-derived cFbs to the myofibroblast phenotype by tuning basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) signalling and confirmed that activated cells acquired key features of myofibroblast phenotype, like SMAD2/3 nuclear shuttling, the formation of aligned alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-rich stress fibres and increased focal adhesions (FAs) assembly. Next, we used Mass Spectrometry, nanoindentation, scanning electron and confocal microscopy to unveil the characteristic composition and the visco-elastic properties of the abundant, collagen-rich ECM deposited by cardiac myofibroblasts in vitro. Finally, we demonstrated that the fibrotic ECM activates mechanosensitive pathways in iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, impacting on their shape, sarcomere assembly, phenotype, and calcium handling properties. We thus propose human bio-inspired decellularized matrices as animal-free, isogenic cardiomyocyte culture substrates recapitulating key pathophysiological changes occurring at the cellular level during cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Niro
- International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St Anne's University Hospital Brno; Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Brno 62500, Czech Republic; School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, UK
| | - Soraia Fernandes
- International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St Anne's University Hospital Brno
| | - Marco Cassani
- International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St Anne's University Hospital Brno
| | - Monica Apostolico
- International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St Anne's University Hospital Brno
| | - Jorge Oliver-De La Cruz
- International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St Anne's University Hospital Brno; Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Pereira-Sousa
- International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St Anne's University Hospital Brno; Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Brno 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Stefania Pagliari
- International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St Anne's University Hospital Brno; School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, UK
| | - Vladimir Vinarsky
- International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St Anne's University Hospital Brno
| | - Zbyněk Zdráhal
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - David Potesil
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vaclav Pustka
- Central European Institute of Technology (CEITEC), Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Giulio Pompilio
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, Milan, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Chirurgiche ed Odontoiatriche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Sommariva
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Rovina
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Serena Maione
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino-IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Marco Rasponi
- Department of Electronics, Informatics and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Forte
- International Clinical Research Center (ICRC), St Anne's University Hospital Brno; School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, King's College London, UK.
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Pardon G, Vander Roest AS, Chirikian O, Birnbaum F, Lewis H, Castillo EA, Wilson R, Denisin AK, Blair CA, Holbrook C, Koleckar K, Chang ACY, Blau HM, Pruitt BL. Tracking single hiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte contractile function using CONTRAX an efficient pipeline for traction force measurement. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5427. [PMID: 38926342 PMCID: PMC11208611 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49755-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CMs) are powerful in vitro models to study the mechanisms underlying cardiomyopathies and cardiotoxicity. Quantification of the contractile function in single hiPSC-CMs at high-throughput and over time is essential to disentangle how cellular mechanisms affect heart function. Here, we present CONTRAX, an open-access, versatile, and streamlined pipeline for quantitative tracking of the contractile dynamics of single hiPSC-CMs over time. Three software modules enable: parameter-based identification of single hiPSC-CMs; automated video acquisition of >200 cells/hour; and contractility measurements via traction force microscopy. We analyze >4,500 hiPSC-CMs over time in the same cells under orthogonal conditions of culture media and substrate stiffnesses; +/- drug treatment; +/- cardiac mutations. Using undirected clustering, we reveal converging maturation patterns, quantifiable drug response to Mavacamten and significant deficiencies in hiPSC-CMs with disease mutations. CONTRAX empowers researchers with a potent quantitative approach to develop cardiac therapies.
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Grants
- K99 HL153679 NHLBI NIH HHS
- RM1 GM131981 NIGMS NIH HHS
- 20POST35211011 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- 17CSA33590101 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- 18CDA34110411 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- 1R21HL13099301 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- 18POST34080160 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- 1F31HL158227 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- F31 HL158227 NHLBI NIH HHS
- 201411MFE-338745-169197 Gouvernement du Canada | Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Instituts de Recherche en Santé du Canada)
- P2SKP2_164954 Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)
- 13POST14480004 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- RM1GM131981 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- 82070248 National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)
- P400PM_180825 Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Swiss National Science Foundation)
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- Shanghai Pujiang Program 19PJ1407000 Program for Professor of Special Appointment (Eastern Scholar) at Shanghai Institutions of Higher Learning 0900000024 to A.C.Y.C. Innovative Research Team of High-Level Local Universities in Shanghai (A.C.Y.C.)
- the Baxter Foundation, Li Ka Shing Foundation and The Stanford Cardiovascular Institute
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaspard Pardon
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- School of Life Sciences, EPFL École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alison S Vander Roest
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Engineering, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Orlando Chirikian
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Foster Birnbaum
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Henry Lewis
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Erica A Castillo
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Robin Wilson
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aleksandra K Denisin
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cheavar A Blair
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Colin Holbrook
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kassie Koleckar
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alex C Y Chang
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine and Department of Cardiology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200125, China
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Helen M Blau
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Beth L Pruitt
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering Program, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
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Wyle Y, Lu N, Hepfer J, Sayal R, Martinez T, Wang A. The Role of Biophysical Factors in Organ Development: Insights from Current Organoid Models. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:619. [PMID: 38927855 PMCID: PMC11200479 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11060619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Biophysical factors play a fundamental role in human embryonic development. Traditional in vitro models of organogenesis focused on the biochemical environment and did not consider the effects of mechanical forces on developing tissue. While most human tissue has a Young's modulus in the low kilopascal range, the standard cell culture substrate, plasma-treated polystyrene, has a Young's modulus of 3 gigapascals, making it 10,000-100,000 times stiffer than native tissues. Modern in vitro approaches attempt to recapitulate the biophysical niche of native organs and have yielded more clinically relevant models of human tissues. Since Clevers' conception of intestinal organoids in 2009, the field has expanded rapidly, generating stem-cell derived structures, which are transcriptionally similar to fetal tissues, for nearly every organ system in the human body. For this reason, we conjecture that organoids will make their first clinical impact in fetal regenerative medicine as the structures generated ex vivo will better match native fetal tissues. Moreover, autologously sourced transplanted tissues would be able to grow with the developing embryo in a dynamic, fetal environment. As organoid technologies evolve, the resultant tissues will approach the structure and function of adult human organs and may help bridge the gap between preclinical drug candidates and clinically approved therapeutics. In this review, we discuss roles of tissue stiffness, viscoelasticity, and shear forces in organ formation and disease development, suggesting that these physical parameters should be further integrated into organoid models to improve their physiological relevance and therapeutic applicability. It also points to the mechanotransductive Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling pathway as a key player in the interplay between extracellular matrix stiffness, cellular mechanics, and biochemical pathways. We conclude by highlighting how frontiers in physics can be applied to biology, for example, how quantum entanglement may be applied to better predict spontaneous DNA mutations. In the future, contemporary physical theories may be leveraged to better understand seemingly stochastic events during organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yofiel Wyle
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (Y.W.); (N.L.); (J.H.); (R.S.); (T.M.)
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Children’s, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Nathan Lu
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (Y.W.); (N.L.); (J.H.); (R.S.); (T.M.)
| | - Jason Hepfer
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (Y.W.); (N.L.); (J.H.); (R.S.); (T.M.)
| | - Rahul Sayal
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (Y.W.); (N.L.); (J.H.); (R.S.); (T.M.)
| | - Taylor Martinez
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (Y.W.); (N.L.); (J.H.); (R.S.); (T.M.)
| | - Aijun Wang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA; (Y.W.); (N.L.); (J.H.); (R.S.); (T.M.)
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, Shriners Children’s, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Center for Surgical Bioengineering, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, 4625 2nd Ave., Research II, Suite 3005, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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Chirikian O, Faynus MA, Merk M, Singh Z, Muray C, Pham J, Chialastri A, Vander Roest A, Goldstein A, Pyle T, Lane KV, Roberts B, Smith JE, Gunawardane RN, Sniadecki NJ, Mack DL, Davis J, Bernstein D, Streichan SJ, Clegg DO, Dey SS, Wilson MZ, Pruitt BL. YAP dysregulation triggers hypertrophy by CCN2 secretion and TGFβ uptake in human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.03.597045. [PMID: 38895282 PMCID: PMC11185505 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.03.597045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Hypertrophy Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most prevalent hereditary cardiovascular disease - affecting >1:500 individuals. Advanced forms of HCM clinically present with hypercontractility, hypertrophy and fibrosis. Several single-point mutations in b-myosin heavy chain (MYH7) have been associated with HCM and increased contractility at the organ level. Different MYH7 mutations have resulted in increased, decreased, or unchanged force production at the molecular level. Yet, how these molecular kinetics link to cell and tissue pathogenesis remains unclear. The Hippo Pathway, specifically its effector molecule YAP, has been demonstrated to be reactivated in pathological hypertrophic growth. We hypothesized that changes in force production (intrinsically or extrinsically) directly alter the homeostatic mechano-signaling of the Hippo pathway through changes in stresses on the nucleus. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), we asked whether homeostatic mechanical signaling through the canonical growth regulator, YAP, is altered 1) by changes in the biomechanics of HCM mutant cardiomyocytes and 2) by alterations in the mechanical environment. We use genetically edited hiPSC-CM with point mutations in MYH7 associated with HCM, and their matched controls, combined with micropatterned traction force microscopy substrates to confirm the hypercontractile phenotype in MYH7 mutants. We next modulate contractility in healthy and disease hiPSC-CMs by treatment with positive and negative inotropic drugs and demonstrate a correlative relationship between contractility and YAP activity. We further demonstrate the activation of YAP in both HCM mutants and healthy hiPSC-CMs treated with contractility modulators is through enhanced nuclear deformation. We conclude that the overactivation of YAP, possibly initiated and driven by hypercontractility, correlates with excessive CCN2 secretion (connective tissue growth factor), enhancing cardiac fibroblast/myofibroblast transition and production of known hypertrophic signaling molecule TGFβ. Our study suggests YAP being an indirect player in the initiation of hypertrophic growth and fibrosis in HCM. Our results provide new insights into HCM progression and bring forth a testbed for therapeutic options in treating HCM.
