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Morris TA, Eldeen S, Tran RDH, Grosberg A. A comprehensive review of computational and image analysis techniques for quantitative evaluation of striated muscle tissue architecture. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2022; 3:041302. [PMID: 36407035 PMCID: PMC9667907 DOI: 10.1063/5.0057434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Unbiased evaluation of morphology is crucial to understanding development, mechanics, and pathology of striated muscle tissues. Indeed, the ability of striated muscles to contract and the strength of their contraction is dependent on their tissue-, cellular-, and cytoskeletal-level organization. Accordingly, the study of striated muscles often requires imaging and assessing aspects of their architecture at multiple different spatial scales. While an expert may be able to qualitatively appraise tissues, it is imperative to have robust, repeatable tools to quantify striated myocyte morphology and behavior that can be used to compare across different labs and experiments. There has been a recent effort to define the criteria used by experts to evaluate striated myocyte architecture. In this review, we will describe metrics that have been developed to summarize distinct aspects of striated muscle architecture in multiple different tissues, imaged with various modalities. Additionally, we will provide an overview of metrics and image processing software that needs to be developed. Importantly to any lab working on striated muscle platforms, characterization of striated myocyte morphology using the image processing pipelines discussed in this review can be used to quantitatively evaluate striated muscle tissues and contribute to a robust understanding of the development and mechanics of striated muscles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Eldeen
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-2700, USA
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52
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Ahmed RE, Tokuyama T, Anzai T, Chanthra N, Uosaki H. Sarcomere maturation: function acquisition, molecular mechanism, and interplay with other organelles. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2022; 377:20210325. [PMID: 36189811 PMCID: PMC9527934 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
During postnatal cardiac development, cardiomyocytes mature and turn into adult ones. Hence, all cellular properties, including morphology, structure, physiology and metabolism, are changed. One of the most important aspects is the contractile apparatus, of which the minimum unit is known as a sarcomere. Sarcomere maturation is evident by enhanced sarcomere alignment, ultrastructural organization and myofibrillar isoform switching. Any maturation process failure may result in cardiomyopathy. Sarcomere function is intricately related to other organelles, and the growing evidence suggests reciprocal regulation of sarcomere and mitochondria on their maturation. Herein, we summarize the molecular mechanism that regulates sarcomere maturation and the interplay between sarcomere and other organelles in cardiomyocyte maturation. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The cardiomyocyte: new revelations on the interplay between architecture and function in growth, health, and disease’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razan E Ahmed
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Takeshi Tokuyama
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Anzai
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan.,Department of Pediatrics, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Nawin Chanthra
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Hideki Uosaki
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, 3311-1 Yakushiji, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
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53
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Cardiac fibroblasts and mechanosensation in heart development, health and disease. Nat Rev Cardiol 2022; 20:309-324. [PMID: 36376437 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-022-00799-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The term 'mechanosensation' describes the capacity of cells to translate mechanical stimuli into the coordinated regulation of intracellular signals, cellular function, gene expression and epigenetic programming. This capacity is related not only to the sensitivity of the cells to tissue motion, but also to the decryption of tissue geometric arrangement and mechanical properties. The cardiac stroma, composed of fibroblasts, has been historically considered a mechanically passive component of the heart. However, the latest research suggests that the mechanical functions of these cells are an active and necessary component of the developmental biology programme of the heart that is involved in myocardial growth and homeostasis, and a crucial determinant of cardiac repair and disease. In this Review, we discuss the general concept of cell mechanosensation and force generation as potent regulators in heart development and pathology, and describe the integration of mechanical and biohumoral pathways predisposing the heart to fibrosis and failure. Next, we address the use of 3D culture systems to integrate tissue mechanics to mimic cardiac remodelling. Finally, we highlight the potential of mechanotherapeutic strategies, including pharmacological treatment and device-mediated left ventricular unloading, to reverse remodelling in the failing heart.