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Gokhan I, Blum TS, Campbell SG. Engineered heart tissue: Design considerations and the state of the art. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2024; 5:021308. [PMID: 38912258 PMCID: PMC11192576 DOI: 10.1063/5.0202724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Originally developed more than 20 years ago, engineered heart tissue (EHT) has become an important tool in cardiovascular research for applications such as disease modeling and drug screening. Innovations in biomaterials, stem cell biology, and bioengineering, among other fields, have enabled EHT technologies to recapitulate many aspects of cardiac physiology and pathophysiology. While initial EHT designs were inspired by the isolated-trabecula culture system, current designs encompass a variety of formats, each of which have unique strengths and limitations. In this review, we describe the most common EHT formats, and then systematically evaluate each aspect of their design, emphasizing the rational selection of components for each application.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas S. Blum
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA
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9
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Stempien A, Josvai M, Notbohm J, Zhang J, Kamp TJ, Crone WC. Influence of Remodeled ECM and Co-culture with iPSC-Derived Cardiac Fibroblasts on the Mechanical Function of Micropatterned iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Cardiovasc Eng Technol 2024; 15:264-278. [PMID: 38448643 PMCID: PMC11239313 DOI: 10.1007/s13239-024-00711-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In native heart tissue, functions of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) include synthesis, remodeling, and degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) as well as secreting factors that regulate cardiomyocyte (CM) function. The influence of direct co-culture and CF-derived ECM on CM mechanical function are not fully understood. METHODS Here we use an engineered culture platform that provides control over ECM geometry and substrate stiffness to evaluate the influence of iPSC-CFs, and the ECM they produce, on the mechanical function of iPSC-CMs. Mechanical analysis was performed using digital image correlation to quantify maximum contractile strain, spontaneous contraction rate, and full-field organization of the contractions. RESULTS When cultured alone, iPSC-CFs produce and remodel the ECM into fibers following the underlying 15° chevron patterned ECM. The substrates were decellularized and confirmed to have highly aligned fibers that covered a large fraction of the pattern area before reseeding with iPSC-CMs, alone or in co-culture with iPSC-CFs. When seeded on decellularized ECM, larger maximum contractile strains were observed in the co-culture condition compared to the CM Only condition. No significant difference was found in contractile strain between the Matrigel and decellularized ECM conditions; however, the spontaneous contraction rate was lower in the decellularized ECM condition. A methodology for quantifying alignment of cell contraction across the entire field of view was developed based on trajectories approximating the cell displacements during contraction. Trajectory alignment was unaltered by changes in culture or ECM conditions. CONCLUSIONS These combined observations highlight the important role CFs play in vivo and the need for models that enable a quantitative approach to examine interactions between the CFs and CMs, as well as the interactions of these cells with the ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Stempien
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - M Josvai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - J Notbohm
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - J Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - T J Kamp
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - W C Crone
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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10
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Lee S, Vander Roest AS, Blair CA, Kao K, Bremner SB, Childers MC, Pathak D, Heinrich P, Lee D, Chirikian O, Mohran SE, Roberts B, Smith JE, Jahng JW, Paik DT, Wu JC, Gunawardane RN, Ruppel KM, Mack DL, Pruitt BL, Regnier M, Wu SM, Spudich JA, Bernstein D. Incomplete-penetrant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy MYH7 G256E mutation causes hypercontractility and elevated mitochondrial respiration. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318413121. [PMID: 38683993 PMCID: PMC11087781 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318413121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Determining the pathogenicity of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-associated mutations in the β-myosin heavy chain (MYH7) can be challenging due to its variable penetrance and clinical severity. This study investigates the early pathogenic effects of the incomplete-penetrant MYH7 G256E mutation on myosin function that may trigger pathogenic adaptations and hypertrophy. We hypothesized that the G256E mutation would alter myosin biomechanical function, leading to changes in cellular functions. We developed a collaborative pipeline to characterize myosin function across protein, myofibril, cell, and tissue levels to determine the multiscale effects on structure-function of the contractile apparatus and its implications for gene regulation and metabolic state. The G256E mutation disrupts the transducer region of the S1 head and reduces the fraction of myosin in the folded-back state by 33%, resulting in more myosin heads available for contraction. Myofibrils from gene-edited MYH7WT/G256E human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) exhibited greater and faster tension development. This hypercontractile phenotype persisted in single-cell hiPSC-CMs and engineered heart tissues. We demonstrated consistent hypercontractile myosin function as a primary consequence of the MYH7 G256E mutation across scales, highlighting the pathogenicity of this gene variant. Single-cell transcriptomic and metabolic profiling demonstrated upregulated mitochondrial genes and increased mitochondrial respiration, indicating early bioenergetic alterations. This work highlights the benefit of our multiscale platform to systematically evaluate the pathogenicity of gene variants at the protein and contractile organelle level and their early consequences on cellular and tissue function. We believe this platform can help elucidate the genotype-phenotype relationships underlying other genetic cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soah Lee
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University School of Pharmacy, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do16419South Korea
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University School of Pharmacy, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do16419, South Korea
| | - Alison S. Vander Roest
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Cheavar A. Blair
- Biological Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY40536
| | - Kerry Kao
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Samantha B. Bremner
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Matthew C. Childers
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Divya Pathak
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Paul Heinrich
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Daniel Lee
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Orlando Chirikian
- Biological Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Saffie E. Mohran
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Seattle, WA98195
| | | | | | - James W. Jahng
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - David T. Paik
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Joseph C. Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | | | - Kathleen M. Ruppel
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - David L. Mack
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Beth L. Pruitt
- Biological Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93106
| | - Michael Regnier
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington School of Medicine and College of Engineering, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Sean M. Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - James A. Spudich
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Daniel Bernstein
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
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11
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Dababneh S, Hamledari H, Maaref Y, Jayousi F, Hosseini DB, Khan A, Jannati S, Jabbari K, Arslanova A, Butt M, Roston TM, Sanatani S, Tibbits GF. Advances in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Disease Modelling Using hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Can J Cardiol 2024; 40:766-776. [PMID: 37952715 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjca.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The advent of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and their capacity to be differentiated into beating human cardiomyocytes (CMs) in vitro has revolutionized human disease modelling, genotype-phenotype predictions, and therapeutic testing. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common inherited cardiomyopathy and the leading known cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young adults and athletes. On a molecular level, HCM is often driven by single pathogenic genetic variants, usually in sarcomeric proteins, that can alter the mechanical, electrical, signalling, and transcriptional properties of the cell. A deeper knowledge of these alterations is critical to better understanding HCM manifestation, progression, and treatment. Leveraging hiPSC-CMs to investigate the molecular mechanisms driving HCM presents a unique opportunity to dissect the consequences of genetic variants in a sophisticated and controlled manner. In this review, we summarize the molecular underpinnings of HCM and the role of hiPSC-CM studies in advancing our understanding, and we highlight the advances in hiPSC-CM-based modelling of HCM, including maturation, contractility, multiomics, and genome editing, with the notable exception of electrophysiology, which has been previously covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saif Dababneh
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Homa Hamledari
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Yasaman Maaref
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Farah Jayousi
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dina B Hosseini
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Aasim Khan
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shayan Jannati
- Faculty of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kosar Jabbari
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alia Arslanova
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Mariam Butt
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Thomas M Roston
- Division of Cardiology and Centre for Cardiovascular Innovation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shubhayan Sanatani
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Glen F Tibbits
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada; School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
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12
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Elkhoury K, Kodeih S, Enciso-Martínez E, Maziz A, Bergaud C. Advancing Cardiomyocyte Maturation: Current Strategies and Promising Conductive Polymer-Based Approaches. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2303288. [PMID: 38349615 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202303288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality and pose a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Despite remarkable progress in medical research, the development of effective cardiovascular drugs has been hindered by high failure rates and escalating costs. One contributing factor is the limited availability of mature cardiomyocytes (CMs) for accurate disease modeling and drug screening. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs offer a promising source of CMs; however, their immature phenotype presents challenges in translational applications. This review focuses on the road to achieving mature CMs by summarizing the major differences between immature and mature CMs, discussing the importance of adult-like CMs for drug discovery, highlighting the limitations of current strategies, and exploring potential solutions using electro-mechano active polymer-based scaffolds based on conductive polymers. However, critical considerations such as the trade-off between 3D systems and nutrient exchange, biocompatibility, degradation, cell adhesion, longevity, and integration into wider systems must be carefully evaluated. Continued advancements in these areas will contribute to a better understanding of cardiac diseases, improved drug discovery, and the development of personalized treatment strategies for patients with cardiovascular disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Elkhoury
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, F-31400, France
| | - Sacha Kodeih
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of Balamand, Tripoli, P.O. Box 100, Lebanon
| | | | - Ali Maziz
- LAAS-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse, F-31400, France
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13
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Chandy M, Hill T, Jimenez-Tellez N, Wu JC, Sarles SE, Hensel E, Wang Q, Rahman I, Conklin DJ. Addressing Cardiovascular Toxicity Risk of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems in the Twenty-First Century: "What Are the Tools Needed for the Job?" and "Do We Have Them?". Cardiovasc Toxicol 2024; 24:435-471. [PMID: 38555547 DOI: 10.1007/s12012-024-09850-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Cigarette smoking is positively and robustly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), including hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardiac arrhythmias, stroke, thromboembolism, myocardial infarctions, and heart failure. However, after more than a decade of ENDS presence in the U.S. marketplace, uncertainty persists regarding the long-term health consequences of ENDS use for CVD. New approach methods (NAMs) in the field of toxicology are being developed to enhance rapid prediction of human health hazards. Recent technical advances can now consider impact of biological factors such as sex and race/ethnicity, permitting application of NAMs findings to health equity and environmental justice issues. This has been the case for hazard assessments of drugs and environmental chemicals in areas such as cardiovascular, respiratory, and developmental toxicity. Despite these advances, a shortage of widely accepted methodologies to predict the impact of ENDS use on human health slows the application of regulatory oversight and the protection of public health. Minimizing the time between the emergence of risk (e.g., ENDS use) and the administration of well-founded regulatory policy requires thoughtful consideration of the currently available sources of data, their applicability to the prediction of health outcomes, and whether these available data streams are enough to support an actionable decision. This challenge forms the basis of this white paper on how best to reveal potential toxicities of ENDS use in the human cardiovascular system-a primary target of conventional tobacco smoking. We identify current approaches used to evaluate the impacts of tobacco on cardiovascular health, in particular emerging techniques that replace, reduce, and refine slower and more costly animal models with NAMs platforms that can be applied to tobacco regulatory science. The limitations of these emerging platforms are addressed, and systems biology approaches to close the knowledge gap between traditional models and NAMs are proposed. It is hoped that these suggestions and their adoption within the greater scientific community will result in fresh data streams that will support and enhance the scientific evaluation and subsequent decision-making of tobacco regulatory agencies worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Chandy
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, N6A 5K8, Canada
| | - Thomas Hill
- Division of Nonclinical Science, Center for Tobacco Products, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA
| | - Nerea Jimenez-Tellez
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA
| | - S Emma Sarles
- Biomedical and Chemical Engineering PhD Program, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Edward Hensel
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY, 14623, USA
| | - Qixin Wang
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Irfan Rahman
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
| | - Daniel J Conklin
- Division of Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Center for Cardiometabolic Science, Christina Lee Brown Envirome Institute, University of Louisville, 580 S. Preston St., Delia Baxter, Rm. 404E, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
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14
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Ghahremani S, Kanwal A, Pettinato A, Ladha F, Legere N, Thakar K, Zhu Y, Tjong H, Wilderman A, Stump WT, Greenberg L, Greenberg MJ, Cotney J, Wei CL, Hinson JT. CRISPR Activation Reverses Haploinsufficiency and Functional Deficits Caused by TTN Truncation Variants. Circulation 2024; 149:1285-1297. [PMID: 38235591 PMCID: PMC11031707 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.063972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND TTN truncation variants (TTNtvs) are the most common genetic lesion identified in individuals with dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease with high morbidity and mortality rates. TTNtvs reduce normal TTN (titin) protein levels, produce truncated proteins, and impair sarcomere content and function. Therapeutics targeting TTNtvs have been elusive because of the immense size of TTN, the rarity of specific TTNtvs, and incomplete knowledge of TTNtv pathogenicity. METHODS We adapted CRISPR activation using dCas9-VPR to functionally interrogate TTNtv pathogenicity and develop a therapeutic in human cardiomyocytes and 3-dimensional cardiac microtissues engineered from induced pluripotent stem cell models harboring a dilated cardiomyopathy-associated TTNtv. We performed guide RNA screening with custom TTN reporter assays, agarose gel electrophoresis to quantify TTN protein levels and isoforms, and RNA sequencing to identify molecular consequences of TTN activation. Cardiomyocyte epigenetic assays were also used to nominate DNA regulatory elements to enable cardiomyocyte-specific TTN activation. RESULTS CRISPR activation of TTN using single guide RNAs targeting either the TTN promoter or regulatory elements in spatial proximity to the TTN promoter through 3-dimensional chromatin interactions rescued TTN protein deficits disturbed by TTNtvs. Increasing TTN protein levels normalized sarcomere content and contractile function despite increasing truncated TTN protein. In addition to TTN transcripts, CRISPR activation also increased levels of myofibril assembly-related and sarcomere-related transcripts. CONCLUSIONS TTN CRISPR activation rescued TTNtv-related functional deficits despite increasing truncated TTN levels, which provides evidence to support haploinsufficiency as a relevant genetic mechanism underlying heterozygous TTNtvs. CRISPR activation could be developed as a therapeutic to treat a large proportion of TTNtvs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aditya Kanwal
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Anthony Pettinato
- Cardiology Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Feria Ladha
- Cardiology Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Nicholas Legere
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Ketan Thakar
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Yanfen Zhu
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Harianto Tjong
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Andrea Wilderman
- Cardiology Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - W. Tom Stump
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Lina Greenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Michael J. Greenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Justin Cotney
- Cardiology Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Chia-Lin Wei
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - J. Travis Hinson
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
- Cardiology Center, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
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15
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Greenberg L, Tom Stump W, Lin Z, Bredemeyer AL, Blackwell T, Han X, Greenberg AE, Garcia BA, Lavine KJ, Greenberg MJ. Harnessing molecular mechanism for precision medicine in dilated cardiomyopathy caused by a mutation in troponin T. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.05.588306. [PMID: 38645235 PMCID: PMC11030379 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.05.588306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is frequently caused by autosomal dominant point mutations in genes involved in diverse cellular processes, including sarcomeric contraction. While patient studies have defined the genetic landscape of DCM, genetics are not currently used in patient care, and patients receive similar treatments regardless of the underlying mutation. It has been suggested that a precision medicine approach based on the molecular mechanism of the underlying mutation could improve outcomes; however, realizing this approach has been challenging due to difficulties linking genotype and phenotype and then leveraging this information to identify therapeutic approaches. Here, we used multiscale experimental and computational approaches to test whether knowledge of molecular mechanism could be harnessed to connect genotype, phenotype, and drug response for a DCM mutation in troponin T, deletion of K210. Previously, we showed that at the molecular scale, the mutation reduces thin filament activation. Here, we used computational modeling of this molecular defect to predict that the mutant will reduce cellular and tissue contractility, and we validated this prediction in human cardiomyocytes and engineered heart tissues. We then used our knowledge of molecular mechanism to computationally model the effects of a small molecule that can activate the thin filament. We demonstrate experimentally that the modeling correctly predicts that the small molecule can partially rescue systolic dysfunction at the expense of diastolic function. Taken together, our results demonstrate how molecular mechanism can be harnessed to connect genotype and phenotype and inspire strategies to optimize mechanism-based therapeutics for DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Greenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - W. Tom Stump
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Zongtao Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Andrea L. Bredemeyer
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Thomas Blackwell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Xian Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Akiva E. Greenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Benjamin A. Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Kory J. Lavine
- Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Michael J. Greenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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16
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Denisin AK, Kim H, Riedel-Kruse IH, Pruitt BL. Field Guide to Traction Force Microscopy. Cell Mol Bioeng 2024; 17:87-106. [PMID: 38737454 PMCID: PMC11082129 DOI: 10.1007/s12195-024-00801-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Traction force microscopy (TFM) is a widely used technique to measure cell contractility on compliant substrates that mimic the stiffness of human tissues. For every step in a TFM workflow, users make choices which impact the quantitative results, yet many times the rationales and consequences for making these decisions are unclear. We have found few papers which show the complete experimental and mathematical steps of TFM, thus obfuscating the full effects of these decisions on the final output. Methods Therefore, we present this "Field Guide" with the goal to explain the mathematical basis of common TFM methods to practitioners in an accessible way. We specifically focus on how errors propagate in TFM workflows given specific experimental design and analytical choices. Results We cover important assumptions and considerations in TFM substrate manufacturing, substrate mechanical properties, imaging techniques, image processing methods, approaches and parameters used in calculating traction stress, and data-reporting strategies. Conclusions By presenting a conceptual review and analysis of TFM-focused research articles published over the last two decades, we provide researchers in the field with a better understanding of their options to make more informed choices when creating TFM workflows depending on the type of cell being studied. With this review, we aim to empower experimentalists to quantify cell contractility with confidence. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12195-024-00801-6.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Honesty Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
- Present Address: The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158 USA
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and (by courtesy) Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, and Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
| | - Ingmar H. Riedel-Kruse
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and (by courtesy) Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, and Physics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721 USA
| | - Beth L. Pruitt
- Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106 USA
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17
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van Doorn ECH, Amesz JH, Sadeghi AH, de Groot NMS, Manintveld OC, Taverne YJHJ. Preclinical Models of Cardiac Disease: A Comprehensive Overview for Clinical Scientists. Cardiovasc Eng Technol 2024; 15:232-249. [PMID: 38228811 PMCID: PMC11116217 DOI: 10.1007/s13239-023-00707-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
For recent decades, cardiac diseases have been the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Despite significant achievements in their management, profound understanding of disease progression is limited. The lack of biologically relevant and robust preclinical disease models that truly grasp the molecular underpinnings of cardiac disease and its pathophysiology attributes to this stagnation, as well as the insufficiency of platforms that effectively explore novel therapeutic avenues. The area of fundamental and translational cardiac research has therefore gained wide interest of scientists in the clinical field, while the landscape has rapidly evolved towards an elaborate array of research modalities, characterized by diverse and distinctive traits. As a consequence, current literature lacks an intelligible and complete overview aimed at clinical scientists that focuses on selecting the optimal platform for translational research questions. In this review, we present an elaborate overview of current in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo and in silico platforms that model cardiac health and disease, delineating their main benefits and drawbacks, innovative prospects, and foremost fields of application in the scope of clinical research incentives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa C H van Doorn
- Translational Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Lab, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Translational Electrophysiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jorik H Amesz
- Translational Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Lab, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Translational Electrophysiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Amir H Sadeghi
- Translational Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Lab, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Natasja M S de Groot
- Translational Electrophysiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Yannick J H J Taverne
- Translational Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Lab, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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18
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Zhang J, Peng Y, Fu W, Wang R, Cao J, Li S, Tian X, Li Z, Hua C, Zhai Y, Liu Y, Liu M, Sun J, Li X, Zhao X, Dong J. PLEKHM2 deficiency induces impaired mitochondrial clearance and elevated ROS levels in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:142. [PMID: 38490981 PMCID: PMC10942999 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01907-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Pleckstrin homology domain-containing family M member 2 (PLEKHM2) is an essential adaptor for lysosomal trafficking and its homozygous truncation have been reported to cause early onset dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, the molecular mechanism of PLEKHM2 deficiency in DCM pathogenesis and progression is poorly understood. Here, we generated an in vitro model of PLEKHM2 knockout (KO) induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) to elucidate the potential pathogenic mechanism of PLEKHM2-deficient cardiomyopathy. PLEKHM2-KO hiPSC-CMs developed disease phenotypes with reduced contractility and impaired calcium handling. Subsequent RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis revealed altered expression of genes involved in mitochondrial function, autophagy and apoptosis in PLEKHM2-KO hiPSC-CMs. Further molecular experiments confirmed PLEKHM2 deficiency impaired autophagy and resulted in accumulation of damaged mitochondria, which triggered increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm). Importantly, the elevated ROS levels caused oxidative stress-induced damage to nearby healthy mitochondria, resulting in extensive Δψm destabilization, and ultimately leading to impaired mitochondrial function and myocardial contractility. Moreover, ROS inhibition attenuated oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial damage, thereby partially rescued PLEKHM2 deficiency-induced disease phenotypes. Remarkably, PLEKHM2-WT overexpression restored autophagic flux and rescued mitochondrial function and myocardial contractility in PLEKHM2-KO hiPSC-CMs. Taken together, these results suggested that impaired mitochondrial clearance and increased ROS levels play important roles in PLEKHM2-deficient cardiomyopathy, and PLEKHM2-WT overexpression can improve mitochondrial function and rescue PLEKHM2-deficient cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchao Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Ying Peng
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Wanrong Fu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Ruifei Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jinhua Cao
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoxu Tian
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Zhonggen Li
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Chongpei Hua
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yafei Zhai
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Mengduan Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jihong Sun
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Xiaowei Li
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Xiaoyan Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Jianzeng Dong
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, No. 2 Beijing Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100029, China.
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19
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Karakan MÇ, Ewoldt JK, Segarra AJ, Sundaram S, Wang MC, White AE, Chen CS, Ekinci KL. Geometry and length control of 3D engineered heart tissues using direct laser writing. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1685-1701. [PMID: 38317604 PMCID: PMC10929702 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00752a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Geometry and mechanical characteristics of the environment surrounding the Engineered Heart Tissues (EHT) affect their structure and function. Here, we employed a 3D tissue culture platform fabricated using two-photon direct laser writing with a high degree of accuracy to control parameters that are relevant to EHT maturation. Using this platform, we first explore the effects of geometry based on two distinct shapes: a rectangular seeding well with two attachment sites, and a stadium-like seeding well with six attachment sites that are placed symmetrically along hemicylindrical membranes. The former geometry promotes uniaxial contraction of the tissues; the latter additionally induces diagonal fiber alignment. We systematically increase the length of the seeding wells for both configurations and observe a positive correlation between fiber alignment at the center of the EHTs and tissue length. With increasing length, an undesirable thinning and "necking" also emerge, leading to the failure of longer tissues over time. In the second step, we optimize the stiffness of the seeding wells and modify some of the attachment sites of the platform and the seeding parameters to achieve tissue stability for each length and geometry. Furthermore, we use the platform for electrical pacing and calcium imaging to evaluate the functional dynamics of EHTs as a function of frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Çağatay Karakan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
- Photonics Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jourdan K Ewoldt
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Addianette J Segarra
- Photonics Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico, San Juan 00918, Puerto Rico
| | - Subramanian Sundaram
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Miranda C Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Alice E White
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
- Photonics Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
- Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Christopher S Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kamil L Ekinci
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
- Photonics Center, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Division of Materials Science and Engineering, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
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20
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Lee H, Kim B, Yun J, Bae J, Park S, Jeon J, Jang HR, Lee J, Lee S. PIV-MyoMonitor: an accessible particle image velocimetry-based software tool for advanced contractility assessment of cardiac organoids. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1367141. [PMID: 38532875 PMCID: PMC10964252 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1367141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiac organoids offer a versatile platform for personalized cardiac toxicity assessment, drug screening, disease modeling, and regenerative therapies. While previous image-based contractility analysis techniques allowed the assessment of contractility of two-dimensional cardiac models, they face limitations, including encountering high noise levels when applied to three-dimensional organoid models and requiring expensive equipment. Additionally, they offer fewer functional parameters compared to commercial software. To address these challenges, we developed an open-source, particle image velocimetry-based software (PIV-MyoMonitor) and demonstrated its capacity for accurate contractility analysis in both two- and three-dimensional cardiac models using standard lab equipment. Comparisons with four other open-source software programs highlighted the capability of PIV-MyoMonitor for more comprehensive quantitative analysis, providing 22 functional parameters and enhanced video outputs. We showcased its applicability in drug screening by characterizing the response of cardiac organoids to a known isotropic drug, isoprenaline. In sum, PIV-MyoMonitor enables reliable contractility assessment across various cardiac models without costly equipment or software. We believe this software will benefit a broader scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoyeon Lee
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Boyoung Kim
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiyue Yun
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinseung Bae
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsu Park
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Junseok Jeon
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Cell and Gene Therapy Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Ryoun Jang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Cell and Gene Therapy Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaecheol Lee
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- Biomedical Institute for Convergence at SKKU (BICS), Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Soah Lee