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Pioner JM, Santini L, Palandri C, Langione M, Grandinetti B, Querceto S, Martella D, Mazzantini C, Scellini B, Giammarino L, Lupi F, Mazzarotto F, Gowran A, Rovina D, Santoro R, Pompilio G, Tesi C, Parmeggiani C, Regnier M, Cerbai E, Mack DL, Poggesi C, Ferrantini C, Coppini R. Calcium handling maturation and adaptation to increased substrate stiffness in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes: The impact of full-length dystrophin deficiency. Front Physiol 2022; 13:1030920. [PMID: 36419836 PMCID: PMC9676373 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1030920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes differentiated from human induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSC- CMs) are a unique source for modelling inherited cardiomyopathies. In particular, the possibility of observing maturation processes in a simple culture dish opens novel perspectives in the study of early-disease defects caused by genetic mutations before the onset of clinical manifestations. For instance, calcium handling abnormalities are considered as a leading cause of cardiomyocyte dysfunction in several genetic-based dilated cardiomyopathies, including rare types such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)-associated cardiomyopathy. To better define the maturation of calcium handling we simultaneously measured action potential and calcium transients (Ca-Ts) using fluorescent indicators at specific time points. We combined micropatterned substrates with long-term cultures to improve maturation of hiPSC-CMs (60, 75 or 90 days post-differentiation). Control-(hiPSC)-CMs displayed increased maturation over time (90 vs 60 days), with longer action potential duration (APD), increased Ca-T amplitude, faster Ca-T rise (time to peak) and Ca-T decay (RT50). The progressively increased contribution of the SR to Ca release (estimated by post-rest potentiation or Caffeine-induced Ca-Ts) appeared as the main determinant of the progressive rise of Ca-T amplitude during maturation. As an example of severe cardiomyopathy with early onset, we compared hiPSC-CMs generated from a DMD patient (DMD-ΔExon50) and a CRISPR-Cas9 genome edited cell line isogenic to the healthy control with deletion of a G base at position 263 of the DMD gene (c.263delG-CMs). In DMD-hiPSC-CMs, changes of Ca-Ts during maturation were less pronounced: indeed, DMD cells at 90 days showed reduced Ca-T amplitude and faster Ca-T rise and RT50, as compared with control hiPSC-CMs. Caffeine-Ca-T was reduced in amplitude and had a slower time course, suggesting lower SR calcium content and NCX function in DMD vs control cells. Nonetheless, the inotropic and lusitropic responses to forskolin were preserved. CRISPR-induced c.263delG-CM line recapitulated the same developmental calcium handling alterations observed in DMD-CMs. We then tested the effects of micropatterned substrates with higher stiffness. In control hiPSC-CMs, higher stiffness leads to higher amplitude of Ca-T with faster decay kinetics. In hiPSC-CMs lacking full-length dystrophin, however, stiffer substrates did not modify Ca-Ts but only led to higher SR Ca content. These findings highlighted the inability of dystrophin-deficient cardiomyocytes to adjust their calcium homeostasis in response to increases of extracellular matrix stiffness, which suggests a mechanism occurring during the physiological and pathological development (i.e. fibrosis).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lorenzo Santini
- Department of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Palandri
- Department of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marianna Langione
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Bruno Grandinetti
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Silvia Querceto
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Daniele Martella
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica (INRiM), Turin, Italy
| | | | - Beatrice Scellini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Flavia Lupi
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Mazzarotto
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aoife Gowran
- 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
| | - Rosaria Santoro
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Pompilio
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Tesi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Camilla Parmeggiani
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff”, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Michael Regnier
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | | | - David L. Mack
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Corrado Poggesi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Cecilia Ferrantini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Raffaele Coppini
- Department of Neurofarba, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Shi H, Wang C, Gao BZ, Henderson JH, Ma Z. Cooperation between myofibril growth and costamere maturation in human cardiomyocytes. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1049523. [PMID: 36394013 PMCID: PMC9663467 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1049523] [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: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Costameres, as striated muscle-specific cell adhesions, anchor both M-lines and Z-lines of the sarcomeres to the extracellular matrix. Previous studies have demonstrated that costameres intimately participate in the initial assembly of myofibrils. However, how costamere maturation cooperates with myofibril growth is still underexplored. In this work, we analyzed zyxin (costameres), α-actinin (Z-lines) and myomesin (M-lines) to track the behaviors of costameres and myofibrils within the cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CMs). We quantified the assembly and maturation of costameres associated with the process of myofibril growth within the hiPSC-CMs in a time-dependent manner. We found that asynchrony existed not only between the maturation of myofibrils and costameres, but also between the formation of Z-costameres and M-costameres that associated with different structural components of the sarcomeres. This study helps us gain more understanding of how costameres assemble and incorporate into the cardiomyocyte sarcomeres, which sheds a light on cardiomyocyte mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaiyu Shi
- Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States,BioInspired Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Chenyan Wang
- Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States,BioInspired Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Bruce Z. Gao
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, United States
| | - James H. Henderson
- Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States,BioInspired Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
| | - Zhen Ma
- Department of Biomedical & Chemical Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States,BioInspired Institute for Materials and Living Systems, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States,*Correspondence: Zhen Ma,
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Jimenez-Vazquez EN, Jain A, Jones DK. Enhancing iPSC-CM Maturation Using a Matrigel-Coated Micropatterned PDMS Substrate. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e601. [PMID: 36383047 PMCID: PMC9710304 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac myocytes isolated from adult heart tissue have a rod-like shape with highly organized intracellular structures. Cardiomyocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs), on the other hand, exhibit disorganized structure and contractile mechanics, reflecting their pronounced immaturity. These characteristics hamper research using iPSC-CMs. The protocol described here enhances iPSC-CM maturity and function by controlling the cellular shape and environment of the cultured cells. Microstructured silicone membranes function as a cell culture substrate that promotes cellular alignment. iPSC-CMs cultured on micropatterned membranes display an in-vivo-like rod-shaped morphology. This physiological cellular morphology along with the soft biocompatible silicone substrate, which has similar stiffness to the native cardiac matrix, promotes maturation of contractile function, calcium handling, and electrophysiology. Incorporating this technique for enhanced iPSC-CM maturation will help bridge the gap between animal models and clinical care, and ultimately improve personalized medicine for cardiovascular diseases. © 2022 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Cardiomyocyte differentiation of iPSCs Basic Protocol 2: Purification of differentiated iPSC-CMs using MACS negative selection Basic Protocol 3: Micropatterning on PDMS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abhilasha Jain
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School
| | - David K. Jones
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan Medical School
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School
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57
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Khanna A, Oropeza BP, Huang NF. Engineering Spatiotemporal Control in Vascularized Tissues. BIOENGINEERING (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:bioengineering9100555. [PMID: 36290523 PMCID: PMC9598830 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9100555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A major challenge in engineering scalable three-dimensional tissues is the generation of a functional and developed microvascular network for adequate perfusion of oxygen and growth factors. Current biological approaches to creating vascularized tissues include the use of vascular cells, soluble factors, and instructive biomaterials. Angiogenesis and the subsequent generation of a functional vascular bed within engineered tissues has gained attention and is actively being studied through combinations of physical and chemical signals, specifically through the presentation of topographical growth factor signals. The spatiotemporal control of angiogenic signals can generate vascular networks in large and dense engineered tissues. This review highlights the developments and studies in the spatiotemporal control of these biological approaches through the coordinated orchestration of angiogenic factors, differentiation of vascular cells, and microfabrication of complex vascular networks. Fabrication strategies to achieve spatiotemporal control of vascularization involves the incorporation or encapsulation of growth factors, topographical engineering approaches, and 3D bioprinting techniques. In this article, we highlight the vascularization of engineered tissues, with a focus on vascularized cardiac patches that are clinically scalable for myocardial repair. Finally, we discuss the present challenges for successful clinical translation of engineered tissues and biomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Beu P. Oropeza
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Center for Tissue Regeneration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Ngan F. Huang
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Center for Tissue Regeneration, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Correspondence:
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58
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Lou L, Paul T, Aguiar BA, Dolmetsch T, Zhang C, Agarwal A. Direct Observation of Adhesion and Mechanical Behavior of a Single Poly(lactic- co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) Fiber Using an In Situ Technique for Tissue Engineering. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:42876-42886. [PMID: 36107749 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c09665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nanometer- and submicrometer-sized fiber have been used as scaffolds for tissue engineering, because of their fundamental load-bearing properties in synergy with mechano-transduction. This study investigates a single biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) fiber's load-displacement behavior utilizing the nanoindentation technique coupled with a high-resolution in situ imaging system. It is demonstrated that a maximum force of ∼3 μN in the radial direction and displacement of at least 150% of fiber diameter should be applied to acquire the fiber's macroscopic mechanical properties for tissue engineering. The adhesion behavior of a single fiber is captured using a high-resolution camera. The digital image correlation (DIC) technique is adopted to quantify the adhesion force (∼25 μN) between the fiber and the tip. Adhesion force has also been quantified for the fiber after immersing in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) to mimic the bioenvironment. A 4-fold increase in adhesion force after PBS treatment was observed due to water penetration and hydrolysis on the fiber's surface. A high similarity between mechanical properties of a single fiber and native tissues (elastic modulus of 10-25 kPa) and superior adhesion force (25-107.25 μN) was observed, which is excellent for promoting cell-matrix communication. Overall, this study examines the mechanics of a single fiber using innovative indentation and imaging processing techniques, disclosing its profound and striking roles in tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Lou
- Plasma Forming Laboratory, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33174, United States
| | - Tanaji Paul
- Plasma Forming Laboratory, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33174, United States
| | - Brandon A Aguiar
- Plasma Forming Laboratory, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33174, United States
| | - Tyler Dolmetsch
- Plasma Forming Laboratory, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33174, United States
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Plasma Forming Laboratory, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33174, United States
| | - Arvind Agarwal
- Plasma Forming Laboratory, Mechanical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering and Computing, Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33174, United States
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59
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Kawana M, Spudich JA, Ruppel KM. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Mutations to mechanisms to therapies. Front Physiol 2022; 13:975076. [PMID: 36225299 PMCID: PMC9548533 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.975076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) affects more than 1 in 500 people in the general population with an extensive burden of morbidity in the form of arrhythmia, heart failure, and sudden death. More than 25 years since the discovery of the genetic underpinnings of HCM, the field has unveiled significant insights into the primary effects of these genetic mutations, especially for the myosin heavy chain gene, which is one of the most commonly mutated genes. Our group has studied the molecular effects of HCM mutations on human β-cardiac myosin heavy chain using state-of-the-art biochemical and biophysical tools for the past 10 years, combining insights from clinical genetics and structural analyses of cardiac myosin. The overarching hypothesis is that HCM-causing mutations in sarcomere proteins cause hypercontractility at the sarcomere level, and we have shown that an increase in the number of myosin molecules available for interaction with actin is a primary driver. Recently, two pharmaceutical companies have developed small molecule inhibitors of human cardiac myosin to counteract the molecular consequences of HCM pathogenesis. One of these inhibitors (mavacamten) has recently been approved by the FDA after completing a successful phase III trial in HCM patients, and the other (aficamten) is currently being evaluated in a phase III trial. Myosin inhibitors will be the first class of medication used to treat HCM that has both robust clinical trial evidence of efficacy and that targets the fundamental mechanism of HCM pathogenesis. The success of myosin inhibitors in HCM opens the door to finding other new drugs that target the sarcomere directly, as we learn more about the genetics and fundamental mechanisms of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masataka Kawana
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - James A. Spudich
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Kathleen M. Ruppel
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Kathleen M. Ruppel,
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60
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Leowattana W, Leowattana T, Leowattana P. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-atrial-specific cardiomyocytes and atrial fibrillation. World J Clin Cases 2022; 10:9588-9601. [PMID: 36186184 PMCID: PMC9516943 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i27.9588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Patient-specific human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-aCMs) may be produced, genome-edited, and differentiated into multiple cell types for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, drug testing, toxicity screening, and three-dimensional tissue fabrication. There is presently no complete model of atrial fibrillation (AF) available for studying human pharmacological responses and evaluating the toxicity of potential medication candidates. It has been demonstrated that hiPSC-aCMs can replicate the electrophysiological disease phenotype and genotype of AF. The hiPSC-aCMs, however, are immature and do not reflect the maturity of aCMs in the native myocardium. Numerous laboratories utilize a variety of methodologies and procedures to improve and promote aCM maturation, including electrical stimulation, culture duration, biophysical signals, and changes in metabolic variables. This review covers the current methods being explored for use in the maturation of patient-specific hiPSC-aCMs and their application towards a personalized approach to the pharmacologic therapy of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wattana Leowattana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Tawithep Leowattana
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
| | - Pathomthep Leowattana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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61
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Challenges and opportunities for the next generation of cardiovascular tissue engineering. Nat Methods 2022; 19:1064-1071. [PMID: 36064773 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-022-01591-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Engineered cardiac tissues derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells offer unique opportunities for patient-specific disease modeling, drug discovery and cardiac repair. Since the first engineered hearts were introduced over two decades ago, human induced pluripotent stem cell-based three-dimensional cardiac organoids and heart-on-a-chip systems have now become mainstays in basic cardiovascular research as valuable platforms for investigating fundamental human pathophysiology and development. However, major obstacles remain to be addressed before the field can truly advance toward commercial and clinical translation. Here we provide a snapshot of the state-of-the-art methods in cardiac tissue engineering, with a focus on in vitro models of the human heart. Looking ahead, we discuss major challenges and opportunities in the field and suggest strategies for enabling broad acceptance of engineered cardiac tissues as models of cardiac pathophysiology and testbeds for the development of therapies.