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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21
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Garg A, Jansen S, Zhang R, Lavine KJ, Greenberg MJ. Dilated cardiomyopathy-associated skeletal muscle actin (ACTA1) mutation R256H disrupts actin structure and function and causes cardiomyocyte hypocontractility. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.10.583979. [PMID: 38559046 PMCID: PMC10979883 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.10.583979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Skeletal muscle actin (ACTA1) mutations are a prevalent cause of skeletal myopathies consistent with ACTA1's high expression in skeletal muscle. Rare de novo mutations in ACTA1 associated with combined cardiac and skeletal myopathies have been reported, but ACTA1 represents only ~20% of the total actin pool in cardiomyocytes, making its role in cardiomyopathy controversial. Here we demonstrate how a mutation in an actin isoform expressed at low levels in cardiomyocytes can cause cardiomyopathy by focusing on a unique ACTA1 mutation, R256H. We previously identified this mutation in multiple family members with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), who had reduced systolic function without clinical skeletal myopathy. Using a battery of multiscale biophysical tools, we show that R256H has potent functional effects on ACTA1 function at the molecular scale and in human cardiomyocytes. Importantly, we demonstrate that R256H acts in a dominant manner, where the incorporation of small amounts of mutant protein into thin filaments is sufficient to disrupt molecular contractility, and that this effect is dependent on the presence of troponin and tropomyosin. To understand the structural basis of this change in regulation, we resolved a structure of R256H filaments using Cryo-EM, and we see alterations in actin's structure that have the potential to disrupt interactions with tropomyosin. Finally, we show that ACTA1R256H/+ human induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes demonstrate reduced contractility and sarcomeric disorganization. Taken together, we demonstrate that R256H has multiple effects on ACTA1 function that are sufficient to cause reduced contractility and establish a likely causative relationship between ACTA1 R256H and clinical cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Garg
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine Johns Hopkins University Baltimore MD USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Silvia Jansen
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kory J. Lavine
- Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Michael J. Greenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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22
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Garg A, Lavine KJ, Greenberg MJ. Assessing Cardiac Contractility From Single Molecules to Whole Hearts. JACC Basic Transl Sci 2024; 9:414-439. [PMID: 38559627 PMCID: PMC10978360 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2023.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Fundamentally, the heart needs to generate sufficient force and power output to dynamically meet the needs of the body. Cardiomyocytes contain specialized structures referred to as sarcomeres that power and regulate contraction. Disruption of sarcomeric function or regulation impairs contractility and leads to cardiomyopathies and heart failure. Basic, translational, and clinical studies have adapted numerous methods to assess cardiac contraction in a variety of pathophysiological contexts. These tools measure aspects of cardiac contraction at different scales ranging from single molecules to whole organisms. Moreover, these studies have revealed new pathogenic mechanisms of heart disease leading to the development of novel therapies targeting contractility. In this review, the authors explore the breadth of tools available for studying cardiac contractile function across scales, discuss their strengths and limitations, highlight new insights into cardiac physiology and pathophysiology, and describe how these insights can be harnessed for therapeutic candidate development and translational.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankit Garg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kory J. Lavine
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Michael J. Greenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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23
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Jain A, Choudhury S, Sundaresan NR, Chatterjee K. Essential Role of Anisotropy in Bioengineered Cardiac Tissue Models. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2300197. [PMID: 38126909 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
As regulatory bodies encourage alternatives to animal testing, there is renewed interest in engineering disease models, particularly for cardiac tissues. The aligned organization of cells in the mammalian heart controls the electrical and ionic currents and its ability to efficiently circulate blood to the body. Although the development of engineered cardiac systems is rising, insights into the topographical aspects, in particular, the necessity to design in vitro cardiac models incorporating cues for unidirectional cell growth, is lacking. This review first summarizes the widely used methods to organize cardiomyocytes (CMs) unidirectionally and the ways to quantify the resulting cellular alignment. The behavior of CMs in response to alignment is described, with emphasis on their functions and underlying mechanisms. Lastly, the limitations of state-of-the-art techniques to modulate CM alignment in vitro and opportunities for further development in the future to improve the cardiac tissue models that more faithfully mimic the pathophysiological hallmarks are outlined. This review serves as a call to action for bioengineers to delve deeper into the in vivo role of cellular organization in cardiac muscle tissue and draw inspiration to effectively mimic in vitro for engineering reliable disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Jain
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Saswat Choudhury
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Nagalingam R Sundaresan
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
| | - Kaushik Chatterjee
- Department of Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
- Department of Materials Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, 560012, India
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24
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Turnbull IC, Gaitas A. Characterizing induced pluripotent stem cells and derived cardiomyocytes: insights from nano scale mass measurements and mechanical properties. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2024; 6:1059-1064. [PMID: 38356620 PMCID: PMC10863719 DOI: 10.1039/d3na00727h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Our study reveals that the nano-mechanical measures of elasticity and cell mass change significantly through induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) differentiation to cardiomyocytes, providing a reliable method to evaluate such processes. The findings support the importance of identifying these properties, and highlight the potential of AFM for comprehensive characterization of iPSC at the nanoscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene C Turnbull
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY 10029 USA
| | - Angelo Gaitas
- The Estelle and Daniel Maggin Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai New York NY 10029 USA
- BioMedical Engineering & Imaging Institute, Leon and Norma Hess Center for Science and Medicine New York NY 10029 USA
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25
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Cheng P, Rashad A, Gangrade A, Barros NRD, Khademhosseini A, Tam J, Varadarajan P, Agrawal DK, Thankam FG. Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocyte-Like Cells in Myocardial Regeneration. TISSUE ENGINEERING. PART B, REVIEWS 2024; 30:1-14. [PMID: 37294202 DOI: 10.1089/ten.teb.2023.0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial infarction results in the significant loss of cardiomyocytes (CMs) due to the ischemic injury following coronary occlusion leading to impaired contractility, fibrosis, and ultimately heart failure. Stem cell therapy emerged as a promising regenerative strategy to replenish the otherwise terminally differentiated CM to restore cardiac function. Multiple strategies have been applied to successfully differentiate diverse stem cell populations into CM-like phenotypes characterized by the expression status of signature biomarkers and observable spontaneous contractions. This article discusses the current understanding and applications of various stem cell phenotypes to drive the differentiation machinery toward CM-like lineage. Impact Statement Ischemic heart disease (IHD) extensively affects a large proportion of the population worldwide. Unfortunately, current treatments for IHD are insufficient to restore cardiac effectiveness and functionality. A growing field in regenerative cardiology explores the potential for stem cell therapy following cardiovascular ischemic episodes. The thorough understanding regarding the potential and shortcomings of translational approaches to drive versatile stem cells to cardiomyocyte lineage paves the way for multiple opportunities for next-generation cardiac management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Cheng
- Department of Translational Research, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Ahmad Rashad
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ankit Gangrade
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation (TIBI), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jonathan Tam
- Department of Translational Research, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Padmini Varadarajan
- University of California Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, California, USA
| | - Devendra K Agrawal
- Department of Translational Research, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA
| | - Finosh G Thankam
- Department of Translational Research, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California, USA
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26
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Johnson BB, Cosson MV, Tsansizi LI, Holmes TL, Gilmore T, Hampton K, Song OR, Vo NTN, Nasir A, Chabronova A, Denning C, Peffers MJ, Merry CLR, Whitelock J, Troeberg L, Rushworth SA, Bernardo AS, Smith JGW. Perlecan (HSPG2) promotes structural, contractile, and metabolic development of human cardiomyocytes. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113668. [PMID: 38198277 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Perlecan (HSPG2), a heparan sulfate proteoglycan similar to agrin, is key for extracellular matrix (ECM) maturation and stabilization. Although crucial for cardiac development, its role remains elusive. We show that perlecan expression increases as cardiomyocytes mature in vivo and during human pluripotent stem cell differentiation to cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs). Perlecan-haploinsuffient hPSCs (HSPG2+/-) differentiate efficiently, but late-stage CMs have structural, contractile, metabolic, and ECM gene dysregulation. In keeping with this, late-stage HSPG2+/- hPSC-CMs have immature features, including reduced ⍺-actinin expression and increased glycolytic metabolism and proliferation. Moreover, perlecan-haploinsuffient engineered heart tissues have reduced tissue thickness and force generation. Conversely, hPSC-CMs grown on a perlecan-peptide substrate are enlarged and display increased nucleation, typical of hypertrophic growth. Together, perlecan appears to play the opposite role of agrin, promoting cellular maturation rather than hyperplasia and proliferation. Perlecan signaling is likely mediated via its binding to the dystroglycan complex. Targeting perlecan-dependent signaling may help reverse the phenotypic switch common to heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin B Johnson
- Centre for Metabolic Health, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK
| | - Marie-Victoire Cosson
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Lorenza I Tsansizi
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Terri L Holmes
- Centre for Metabolic Health, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK
| | | | - Katherine Hampton
- Centre for Metabolic Health, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK
| | - Ok-Ryul Song
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; High-Throughput Screening Science Technology Platform, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Nguyen T N Vo
- School of Medicine, Regenerating and Modelling Tissues, Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Aishah Nasir
- School of Medicine, Regenerating and Modelling Tissues, Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Alzbeta Chabronova
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Chris Denning
- School of Medicine, Regenerating and Modelling Tissues, Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Mandy J Peffers
- Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, William Henry Duncan Building, 6 West Derby Street, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Catherine L R Merry
- School of Medicine, Regenerating and Modelling Tissues, Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - John Whitelock
- School of Medicine, Regenerating and Modelling Tissues, Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK; Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Linda Troeberg
- Centre for Metabolic Health, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK
| | - Stuart A Rushworth
- Centre for Metabolic Health, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK
| | - Andreia S Bernardo
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK.
| | - James G W Smith
- Centre for Metabolic Health, Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7UQ, UK.
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27
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Brown GE, Han YD, Michell AR, Ly OT, Vanoye CG, Spanghero E, George AL, Darbar D, Khetani SR. Engineered cocultures of iPSC-derived atrial cardiomyocytes and atrial fibroblasts for modeling atrial fibrillation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadg1222. [PMID: 38241367 PMCID: PMC10798559 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg1222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia treatable with antiarrhythmic drugs; however, patient responses remain highly variable. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (iPSC-aCMs) are useful for discovering precision therapeutics, but current platforms yield phenotypically immature cells and are not easily scalable for high-throughput screening. Here, primary adult atrial, but not ventricular, fibroblasts induced greater functional iPSC-aCM maturation, partly through connexin-40 and ephrin-B1 signaling. We developed a protein patterning process within multiwell plates to engineer patterned iPSC-aCM and atrial fibroblast coculture (PC) that significantly enhanced iPSC-aCM structural, electrical, contractile, and metabolic maturation for 6+ weeks compared to conventional mono-/coculture. PC displayed greater sensitivity for detecting drug efficacy than monoculture and enabled the modeling and pharmacological or gene editing treatment of an AF-like electrophysiological phenotype due to a mutated sodium channel. Overall, PC is useful for elucidating cell signaling in the atria, drug screening, and modeling AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace E. Brown
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yong Duk Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ashlin R. Michell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Olivia T. Ly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Carlos G. Vanoye
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Emanuele Spanghero
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alfred L. George
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dawood Darbar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Salman R. Khetani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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28
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Babini H, Jiménez-Sábado V, Stogova E, Arslanova A, Butt M, Dababneh S, Asghari P, Moore EDW, Claydon TW, Chiamvimonvat N, Hove-Madsen L, Tibbits GF. hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes as a model to study the role of small-conductance Ca 2+-activated K + (SK) ion channel variants associated with atrial fibrillation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1298007. [PMID: 38304423 PMCID: PMC10830749 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1298007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common arrhythmia, has been associated with different electrophysiological, molecular, and structural alterations in atrial cardiomyocytes. Therefore, more studies are required to elucidate the genetic and molecular basis of AF. Various genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have strongly associated different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with AF. One of these GWAS identified the rs13376333 risk SNP as the most significant one from the 1q21 chromosomal region. The rs13376333 risk SNP is intronic to the KCNN3 gene that encodes for small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels type 3 (SK3). However, the functional electrophysiological effects of this variant are not known. SK channels represent a unique family of K+ channels, primarily regulated by cytosolic Ca2+ concentration, and different studies support their critical role in the regulation of atrial excitability and consequently in the development of arrhythmias like AF. Since different studies have shown that both upregulation and downregulation of SK3 channels can lead to arrhythmias by different mechanisms, an important goal is to elucidate whether the rs13376333 risk SNP is a gain-of-function (GoF) or a loss-of-function (LoF) variant. A better understanding of the functional consequences associated with these SNPs could influence clinical practice guidelines by improving genotype-based risk stratification and personalized treatment. Although research using native human atrial cardiomyocytes and animal models has provided useful insights, each model has its limitations. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop a human-derived model that represents human physiology more accurately than existing animal models. In this context, research with human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) and subsequent generation of cardiomyocytes derived from hiPSC (hiPSC-CMs) has revealed the underlying causes of various cardiovascular diseases and identified treatment opportunities that were not possible using in vitro or in vivo studies with animal models. Thus, the ability to generate atrial cardiomyocytes and atrial tissue derived from hiPSCs from human/patients with specific genetic diseases, incorporating novel genetic editing tools to generate isogenic controls and organelle-specific reporters, and 3D bioprinting of atrial tissue could be essential to study AF pathophysiological mechanisms. In this review, we will first give an overview of SK-channel function, its role in atrial fibrillation and outline pathophysiological mechanisms of KCNN3 risk SNPs. We will then highlight the advantages of using the hiPSC-CM model to investigate SNPs associated with AF, while addressing limitations and best practices for rigorous hiPSC studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hosna Babini