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62
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Lyra-Leite DM, Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez Ó, Wang M, Zhou Y, Cyganek L, Burridge PW. A review of protocols for human iPSC culture, cardiac differentiation, subtype-specification, maturation, and direct reprogramming. STAR Protoc 2022; 3:101560. [PMID: 36035804 PMCID: PMC9405110 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The methods for the culture and cardiomyocyte differentiation of human embryonic stem cells, and later human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC), have moved from a complex and uncontrolled systems to simplified and relatively robust protocols, using the knowledge and cues gathered at each step. HiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes have proven to be a useful tool in human disease modelling, drug discovery, developmental biology, and regenerative medicine. In this protocol review, we will highlight the evolution of protocols associated with hPSC culture, cardiomyocyte differentiation, sub-type specification, and cardiomyocyte maturation. We also discuss protocols for somatic cell direct reprogramming to cardiomyocyte-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davi M Lyra-Leite
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Óscar Gutiérrez-Gutiérrez
- Stem Cell Unit, Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Meimei Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Lukas Cyganek
- Stem Cell Unit, Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Paul W Burridge
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Center for Pharmacogenomics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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63
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Gao H, Yang F, Sattari K, Du X, Fu T, Fu S, Liu X, Lin J, Sun Y, Yao J. Bioinspired two-in-one nanotransistor sensor for the simultaneous measurements of electrical and mechanical cellular responses. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabn2485. [PMID: 36001656 PMCID: PMC9401615 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abn2485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The excitation-contraction dynamics in cardiac tissue are the most important physiological parameters for assessing developmental state. We demonstrate integrated nanoelectronic sensors capable of simultaneously probing electrical and mechanical cellular responses. The sensor is configured from a three-dimensional nanotransistor with its conduction channel protruding out of the plane. The structure promotes not only a tight seal with the cell for detecting action potential via field effect but also a close mechanical coupling for detecting cellular force via piezoresistive effect. Arrays of nanotransistors are integrated to realize label-free, submillisecond, and scalable interrogation of correlated cell dynamics, showing advantages in tracking and differentiating cell states in drug studies. The sensor can further decode vector information in cellular motion beyond typical scalar information acquired at the tissue level, hence offering an improved tool for cell mechanics studies. The sensor enables not only improved bioelectronic detections but also reduced invasiveness through the two-in-one converging integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Gao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Feiyu Yang
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Kianoosh Sattari
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Xian Du
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Tianda Fu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Shuai Fu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Xiaomeng Liu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Jian Lin
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Yubing Sun
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Jun Yao
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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Dickerson DA. Advancing Engineered Heart Muscle Tissue Complexity with Hydrogel Composites. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2022; 7:e2200067. [PMID: 35999488 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202200067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
A heart attack results in the permanent loss of heart muscle and can lead to heart disease, which kills more than 7 million people worldwide each year. To date, outside of heart transplantation, current clinical treatments cannot regenerate lost heart muscle or restore full function to the damaged heart. There is a critical need to create engineered heart tissues with structural complexity and functional capacity needed to replace damaged heart muscle. The inextricable link between structure and function suggests that hydrogel composites hold tremendous promise as a biomaterial-guided strategy to advance heart muscle tissue engineering. Such composites provide biophysical cues and functionality as a provisional extracellular matrix that hydrogels cannot on their own. This review describes the latest advances in the characterization of these biomaterial systems and using them for heart muscle tissue engineering. The review integrates results across the field to provide new insights on critical features within hydrogel composites and perspectives on the next steps to harnessing these promising biomaterials to faithfully reproduce the complex structure and function of native heart muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darryl A. Dickerson
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Florida International University 10555 West Flagler St Miami FL 33174 USA
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Reilly L, Munawar S, Zhang J, Crone WC, Eckhardt LL. Challenges and innovation: Disease modeling using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:966094. [PMID: 36035948 PMCID: PMC9411865 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.966094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease modeling using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) has both challenges and promise. While patient-derived iPSC-CMs provide a unique opportunity for disease modeling with isogenic cells, the challenge is that these cells still demonstrate distinct properties which make it functionally less akin to adult cardiomyocytes. In response to this challenge, numerous innovations in differentiation and modification of hiPSC-CMs and culture techniques have been developed. Here, we provide a focused commentary on hiPSC-CMs for use in disease modeling, the progress made in generating electrically and metabolically mature hiPSC-CMs and enabling investigative platforms. The solutions are bringing us closer to the promise of modeling heart disease using human cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Reilly
- Cellular and Molecular Arrhythmia Research Program, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Saba Munawar
- Cellular and Molecular Arrhythmia Research Program, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Cellular and Molecular Arrhythmia Research Program, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Wendy C. Crone
- Department of Engineering Physics, College of Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Lee L. Eckhardt
- Cellular and Molecular Arrhythmia Research Program, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States,*Correspondence: Lee L. Eckhardt
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Strimaityte D, Tu C, Yanez A, Itzhaki I, Wu H, Wu JC, Yang H. Contractility and Calcium Transient Maturation in the Human iPSC-Derived Cardiac Microfibers. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:35376-35388. [PMID: 35901275 PMCID: PMC9780031 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c07326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are considered immature in the sarcomere organization, contractile machinery, calcium transient, and transcriptome profile, which prevent them from further applications in modeling and studying cardiac development and disease. To improve the maturity of hiPSC-CMs, here, we engineered the hiPSC-CMs into cardiac microfibers (iCMFs) by a stencil-based micropatterning method, which enables the hiPSC-CMs to be aligned in an end-to-end connection for prolonged culture on the hydrogel of physiological stiffness. A series of characterization approaches were performed to evaluate the maturation in iCMFs on both structural and functional levels, including immunohistochemistry, calcium transient, reverse-transcription quantitative PCR, cardiac contractility, and electrical pacing analysis. Our results demonstrate an improved cardiac maturation of hiPSC-CMs in iCMFs compared to micropatterned or random single hiPSC-CMs and hiPSC-CMs in a random cluster at the same cell number of iCMFs. We found an increased sarcomere length, better regularity and alignment of sarcomeres, enhanced contractility, matured calcium transient, and T-tubule formation and improved adherens junction and gap junction formation. The hiPSC-CMs in iCMFs showed a robust calcium cycling in response to the programmed and continuous electrical pacing from 0.5 to 7 Hz. Moreover, we generated the iCMFs with hiPSC-CMs with mutations in myosin-binding protein C (MYBPC3) to have a proof-of-concept of iCMFs in modeling cardiac hypertrophic phenotype. These findings suggest that the multipatterned iCMF connection of hiPSC-CMs boosts the cardiac maturation structurally and functionally, which will reveal the full potential of the application of hiPSC-CM models in disease modeling of cardiomyopathy and cardiac regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dovile Strimaityte
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76207, USA
| | - Chengyi Tu
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Apuleyo Yanez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76207, USA
| | - Ilanit Itzhaki
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Haodi Wu
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Joseph C. Wu
- Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Huaxiao Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76207, USA
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Jimenez-Vazquez EN, Arad M, Macías Á, Vera-Pedrosa ML, Cruz FM, Gutierrez LK, Cuttitta AJ, Monteiro da Rocha A, Herron TJ, Ponce-Balbuena D, Guerrero-Serna G, Binah O, Michele DE, Jalife J. SNTA1 gene rescues ion channel function and is antiarrhythmic in cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells from muscular dystrophy patients. eLife 2022; 11:e76576. [PMID: 35762211 PMCID: PMC9239678 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Patients with cardiomyopathy of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) are at risk of developing life-threatening arrhythmias, but the mechanisms are unknown. We aimed to determine the role of ion channels controlling cardiac excitability in the mechanisms of arrhythmias in DMD patients. Methods To test whether dystrophin mutations lead to defective cardiac NaV1.5-Kir2.1 channelosomes and arrhythmias, we generated iPSC-CMs from two hemizygous DMD males, a heterozygous female, and two unrelated control males. We conducted studies including confocal microscopy, protein expression analysis, patch-clamping, non-viral piggy-bac gene expression, optical mapping and contractility assays. Results Two patients had abnormal ECGs with frequent runs of ventricular tachycardia. iPSC-CMs from all DMD patients showed abnormal action potential profiles, slowed conduction velocities, and reduced sodium (INa) and inward rectifier potassium (IK1) currents. Membrane NaV1.5 and Kir2.1 protein levels were reduced in hemizygous DMD iPSC-CMs but not in heterozygous iPSC-CMs. Remarkably, transfecting just one component of the dystrophin protein complex (α1-syntrophin) in hemizygous iPSC-CMs from one patient restored channelosome function, INa and IK1 densities, and action potential profile in single cells. In addition, α1-syntrophin expression restored impulse conduction and contractility and prevented reentrant arrhythmias in hiPSC-CM monolayers. Conclusions We provide the first demonstration that iPSC-CMs reprogrammed from skin fibroblasts of DMD patients with cardiomyopathy have a dysfunction of the NaV1.5-Kir2.1 channelosome, with consequent reduction of cardiac excitability and conduction. Altogether, iPSC-CMs from patients with DMD cardiomyopathy have a NaV1.5-Kir2.1 channelosome dysfunction, which can be rescued by the scaffolding protein α1-syntrophin to restore excitability and prevent arrhythmias. Funding Supported by National Institutes of Health R01 HL122352 grant; 'la Caixa' Banking Foundation (HR18-00304); Fundación La Marató TV3: Ayudas a la investigación en enfermedades raras 2020 (LA MARATO-2020); Instituto de Salud Carlos III/FEDER/FSE; Horizon 2020 - Research and Innovation Framework Programme GA-965286 to JJ; the CNIC is supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN) and the Pro CNIC Foundation), and is a Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence (grant CEX2020-001041-S funded by MICIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033). American Heart Association postdoctoral fellowship 19POST34380706s to JVEN. Israel Science Foundation to OB and MA [824/19]. Rappaport grant [01012020RI]; and Niedersachsen Foundation [ZN3452] to OB; US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) to OB and TH [2019039]; Dr. Bernard Lublin Donation to OB; and The Duchenne Parent Project Netherlands (DPPNL 2029771) to OB. National Institutes of Health R01 AR068428 to DM and US-Israel Binational Science Foundation Grant [2013032] to DM and OB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric N Jimenez-Vazquez
- Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Center for Arrhythmia Research, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Michael Arad
- Leviev Heart Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, and Tel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Álvaro Macías
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV)MadridSpain
| | - Maria L Vera-Pedrosa
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV)MadridSpain
| | - Francisco Miguel Cruz
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV)MadridSpain
| | - Lilian K Gutierrez
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV)MadridSpain
| | - Ashley J Cuttitta
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
| | - André Monteiro da Rocha
- Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Center for Arrhythmia Research, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Todd J Herron
- Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Center for Arrhythmia Research, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Daniela Ponce-Balbuena
- Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Center for Arrhythmia Research, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Guadalupe Guerrero-Serna
- Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Center for Arrhythmia Research, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Ofer Binah
- Department of Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - Israel Institute of TechnologyHaifaIsrael
| | - Daniel E Michele
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
| | - José Jalife
- Department of Internal Medicine and Molecular and Integrative Physiology, Center for Arrhythmia Research, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) Carlos III, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV)MadridSpain
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical SchoolAnn ArborUnited States
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Exploring the Potential of Symmetric Exon Deletion to Treat Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy by Removing Frameshift Mutations in TTN. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13061093. [PMID: 35741855 PMCID: PMC9222585 DOI: 10.3390/genes13061093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the most frequent pathologies requiring cardiac transplants. Even though the etiology of this disease is complex, frameshift mutations in the giant sarcomeric protein Titin could explain up to 25% of the familial and 18% of the sporadic cases of DCM. Many studies have shown the potential of genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 to correct truncating mutations in sarcomeric proteins and have established the grounds for myoediting. However, these therapies are still in an immature state, with only few studies showing an efficient treatment of cardiac diseases. This publication hypothesizes that the Titin (TTN)-specific gene structure allows the application of myoediting approaches in a broad range of locations to reframe TTNtvvariants and to treat DCM patients. Additionally, to pave the way for the generation of efficient myoediting approaches for DCM, we screened and selected promising target locations in TTN. We conceptually explored the deletion of symmetric exons as a therapeutic approach to restore TTN’s reading frame in cases of frameshift mutations. We identified a set of 94 potential candidate exons of TTN that we consider particularly suitable for this therapeutic deletion. With this study, we aim to contribute to the development of new therapies to efficiently treat titinopathies and other diseases caused by mutations in genes encoding proteins with modular structures, e.g., Obscurin.