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Verónica Jiménez-Sábado
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- IIB SANT PAU, and CIBERCV, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ekaterina Stogova
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Alia Arslanova
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Mariam Butt
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Saif Dababneh
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Parisa Asghari
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Edwin D. W. Moore
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Thomas W. Claydon
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | | | - Leif Hove-Madsen
- IIB SANT PAU, and CIBERCV, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas de Barcelona (IIBB-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Glen F. Tibbits
- Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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29
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Strohm EM, Callaghan NI, Ding Y, Latifi N, Rafatian N, Funakoshi S, Fernandes I, Reitz CJ, Di Paola M, Gramolini AO, Radisic M, Keller G, Kolios MC, Simmons CA. Noninvasive Quantification of Contractile Dynamics in Cardiac Cells, Spheroids, and Organs-on-a-Chip Using High-Frequency Ultrasound. ACS NANO 2024; 18:314-327. [PMID: 38147684 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based models that mimic in vivo heart physiology are poised to make significant advances in cardiac disease modeling and drug discovery. In these systems, cardiomyocyte (CM) contractility is an important functional metric, but current measurement methods are inaccurate and low-throughput or require complex setups. To address this need, we developed a standalone noninvasive, label-free ultrasound technique operating at 40-200 MHz to measure the contractile kinetics of cardiac models, ranging from single adult CMs to 3D microtissue constructs in standard cell culture formats. The high temporal resolution of 1000 fps resolved the beat profile of single mouse CMs paced at up to 9 Hz, revealing limitations of lower speed optical based measurements to resolve beat kinetics or characterize aberrant beats. Coupling of ultrasound with traction force microscopy enabled the measurement of the CM longitudinal modulus and facile estimation of adult mouse CM contractile forces of 2.34 ± 1.40 μN, comparable to more complex measurement techniques. Similarly, the beat rate, rhythm, and drug responses of CM spheroid and microtissue models were measured, including in configurations without optical access. In conclusion, ultrasound can be used for the rapid characterization of CM contractile function in a wide range of commonly studied configurations ranging from single cells to 3D tissue constructs using standard well plates and custom microdevices, with applications in cardiac drug discovery and cardiotoxicity evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M Strohm
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3G8, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research, Toronto, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Neal I Callaghan
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research, Toronto, M5G 1M1, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Yu Ding
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research, Toronto, M5G 1M1, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Neda Latifi
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3G8, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research, Toronto, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Naimeh Rafatian
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Shunsuke Funakoshi
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Ian Fernandes
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Cristine J Reitz
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research, Toronto, M5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Michelle Di Paola
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research, Toronto, M5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Anthony O Gramolini
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research, Toronto, M5G 1M1, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Milica Radisic
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3G9, Canada
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, Toronto, M5G 2C4, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3E5, Canada
| | - Gordon Keller
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Michael C Kolios
- Department of Physics, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Craig A Simmons
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3G8, Canada
- Translational Biology and Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Center for Heart Research, Toronto, M5G 1M1, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, M5S 3G9, Canada
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30
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Guo G, Wang L, Li X, Fu W, Cao J, Zhang J, Liu Y, Liu M, Wang M, Zhao G, Zhao X, Zhou Y, Niu S, Liu G, Zhang Y, Dong J, Tao H, Zhao X. Enhanced myofilament calcium sensitivity aggravates abnormal calcium handling and diastolic dysfunction in patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes with MYH7 mutation. Cell Calcium 2024; 117:102822. [PMID: 38101154 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2023.102822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common inherited heart disease, is frequently caused by mutations in the β-cardiac myosin heavy chain gene (MYH7). Abnormal calcium handling and diastolic dysfunction are archetypical features of HCM caused by MYH7 gene mutations. However, the mechanism of how MYH7 mutations leads to these features remains unclear, which inhibits the development of effective therapies. Initially, cardiomyocytes were generated from induced pluripotent stem cells from an eight-year-old girl diagnosed with HCM carrying a MYH7(C.1063 G>A) heterozygous mutation(mutant-iPSC-CMs) and mutation-corrected isogenic iPSCs(control-iPSC-CMs) in the present study. Next, we compared phenotype of mutant-iPSC-CMs to that of control-iPSC-CMs, by assessing their morphology, hypertrophy-related genes expression, calcium handling, diastolic function and myofilament calcium sensitivity at days 15 and 40 respectively. Finally, to better understand increased myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity as a central mechanism of central pathogenicity in HCM, inhibition of calcium sensitivity with mavacamten can improveed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Mutant-iPSC-CMs exhibited enlarged areas, increased sarcomere disarray, enhanced expression of hypertrophy-related genes proteins, abnormal calcium handling, diastolic dysfunction and increased myofilament calcium sensitivity at day 40, but only significant increase in calcium sensitivity and mild diastolic dysfunction at day 15. Increased calcium sensitivity by levosimendan aggravates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy phenotypes such as expression of hypertrophy-related genes, abnormal calcium handling and diastolic dysfunction, while inhibition of calcium sensitivity significantly improves cardiomyocyte hypertrophy phenotypes in mutant-iPSC-CMs, suggesting increased myofilament calcium sensitivity is the primary mechanisms for MYH7 mutations pathogenesis. Our studies have uncovered a pathogenic mechanism of HCM caused by MYH7 gene mutations through which enhanced myofilament calcium sensitivity aggravates abnormal calcium handling and diastolic dysfunction. Correction of the myofilament calcium sensitivity was found to be an effective method for treating the development of HCM phenotype in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangli Guo
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Xiaowei Li
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Wanrong Fu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jinhua Cao
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jianchao Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yangyang Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Mengduan Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Mengyu Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Guojun Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Xi Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yangfan Zhou
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Shaohui Niu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Gangqiong Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yanzhou Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Jianzeng Dong
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Centre for Cardiovascular Diseases, No. 2 Beijing Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Hailong Tao
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
| | - Xiaoyan Zhao
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory of Hereditary Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
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31
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Ahmed DW, Eiken MK, DePalma SJ, Helms AS, Zemans RL, Spence JR, Baker BM, Loebel C. Integrating mechanical cues with engineered platforms to explore cardiopulmonary development and disease. iScience 2023; 26:108472. [PMID: 38077130 PMCID: PMC10698280 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanical forces provide critical biological signals to cells during healthy and aberrant organ development as well as during disease processes in adults. Within the cardiopulmonary system, mechanical forces, such as shear, compressive, and tensile forces, act across various length scales, and dysregulated forces are often a leading cause of disease initiation and progression such as in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and cardiomyopathies. Engineered in vitro models have supported studies of mechanical forces in a number of tissue and disease-specific contexts, thus enabling new mechanistic insights into cardiopulmonary development and disease. This review first provides fundamental examples where mechanical forces operate at multiple length scales to ensure precise lung and heart function. Next, we survey recent engineering platforms and tools that have provided new means to probe and modulate mechanical forces across in vitro and in vivo settings. Finally, the potential for interdisciplinary collaborations to inform novel therapeutic approaches for a number of cardiopulmonary diseases are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donia W. Ahmed
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Lurie Biomedical Engineering Building, 1101 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Madeline K. Eiken
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Lurie Biomedical Engineering Building, 1101 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Samuel J. DePalma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Lurie Biomedical Engineering Building, 1101 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Adam S. Helms
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Rachel L. Zemans
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine – Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jason R. Spence
- Department of Internal Medicine – Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Brendon M. Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Lurie Biomedical Engineering Building, 1101 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Claudia Loebel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Lurie Biomedical Engineering Building, 1101 Beal Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Michigan, North Campus Research Complex, 2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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32
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Volmert B, Kiselev A, Juhong A, Wang F, Riggs A, Kostina A, O'Hern C, Muniyandi P, Wasserman A, Huang A, Lewis-Israeli Y, Panda V, Bhattacharya S, Lauver A, Park S, Qiu Z, Zhou C, Aguirre A. A patterned human primitive heart organoid model generated by pluripotent stem cell self-organization. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8245. [PMID: 38086920 PMCID: PMC10716495 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43999-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids can recapitulate significant features of organ development in vitro. We hypothesized that creating human heart organoids by mimicking aspects of in utero gestation (e.g., addition of metabolic and hormonal factors) would lead to higher physiological and anatomical relevance. We find that heart organoids produced using this self-organization-driven developmental induction strategy are remarkably similar transcriptionally and morphologically to age-matched human embryonic hearts. We also show that they recapitulate several aspects of cardiac development, including large atrial and ventricular chambers, proepicardial organ formation, and retinoic acid-mediated anterior-posterior patterning, mimicking the developmental processes found in the post-heart tube stage primitive heart. Moreover, we provide proof-of-concept demonstration of the value of this system for disease modeling by exploring the effects of ondansetron, a drug administered to pregnant women and associated with congenital heart defects. These findings constitute a significant technical advance for synthetic heart development and provide a powerful tool for cardiac disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Volmert
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Artem Kiselev
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Aniwat Juhong
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Biomedical Devices, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ashlin Riggs
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Aleksandra Kostina
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Colin O'Hern
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Priyadharshni Muniyandi
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Aaron Wasserman
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Amanda Huang
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Yonatan Lewis-Israeli
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Vishal Panda
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Systems Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Sudin Bhattacharya
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Systems Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Adam Lauver
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Sangbum Park
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Zhen Qiu
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Biomedical Devices, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Chao Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Aitor Aguirre
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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33
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Jilberto J, DePalma SJ, Lo J, Kobeissi H, Quach L, Lejeune E, Baker BM, Nordsletten D. A data-driven computational model for engineered cardiac microtissues. Acta Biomater 2023; 172:123-134. [PMID: 37879587 PMCID: PMC10938557 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Engineered heart tissues (EHTs) present a potential solution to some of the current challenges in the treatment of heart disease; however, the development of mature, adult-like cardiac tissues remains elusive. Mechanical stimuli have been observed to improve whole-tissue function and cardiomyocyte (CM) maturation, although our ability to fully utilize these mechanisms is hampered, in part, by our incomplete understanding of the mechanobiology of EHTs. In this work, we leverage experimental data, produced by a mechanically tunable experimental setup, to introduce a tissue-specific computational modeling pipeline of EHTs. Our new modeling pipeline generates simulated, image-based EHTs, capturing ECM and myofibrillar structure as well as functional parameters estimated directly from experimental data. This approach enables the unique estimation of EHT function by data-based estimation of CM active stresses. We use this experimental and modeling pipeline to study different mechanical environments, where we contrast the force output of the tissue with the computed active stress of CMs. We show that the significant differences in measured experimental forces can largely be explained by the levels of myofibril formation achieved by the CMs in the distinct mechanical environments, with active stress showing more muted variations across conditions. The presented model also enables us to dissect the relative contributions of myofibrils and extracellular matrix to tissue force output, a task difficult to address experimentally. These results highlight the importance of tissue-specific modeling to augment EHT experiments, providing deeper insights into the mechanobiology driving EHT function. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Engineered heart tissues (EHTs) have the potential to revolutionize the way heart disease is treated. However, developing mature cardiomyocytes (CM) in these tissues remains a challenge due, in part, to our incomplete understanding of the fundamental biomechanical mechanisms that drive EHT development. This work integrates the experimental data of an EHT platform developed to study the influence of mechanics in CM maturation with computational biomechanical models. This approach is used to augment conclusions obtained in-vitro - by measuring quantities such as cell stress and strain - and to dissect the relevance of each component in the whole tissue performance. Our results show how a combination of specialized in-silico and in-vitro approaches can help us better understand the mechanobiology of EHTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javiera Jilberto
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, MI, USA.
| | - Samuel J DePalma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, MI, USA
| | - Jason Lo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, MI, USA
| | - Hiba Kobeissi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, MA, USA
| | - Lani Quach
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, MI, USA
| | - Emma Lejeune
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Boston University, MA, USA
| | - Brendon M Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, MI, USA
| | - David Nordsletten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, MI, USA; Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Michigan, MI, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK
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Seo K, Yamamoto Y, Kirillova A, Kawana M, Yadav S, Huang Y, Wang Q, Lane KV, Pruitt BL, Perez MV, Bernstein D, Wu JC, Wheeler MT, Parikh VN, Ashley EA. Improved Cardiac Performance and Decreased Arrhythmia in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy With Non-β-Blocking R-Enantiomer Carvedilol. Circulation 2023; 148:1691-1704. [PMID: 37850394 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.065017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypercontractility and arrhythmia are key pathophysiologic features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common inherited heart disease. β-Adrenergic receptor antagonists (β-blockers) are the first-line therapy for HCM. However, β-blockers commonly selected for this disease are often poorly tolerated in patients, where heart-rate reduction and noncardiac effects can lead to reduced cardiac output and fatigue. Mavacamten, myosin ATPase inhibitor recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, has demonstrated the ability to ameliorate hypercontractility without lowering heart rate, but its benefits are so far limited to patients with left ventricular (LV) outflow tract obstruction, and its effect on arrhythmia is unknown. METHODS We screened 21 β-blockers for their impact on myocyte contractility and evaluated the antiarrhythmic properties of the most promising drug in a ventricular myocyte arrhythmia model. We then examined its in vivo effect on LV function by hemodynamic pressure-volume loop analysis. The efficacy of the drug was tested in vitro and in vivo compared with current therapeutic options (metoprolol, verapamil, and mavacamten) for HCM in an established mouse model of HCM (Myh6R403Q/+ and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes from patients with HCM (MYH7R403Q/+). RESULTS We identified that carvedilol, a β-blocker not commonly used in HCM, suppresses contractile function and arrhythmia by inhibiting RyR2 (ryanodine receptor type 2). Unlike metoprolol (a β1-blocker), carvedilol markedly reduced LV contractility through RyR2 inhibition, while maintaining stroke volume through α1-adrenergic receptor inhibition in vivo. Clinically available carvedilol is a racemic mixture, and the R-enantiomer, devoid of β-blocking effect, retains the ability to inhibit both α1-receptor and RyR2, thereby suppressing contractile function and arrhythmias without lowering heart rate and cardiac output. In Myh6R403Q/+ mice, R-carvedilol normalized hyperdynamic contraction, suppressed arrhythmia, and increased cardiac output better than metoprolol, verapamil, and mavacamten. The ability of R-carvedilol to suppress contractile function was well retained in MYH7R403Q/+ iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSIONS R-enantiomer carvedilol attenuates hyperdynamic contraction, suppresses arrhythmia, and at the same time, improves cardiac output without lowering heart rate by dual blockade of α1-adrenergic receptor and RyR2 in mouse and human models of HCM. This combination of therapeutic effects is unique among current therapeutic options for HCM and may particularly benefit patients without LV outflow tract obstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kinya Seo
- From the Departments of Medicine (K.S., Y.Y., A.K., M.K., S.Y., Y.H., Q.W., M.V.P., M.T.W., V.N.P., E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Yuta Yamamoto
- From the Departments of Medicine (K.S., Y.Y., A.K., M.K., S.Y., Y.H., Q.W., M.V.P., M.T.W., V.N.P., E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Anna Kirillova
- From the Departments of Medicine (K.S., Y.Y., A.K., M.K., S.Y., Y.H., Q.W., M.V.P., M.T.W., V.N.P., E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Masataka Kawana
- From the Departments of Medicine (K.S., Y.Y., A.K., M.K., S.Y., Y.H., Q.W., M.V.P., M.T.W., V.N.P., E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Sunil Yadav
- From the Departments of Medicine (K.S., Y.Y., A.K., M.K., S.Y., Y.H., Q.W., M.V.P., M.T.W., V.N.P., E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Yong Huang
- From the Departments of Medicine (K.S., Y.Y., A.K., M.K., S.Y., Y.H., Q.W., M.V.P., M.T.W., V.N.P., E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Qianru Wang
- From the Departments of Medicine (K.S., Y.Y., A.K., M.K., S.Y., Y.H., Q.W., M.V.P., M.T.W., V.N.P., E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Kerry V Lane
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering (K.V.L., B.L.P.), University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
| | - Beth L Pruitt
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering (K.V.L., B.L.P.), University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
- BioMolecular Science and Engineering (B.L.P.), University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
| | - Marco V Perez
- From the Departments of Medicine (K.S., Y.Y., A.K., M.K., S.Y., Y.H., Q.W., M.V.P., M.T.W., V.N.P., E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | | | - Joseph C Wu
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (J.C.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Matthew T Wheeler
- From the Departments of Medicine (K.S., Y.Y., A.K., M.K., S.Y., Y.H., Q.W., M.V.P., M.T.W., V.N.P., E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Victoria N Parikh
- From the Departments of Medicine (K.S., Y.Y., A.K., M.K., S.Y., Y.H., Q.W., M.V.P., M.T.W., V.N.P., E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Euan A Ashley
- From the Departments of Medicine (K.S., Y.Y., A.K., M.K., S.Y., Y.H., Q.W., M.V.P., M.T.W., V.N.P., E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
- Genetics (E.A.A.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
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Woldeyes RA, Nishiga M, Vander Roest AS, Engel L, Giri P, Montenegro GC, Wu AC, Dunn AR, Spudich JA, Bernstein D, Schmid MF, Wu JC, Chiu W. Cryo-electron tomography reveals the structural diversity of cardiac proteins in their cellular context. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.26.564098. [PMID: 37961228 PMCID: PMC10634850 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.26.564098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide, but our understanding of the underlying mechanisms is limited, in part because of the complexity of the cellular machinery that controls the heart muscle contraction cycle. Cryogenic electron tomography (cryo-ET) provides a way to visualize diverse cellular machinery while preserving contextual information like subcellular localization and transient complex formation, but this approach has not been widely applied to the study of heart muscle cells (cardiomyocytes). Here, we deploy a platform for studying cardiovascular disease by combining cryo-ET with human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). After developing a cryo-ET workflow for visualizing macromolecules in hiPSC-CMs, we reconstructed sub-nanometer resolution structures of the human thin filament, a central component of the contractile machinery. We also visualized a previously unobserved organization of a regulatory complex that connects muscle contraction to calcium signaling (the troponin complex), highlighting the value of our approach for interrogating the structures of cardiac proteins in their cellular context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahel A. Woldeyes
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Masataka Nishiga
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alison S. Vander Roest
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, MI, USA
| | - Leeya Engel
- Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Prerna Giri
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Andrew C. Wu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alexander R. Dunn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - James A. Spudich
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Bernstein
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael F. Schmid
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Cryo-EM and Bioimaging, SSRL, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Joseph C. Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Wah Chiu
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Division of Cryo-EM and Bioimaging, SSRL, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, Menlo Park, CA, USA
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36
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DePalma SJ, Jillberto J, Stis AE, Huang DD, Lo J, Davidson CD, Chowdhury A, Jewett ME, Kobeissi H, Chen CS, Lejeune E, Helms AS, Nordsletten DA, Baker BM. Matrix architecture and mechanics regulate myofibril organization, costamere assembly, and contractility of engineered myocardial microtissues. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.20.563346. [PMID: 37961415 PMCID: PMC10634701 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.20.563346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical function of the myocardium is defined by cardiomyocyte contractility and the biomechanics of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Understanding this relationship remains an important unmet challenge due to limitations in existing approaches for engineering myocardial tissue. Here, we established arrays of cardiac microtissues with tunable mechanics and architecture by integrating ECM-mimetic synthetic, fiber matrices and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs), enabling real-time contractility readouts, in-depth structural assessment, and tissue-specific computational modeling. We find that the stiffness and alignment of matrix fibers distinctly affect the structural development and contractile function of pure iPSC-CM tissues. Further examination into the impact of fibrous matrix stiffness enabled by computational models and quantitative immunofluorescence implicates cell-ECM interactions in myofibril assembly and notably costamere assembly, which correlates with improved contractile function of tissues. These results highlight how iPSC-CM tissue models with controllable architecture and mechanics can inform the design of translatable regenerative cardiac therapies.
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Aitova A, Berezhnoy A, Tsvelaya V, Gusev O, Lyundup A, Efimov AE, Agapov I, Agladze K. Biomimetic Cardiac Tissue Models for In Vitro Arrhythmia Studies. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:487. [PMID: 37887618 PMCID: PMC10604593 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8060487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac arrhythmias are a major cause of cardiovascular mortality worldwide. Many arrhythmias are caused by reentry, a phenomenon where excitation waves circulate in the heart. Optical mapping techniques have revealed the role of reentry in arrhythmia initiation and fibrillation transition, but the underlying biophysical mechanisms are still difficult to investigate in intact hearts. Tissue engineering models of cardiac tissue can mimic the structure and function of native cardiac tissue and enable interactive observation of reentry formation and wave propagation. This review will present various approaches to constructing cardiac tissue models for reentry studies, using the authors' work as examples. The review will highlight the evolution of tissue engineering designs based on different substrates, cell types, and structural parameters. A new approach using polymer materials and cellular reprogramming to create biomimetic cardiac tissues will be introduced. The review will also show how computational modeling of cardiac tissue can complement experimental data and how such models can be applied in the biomimetics of cardiac tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleria Aitova
- Laboratory of Experimental and Cellular Medicine, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia
- M.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Clinical Research Institute, 129110 Moscow, Russia
- Almetyevsk State Oil Institute, 423450 Almetyevsk, Russia
| | - Andrey Berezhnoy
- Laboratory of Experimental and Cellular Medicine, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia
- M.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Clinical Research Institute, 129110 Moscow, Russia
- Almetyevsk State Oil Institute, 423450 Almetyevsk, Russia
| | - Valeriya Tsvelaya
- Laboratory of Experimental and Cellular Medicine, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia
- M.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Clinical Research Institute, 129110 Moscow, Russia
- Almetyevsk State Oil Institute, 423450 Almetyevsk, Russia
| | - Oleg Gusev
- Regulatory Genomics Research Center, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420018 Kazan, Russia
- Life Improvement by Future Technologies (LIFT) Center, 143025 Moscow, Russia
- Intractable Disease Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | | | - Anton E. Efimov
- Academician V.I. Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Igor Agapov
- Academician V.I. Shumakov National Medical Research Center of Transplantology and Artificial Organs, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Konstantin Agladze
- Laboratory of Experimental and Cellular Medicine, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia
- M.F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Clinical Research Institute, 129110 Moscow, Russia
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38
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Lee BW, Caporizzo MA, Chen CY, Bedi KC, Peyster EG, Prosser BL, Margulies KB, Vite A. Adult human cardiomyocyte mechanics in osteogenesis imperfecta. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2023; 325:H814-H821. [PMID: 37566108 PMCID: PMC10659261 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00391.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an extracellular matrix disorder characterized by defects in collagen-1 transport or synthesis, resulting in bone abnormalities. Although reduced collagen in OI hearts has been associated with reduced myocardial stiffness and left ventricular remodeling, its impact on cardiomyocyte (CM) function has not been studied. Here, we explore the tissue-level and CM-level properties of a heart from a deceased organ donor with OI type I. Proteomics and histology confirmed strikingly low expression of collagen 1. Trabecular stretch confirmed low stiffness on the tissue level. However, CMs retained normal viscoelastic properties as revealed by nanoindentation. Interestingly, OI CMs were hypercontractile relative to nonfailing controls after 24 h of culture. In response to 48 h of culture on surfaces with physiological (10 kPa) and pathological (50 kPa) stiffness, OI CMs demonstrated a greater reduction in contractility than nonfailing CMs, suggesting that OI CMs may have an impaired stress response. Levels of detyrosinated α-tubulin, known to be responsive to extracellular stiffness, were reduced in OI CMs. Together these data confirm multiple CM-level adaptations to low stiffness that extend our understanding of OI in the heart and how CMs respond to extracellular stiffness.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In a rare donation of a heart from an individual with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), we explored cardiomyocyte (CM) adaptations to low stiffness. This represents the first assessment of cardiomyocyte mechanics in OI. The data reveal the hypercontractility of OI CMs with rapid rundown when exposed to acute stiffness challenges, extending our understanding of OI. These data demonstrate that the impact of OI on myocardial mechanics includes cardiomyocyte adaptations beyond known direct effects on the extracellular matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin W Lee
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Matthew A Caporizzo
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Christina Y Chen
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Kenneth C Bedi
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Eliot G Peyster
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Benjamin L Prosser
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Kenneth B Margulies
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Alexia Vite
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
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Fischer B, Gwinner F, Gepp MM, Schulz A, Danz K, Dehne A, Katsen-Globa A, Neubauer JC, Gentile L, Zimmermann H. A highly versatile biopolymer-based platform for the maturation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes enables functional analysis in vitro and 3D printing of heart patches. J Biomed Mater Res A 2023; 111:1600-1615. [PMID: 37317666 DOI: 10.1002/jbm.a.37558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) represent a valuable tool for in vitro modeling of the cardiac niche and possess great potential in tissue engineering applications. However, conventional polystyrene-based cell culture substrates have adverse effects on cardiomyocytes in vitro due to the stress applied by a stiff substrate on contractile cells. Ultra-high viscosity alginates offer a unique versatility as tunable substrates for cardiac cell cultures due to their biocompatibility, flexible biofunctionalization, and stability. In this work, we analyzed the effect of alginate substrates on hPSC-CM maturity and functionality. Alginate substrates in high-throughput compatible culture formats fostered a more mature gene expression and enabled the simultaneous assessment of chronotropic and inotropic effects upon beta-adrenergic stimulation. Furthermore, we produced 3D-printed alginate scaffolds with differing mechanical properties and plated hPSC-CMs on the surface of these to create Heart Patches for tissue engineering applications. These exhibited synchronous macro-contractions in concert with more mature gene expression patterns and extensive intracellular alignment of sarcomeric structures. In conclusion, the combination of biofunctionalized alginates and human cardiomyocytes represents a valuable tool for both in vitro modeling and regenerative medicine, due to its beneficial effects on cardiomyocyte physiology, the possibility to analyze cardiac contractility, and its applicability as Heart Patches.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Fischer
- Department of Stem Cell & Cryo Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Sulzbach, Germany
- Fraunhofer Project Center for Stem Cell Process Engineering, Würzburg, Germany
| | - F Gwinner
- Department of Stem Cell & Cryo Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - M M Gepp
- Department of Stem Cell & Cryo Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Sulzbach, Germany
- Fraunhofer Project Center for Stem Cell Process Engineering, Würzburg, Germany
| | - A Schulz
- Department of Stem Cell & Cryo Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - K Danz
- Department of Bioprocessing and Bioanalytics, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - A Dehne
- Department of Stem Cell & Cryo Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - A Katsen-Globa
- Department of Stem Cell & Cryo Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - J C Neubauer
- Department of Stem Cell & Cryo Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Sulzbach, Germany
- Fraunhofer Project Center for Stem Cell Process Engineering, Würzburg, Germany
| | - L Gentile
- Department of Stem Cell & Cryo Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Sulzbach, Germany
| | - H Zimmermann
- Department of Stem Cell & Cryo Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Sulzbach, Germany
- Fraunhofer Project Center for Stem Cell Process Engineering, Würzburg, Germany
- Chair for Molecular and Cellular Biotechnology, Saarland University, Gebäude A, Saarbrücken, Germany
- Faculty of Marine Science, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo, Chile
- Department of Bioprocessing and Bioanalytics, Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Sulzbach, Germany
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40
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Yang H, Yang Y, Kiskin FN, Shen M, Zhang JZ. Recent advances in regulating the proliferation or maturation of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:228. [PMID: 37649113 PMCID: PMC10469435 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03470-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM)-based cell therapy has drawn broad attention as a potential therapy for treating injured hearts. However, mass production of hiPSC-CMs remains challenging, limiting their translational potential in regenerative medicine. Therefore, multiple strategies including cell cycle regulators, small molecules, co-culture systems, and epigenetic modifiers have been used to improve the proliferation of hiPSC-CMs. On the other hand, the immaturity of these proliferative hiPSC-CMs could lead to lethal arrhythmias due to their limited ability to functionally couple with resident cardiomyocytes. To achieve functional maturity, numerous methods such as prolonged culture, biochemical or biophysical stimulation, in vivo transplantation, and 3D culture approaches have been employed. In this review, we summarize recent approaches used to promote hiPSC-CM proliferation, and thoroughly review recent advances in promoting hiPSC-CM maturation, which will serve as the foundation for large-scale production of mature hiPSC-CMs for future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yang
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Yuan Yang
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Fedir N Kiskin
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Mengcheng Shen
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Joe Z Zhang
- Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China.
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Vuorenpää H, Björninen M, Välimäki H, Ahola A, Kroon M, Honkamäki L, Koivumäki JT, Pekkanen-Mattila M. Building blocks of microphysiological system to model physiology and pathophysiology of human heart. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1213959. [PMID: 37485060 PMCID: PMC10358860 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1213959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Microphysiological systems (MPS) are drawing increasing interest from academia and from biomedical industry due to their improved capability to capture human physiology. MPS offer an advanced in vitro platform that can be used to study human organ and tissue level functions in health and in diseased states more accurately than traditional single cell cultures or even animal models. Key features in MPS include microenvironmental control and monitoring as well as high biological complexity of the target tissue. To reach these qualities, cross-disciplinary collaboration from multiple fields of science is required to build MPS. Here, we review different areas of expertise and describe essential building blocks of heart MPS including relevant cardiac cell types, supporting matrix, mechanical stimulation, functional measurements, and computational modelling. The review presents current methods in cardiac MPS and provides insights for future MPS development with improved recapitulation of human physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Vuorenpää
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Miina Björninen
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Adult Stem Cell Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Research, Development and Innovation Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Hannu Välimäki
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Micro- and Nanosystems Research Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Antti Ahola
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Computational Biophysics and Imaging Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Mart Kroon
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Laura Honkamäki
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Neuro Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jussi T. Koivumäki
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Computational Biophysics and Imaging Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Mari Pekkanen-Mattila
- Centre of Excellence in Body-on-Chip Research (CoEBoC), BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Heart Group, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
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Salameh S, Ogueri V, Posnack NG. Adapting to a new environment: postnatal maturation of the human cardiomyocyte. J Physiol 2023; 601:2593-2619. [PMID: 37031380 PMCID: PMC10775138 DOI: 10.1113/jp283792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The postnatal mammalian heart undergoes remarkable developmental changes, which are stimulated by the transition from the intrauterine to extrauterine environment. With birth, increased oxygen levels promote metabolic, structural and biophysical maturation of cardiomyocytes, resulting in mature muscle with increased efficiency, contractility and electrical conduction. In this Topical Review article, we highlight key studies that inform our current understanding of human cardiomyocyte maturation. Collectively, these studies suggest that human atrial and ventricular myocytes evolve quickly within the first year but might not reach a fully mature adult phenotype until nearly the first decade of life. However, it is important to note that fetal, neonatal and paediatric cardiac physiology studies are hindered by a number of limitations, including the scarcity of human tissue, small sample size and a heavy reliance on diseased tissue samples, often without age-matched healthy controls. Future developmental studies are warranted to expand our understanding of normal cardiac physiology/pathophysiology and inform age-appropriate treatment strategies for cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shatha Salameh
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Vanessa Ogueri
- Children’s National Heart Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Nikki Gillum Posnack
- Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
- Children’s National Heart Institute, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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Patel L, Worch JC, Dove AP, Gehmlich K. The Utilisation of Hydrogels for iPSC-Cardiomyocyte Research. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:9995. [PMID: 37373141 PMCID: PMC10298477 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24129995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiac fibroblasts' (FBs) and cardiomyocytes' (CMs) behaviour and morphology are influenced by their environment such as remodelling of the myocardium, thus highlighting the importance of biomaterial substrates in cell culture. Biomaterials have emerged as important tools for the development of physiological models, due to the range of adaptable properties of these materials, such as degradability and biocompatibility. Biomaterial hydrogels can act as alternative substrates for cellular studies, which have been particularly key to the progression of the cardiovascular field. This review will focus on the role of hydrogels in cardiac research, specifically the use of natural and synthetic biomaterials such as hyaluronic acid, polydimethylsiloxane and polyethylene glycol for culturing induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs). The ability to fine-tune mechanical properties such as stiffness and the versatility of biomaterials is assessed, alongside applications of hydrogels with iPSC-CMs. Natural hydrogels often display higher biocompatibility with iPSC-CMs but often degrade quicker, whereas synthetic hydrogels can be modified to facilitate cell attachment and decrease degradation rates. iPSC-CM structure and electrophysiology can be assessed on natural and synthetic hydrogels, often resolving issues such as immaturity of iPSC-CMs. Biomaterial hydrogels can thus provide a more physiological model of the cardiac extracellular matrix compared to traditional 2D models, with the cardiac field expansively utilising hydrogels to recapitulate disease conditions such as stiffness, encourage alignment of iPSC-CMs and facilitate further model development such as engineered heart tissues (EHTs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Leena Patel
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Joshua C. Worch
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (J.C.W.); (A.P.D.)
| | - Andrew P. Dove
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (J.C.W.); (A.P.D.)
| | - Katja Gehmlich
- Institute of Cardiovascular Science, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
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Lee S, Roest ASV, Blair CA, Kao K, Bremner SB, Childers MC, Pathak D, Heinrich P, Lee D, Chirikian O, Mohran S, Roberts B, Smith JE, Jahng JW, Paik DT, Wu JC, Gunawardane RN, Spudich JA, Ruppel K, Mack D, Pruitt BL, Regnier M, Wu SM, Bernstein D. Multi-scale models reveal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy MYH7 G256E mutation drives hypercontractility and elevated mitochondrial respiration. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.08.544276. [PMID: 37333118 PMCID: PMC10274883 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.08.544276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Rationale Over 200 mutations in the sarcomeric protein β-myosin heavy chain (MYH7) have been linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, different mutations in MYH7 lead to variable penetrance and clinical severity, and alter myosin function to varying degrees, making it difficult to determine genotype-phenotype relationships, especially when caused by rare gene variants such as the G256E mutation. Objective This study aims to determine the effects of low penetrant MYH7 G256E mutation on myosin function. We hypothesize that the G256E mutation would alter myosin function, precipitating compensatory responses in cellular functions. Methods We developed a collaborative pipeline to characterize myosin function at multiple scales (protein to myofibril to cell to tissue). We also used our previously published data on other mutations to compare the degree to which myosin function was altered. Results At the protein level, the G256E mutation disrupts the transducer region of the S1 head and reduces the fraction of myosin in the folded-back state by 50.9%, suggesting more myosins available for contraction. Myofibrils isolated from hiPSC-CMs CRISPR-edited with G256E (MYH7 WT/G256E ) generated greater tension, had faster tension development and slower early phase relaxation, suggesting altered myosin-actin crossbridge cycling kinetics. This hypercontractile phenotype persisted in single-cell hiPSC-CMs and engineered heart tissues. Single-cell transcriptomic and metabolic profiling demonstrated upregulation of mitochondrial genes and increased mitochondrial respiration, suggesting altered bioenergetics as an early feature of HCM. Conclusions MYH7 G256E mutation causes structural instability in the transducer region, leading to hypercontractility across scales, perhaps from increased myosin recruitment and altered crossbridge cycling. Hypercontractile function of the mutant myosin was accompanied by increased mitochondrial respiration, while cellular hypertrophy was modest in the physiological stiffness environment. We believe that this multi-scale platform will be useful to elucidate genotype-phenotype relationships underlying other genetic cardiovascular diseases.
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Kumar A, He S, Mali P. Systematic discovery of transcription factors that improve hPSC-derived cardiomyocyte maturation via temporal analysis of bioengineered cardiac tissues. APL Bioeng 2023; 7:026109. [PMID: 37252678 PMCID: PMC10219684 DOI: 10.1063/5.0137458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) have the potential to become powerful tools for disease modeling, drug testing, and transplantation; however, their immaturity limits their applications. Transcription factor (TF) overexpression can improve hPSC-CM maturity, but identifying these TFs has been elusive. Toward this, we establish here an experimental framework for systematic identification of maturation enhancing factors. Specifically, we performed temporal transcriptome RNAseq analyses of progressively matured hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes across 2D and 3D differentiation systems and further compared these bioengineered tissues to native fetal and adult-derived tissues. These analyses revealed 22 TFs whose expression did not increase in 2D differentiation systems but progressively increased in 3D culture systems and adult mature cell types. Individually overexpressing each of these TFs in immature hPSC-CMs identified five TFs (KLF15, ZBTB20, ESRRA, HOPX, and CAMTA2) as regulators of calcium handling, metabolic function, and hypertrophy. Notably, the combinatorial overexpression of KLF15, ESRRA, and HOPX improved all three maturation parameters simultaneously. Taken together, we introduce a new TF cocktail that can be used in solo or in conjunction with other strategies to improve hPSC-CM maturation and anticipate that our generalizable methodology can also be implemented to identify maturation-associated TFs for other stem cell progenies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Kumar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA
| | - Starry He
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA
| | - Prashant Mali
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, California 92093, USA
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Friedman CE, Fayer S, Pendyala S, Chien WM, Loiben A, Tran L, Chao LS, Mckinstry A, Ahmed D, Karbassi E, Fenix AM, Murry CE, Starita LM, Fowler DM, Yang KC. CRaTER enrichment for on-target gene editing enables generation of variant libraries in hiPSCs. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 179:60-71. [PMID: 37019277 PMCID: PMC10208587 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Standard transgenic cell line generation requires screening 100-1000s of colonies to isolate correctly edited cells. We describe CRISPRa On-Target Editing Retrieval (CRaTER) which enriches for cells with on-target knock-in of a cDNA-fluorescent reporter transgene by transient activation of the targeted locus followed by flow sorting to recover edited cells. We show CRaTER recovers rare cells with heterozygous, biallelic-editing of the transcriptionally-inactive MYH7 locus in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), enriching on average 25-fold compared to standard antibiotic selection. We leveraged CRaTER to enrich for heterozygous knock-in of a library of variants in MYH7, a gene in which missense mutations cause cardiomyopathies, and recovered hiPSCs with 113 different variants. We differentiated these hiPSCs to cardiomyocytes and show MHC-β fusion proteins can localize as expected. Additionally, single-cell contractility analyses revealed cardiomyocytes with a pathogenic, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-associated MYH7 variant exhibit salient HCM physiology relative to isogenic controls. Thus, CRaTER substantially reduces screening required for isolation of gene-edited cells, enabling generation of functional transgenic cell lines at unprecedented scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clayton E Friedman
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Shawn Fayer
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Sriram Pendyala
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Wei-Ming Chien
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Cardiology/Hospital Specialty Medicine, VA Puget Sound HCS, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Alexander Loiben
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Linda Tran
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Leslie S Chao
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Ashley Mckinstry
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Dania Ahmed
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Elaheh Karbassi
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Aidan M Fenix
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Charles E Murry
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Lea M Starita
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Douglas M Fowler
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Kai-Chun Yang
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Medicine/Cardiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Cardiology/Hospital Specialty Medicine, VA Puget Sound HCS, Seattle, WA 98108, USA.
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Zhou J, Cui B, Wang X, Wang H, Zheng J, Guo F, Sun Y, Fan H, Shen J, Su J, Wang J, Zhao H, Tang Y, Gong T, Sun N, Liang P. Overexpression of KCNJ2 enhances maturation of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:92. [PMID: 37061738 PMCID: PMC10105952 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03312-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) are a promising cell resource for cardiovascular research, these cells exhibit an immature phenotype that hampers their potential applications. The inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir2.1, encoded by the KCNJ2 gene, has been thought as an important target for promoting electrical maturation of iPSC-CMs. However, a comprehensive characterization of morphological and functional changes in iPSC-CMs overexpressing KCNJ2 (KCNJ2 OE) is still lacking. METHODS iPSC-CMs were generated using a 2D in vitro monolayer differentiation protocol. Human KCNJ2 construct with green fluorescent protein (GFP) tag was created and overexpressed in iPSC-CMs via lentiviral transduction. The mixture of iPSC-CMs and mesenchymal cells was cocultured with decellularized natural heart matrix for generation of 3D human engineered heart tissues (EHTs). RESULTS We showed that mRNA expression level of KCNJ2 in iPSC-CMs was dramatically lower than that in human left ventricular tissues. KCNJ2 OE iPSC-CMs yielded significantly increased protein expression of Kir2.1 and current density of Kir2.1-encoded IK1. The larger IK1 linked to a quiescent phenotype that required pacing to elicit action potentials in KCNJ2 OE iPSC-CMs, which can be reversed by IK1 blocker BaCl2. KCNJ2 OE also led to significantly hyperpolarized maximal diastolic potential (MDP), shortened action potential duration (APD) and increased maximal upstroke velocity. The enhanced electrophysiological maturation in KCNJ2 OE iPSC-CMs was accompanied by improvements in Ca2+ signaling, mitochondrial energy metabolism and transcriptomic profile. Notably, KCNJ2 OE iPSC-CMs exhibited enlarged cell size and more elongated and stretched shape, indicating a morphological phenotype toward structural maturation. Drug testing using hERG blocker E-4031 revealed that a more stable MDP in KCNJ2 OE iPSC-CMs allowed for obtaining significant drug response of APD prolongation in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, KCNJ2 OE iPSC-CMs formed more mature human EHTs with better tissue structure and cell junction. CONCLUSIONS Overexpression of KCNJ2 can robustly enhance maturation of iPSC-CMs in electrophysiology, Ca2+ signaling, metabolism, transcriptomic profile, cardiomyocyte structure and tissue engineering, thus providing more accurate cellular model for elucidating cellular and molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases, screening drug-induced cardiotoxicity, and developing personalized and precision cardiovascular medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjun Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, Zhejiang, China
| | - Baiping Cui
- Institute of Geriatrics (Shanghai University), Affiliated Nantong Hospital of Shanghai University (The Sixth People's Hospital of Nantong), School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Nantong, 226011, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Organ Repair, School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Xiaochen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongkun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junnan Zheng
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fengfeng Guo
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yaxun Sun
- Department of Cardiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310016, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hangping Fan
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiaxi Shen
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Su
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jue Wang
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haige Zhao
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiquan Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Tingyu Gong
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China.
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Ning Sun
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, 1800 Lihu Avenue, Wuxi, 214028, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Ping Liang
- Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China.
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310029, Zhejiang, China.
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Kermani F, Mosqueira M, Peters K, Lemma ED, Rapti K, Grimm D, Bastmeyer M, Laugsch M, Hecker M, Ullrich ND. Membrane remodelling triggers maturation of excitation-contraction coupling in 3D-shaped human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Basic Res Cardiol 2023; 118:13. [PMID: 36988697 PMCID: PMC10060306 DOI: 10.1007/s00395-023-00984-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
The prospective use of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) for cardiac regenerative medicine strongly depends on the electro-mechanical properties of these cells, especially regarding the Ca2+-dependent excitation-contraction (EC) coupling mechanism. Currently, the immature structural and functional features of hiPSC-CM limit the progression towards clinical applications. Here, we show that a specific microarchitecture is essential for functional maturation of hiPSC-CM. Structural remodelling towards a cuboid cell shape and induction of BIN1, a facilitator of membrane invaginations, lead to transverse (t)-tubule-like structures. This transformation brings two Ca2+ channels critical for EC coupling in close proximity, the L-type Ca2+ channel at the sarcolemma and the ryanodine receptor at the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Consequently, the Ca2+-dependent functional interaction of these channels becomes more efficient, leading to improved spatio-temporal synchronisation of Ca2+ transients and higher EC coupling gain. Thus, functional maturation of hiPSC-cardiomyocytes by optimised cell microarchitecture needs to be considered for future cardiac regenerative approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Kermani
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matias Mosqueira
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kyra Peters
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Enrico D Lemma
- Zoological Institute, Cell and Neurobiology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
- Department of Engineering, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Kleopatra Rapti
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Section Viral Vector Technologies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Section Viral Vector Technologies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Bastmeyer
- Zoological Institute, Cell and Neurobiology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Biological information processing (IBCS-BIP), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
- Research Bridge (Synthetic Biology), Heidelberg-Karlsruhe Research Partnership (HEiKA), Heidelberg University and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Magdalena Laugsch
- Institute of Human Genetics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Markus Hecker
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nina D Ullrich
- Department of Cardiovascular Physiology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Research Bridge (Synthetic Biology), Heidelberg-Karlsruhe Research Partnership (HEiKA), Heidelberg University and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Sesena-Rubfiaro A, Prajapati NJ, Paolino L, Lou L, Cotayo D, Pandey P, Shaver M, Hutcheson J, Agarwal A, He J. Membrane Remodeling of Human-Engineered Cardiac Tissue by Chronic Electric Stimulation. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:1644-1655. [PMID: 36765460 PMCID: PMC10542861 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c01370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) show immature features, but these are improved by integration into 3D cardiac constructs. In addition, it has been demonstrated that physical manipulations such as electrical stimulation (ES) are highly effective in improving the maturation of human-engineered cardiac tissue (hECT) derived from hiPSC-CMs. Here, we continuously applied an ES in capacitive coupling configuration, which is below the pacing threshold, to millimeter-sized hECTs for 1-2 weeks. Meanwhile, the structural and functional developments of the hECTs were monitored and measured using an array of assays. Of particular note, a nanoscale imaging technique, scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM), has been used to directly image membrane remodeling of CMs at different locations on the tissue surface. Periodic crest/valley patterns with a distance close to the sarcomere length appeared on the membrane of CMs near the edge of the tissue after ES, suggesting the enhanced transverse tubulation network. The SICM observation is also supported by the fluorescence images of the transverse tubulation network and α-actinin. Correspondingly, essential cardiac functions such as calcium handling and contraction force generation were improved. Our study provides evidence that chronic subthreshold ES can still improve the structural and functional developments of hECTs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Navin J. Prajapati
- Department of Physics, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Lia Paolino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Lihua Lou
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USA
| | - Daniel Cotayo
- Department of Physics, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Popular Pandey
- Department of Physics, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Mohammed Shaver
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Joshua Hutcheson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
- Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami FL 33199, USA
| | - Arvind Agarwal
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USA
| | - Jin He
- Department of Physics, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
- Biomolecular Science Institute, Florida International University, Miami FL 33199, USA
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Yong U, Kim D, Kim H, Hwang DG, Cho S, Nam H, Kim S, Kim T, Jeong U, Kim K, Chung WK, Yeo WH, Jang J. Biohybrid 3D Printing of a Tissue-Sensor Platform for Wireless, Real-Time, and Continuous Monitoring of Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2208983. [PMID: 36528341 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202208983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Drug-induced cardiotoxicity is regarded as a major hurdle in the early stages of drug development. Although there are various methods for preclinical cardiotoxicity tests, they cannot completely predict the cardiotoxic potential of a compound due to the lack of physiological relevance. Recently, 3D engineered heart tissue (EHT) has been used to investigate cardiac muscle functions as well as pharmacological effects by exhibiting physiological auxotonic contractions. However, there is still no adequate platform for continuous monitoring to test acute and chronic pharmacological effects in vitro. Here, a biohybrid 3D printing method for fabricating a tissue-sensor platform, composed of a bipillar-grafted strain gauge sensor and EHT, is first introduced. Two pillars are three-dimensionally printed as grafts onto a strain gauge-embedded substrate to promote the EHT contractility and guide the self-assembly of the EHTs along with the strain gauge. In addition, the integration of a wireless multi-channel electronic system allows for continuous monitoring of the EHT contractile force by the tissue-sensor platform and, ultimately, for the observation of the acute and chronic drug effects of cardiotoxicants. In summary, biohybrid 3D printing technology is expected to be a potential fabrication method to provide a next-generation tissue-sensor platform for an effective drug development process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uijung Yong
- Department of Convergence IT Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Donghwan Kim
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Hojoong Kim
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Dong Gyu Hwang
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungkeon Cho
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoryung Nam
- Department of Convergence IT Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37666, Republic of Korea
| | - Sejin Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Taeyeong Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Unyong Jeong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Keehoon Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Wan Kyun Chung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Woon-Hong Yeo
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Tech and Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
- IEN Center for Human-Centric Interfaces and Engineering, Institute for Electronics and Nanotechnology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Jinah Jang
- Department of Convergence IT Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, 37666, Republic of Korea
- School of Interdisciplinary Bioscience and Bioengineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37666, Republic of Korea
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, POSTECH, Pohang, 37673, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
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