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Li J, Feng X, Wei X. Modeling hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:232. [PMID: 35659761 PMCID: PMC9166443 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02905-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the obstacles in studying the pathogenesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the poor availability of myocardial tissue samples at the early stages of disease development. This has been addressed by the advent of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which allow us to differentiate patient-derived iPSCs into cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) in vitro. In this review, we summarize different approaches to establishing iPSC models and the application of genome editing techniques in iPSC. Because iPSC-CMs cultured at the present stage are immature in structure and function, researchers have attempted several methods to mature iPSC-CMs, such as prolonged culture duration, and mechanical and electrical stimulation. Currently, many researchers have established iPSC-CM models of HCM and employed diverse methods for performing measurements of cellular morphology, contractility, electrophysiological property, calcium handling, mitochondrial function, and metabolism. Here, we review published results in humans to date within the growing field of iPSC-CM models of HCM. Although there is no unified consensus, preliminary results suggest that this approach to modeling disease would provide important insights into our understanding of HCM pathogenesis and facilitate drug development and safety testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangtao Li
- Division of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xin Feng
- Division of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Xiang Wei
- Division of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education; NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No. 1095 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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Gomes MR, Castelo Ferreira F, Sanjuan-Alberte P. Electrospun piezoelectric scaffolds for cardiac tissue engineering. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 137:212808. [PMID: 35929248 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.212808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The use of smart materials in tissue engineering is becoming increasingly appealing to provide additional functionalities and control over cell fate. The stages of tissue development and regeneration often require various electrical and electromechanical cues supported by the extracellular matrix, which is often neglected in most tissue engineering approaches. Particularly, in cardiac cells, electrical signals modulate cell activity and are responsible for the maintenance of the excitation-contraction coupling. Addition of electroconductive and topographical cues improves the biomimicry of cardiac tissues and plays an important role in driving cells towards the desired phenotype. Current platforms used to apply electrical stimulation to cells in vitro often require large external equipment and wires and electrodes immersed in the culture media, limiting the scalability and applicability of this process. Piezoelectric materials represent a shift in paradigm in materials and methods aimed at providing electrical stimulation to cardiac cells since they can produce and deliver electrical signals to cells and tissues by mechanoelectrical transduction. Despite the ability of piezoelectric materials to mimic the mechanoelectrical transduction of the heart, the use of these materials is limited in cardiac tissue engineering and methods to characterise piezoelectricity are often built in-house, which poses an additional difficulty when comparing results from the literature. In this work, we aim at providing an overview of the main challenges in cardiac tissue engineering and how piezoelectric materials could offer a solution to them. A revision on the existing literature in electrospun piezoelectric materials applied to cardiac tissue engineering is performed for the first time, as electrospinning plays an important role in the manufacturing of scaffolds with enhanced piezoelectricity and extracellular matrix native-like morphology. Finally, an overview of the current techniques used to evaluate piezoelectricity and their limitations is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Ramalho Gomes
- Department of Bioengineering and Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Frederico Castelo Ferreira
- Department of Bioengineering and Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Paola Sanjuan-Alberte
- Department of Bioengineering and Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal.
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Querceto S, Santoro R, Gowran A, Grandinetti B, Pompilio G, Regnier M, Tesi C, Poggesi C, Ferrantini C, Pioner JM. The harder the climb the better the view: The impact of substrate stiffness on cardiomyocyte fate. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2022; 166:36-49. [PMID: 35139328 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The quest for novel methods to mature human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) for cardiac regeneration, modelling and drug testing has emphasized a need to create microenvironments with physiological features. Many studies have reported on how cardiomyocytes sense substrate stiffness and adapt their morphological and functional properties. However, these observations have raised new biological questions and a shared vision to translate it into a tissue or organ context is still elusive. In this review, we will focus on the relevance of substrates mimicking cardiac extracellular matrix (cECM) rigidity for the understanding of the biomechanical crosstalk between the extracellular and intracellular environment. The ability to opportunely modulate these pathways could be a key to regulate in vitro hiPSC-CM maturation. Therefore, both hiPSC-CM models and substrate stiffness appear as intriguing tools for the investigation of cECM-cell interactions. More understanding of these mechanisms may provide novel insights on how cECM affects cardiac cell function in the context of genetic cardiomyopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Querceto
- Division of Physiology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Rosaria Santoro
- Unità di Biologia Vascolare e Medicina Rigenerativa, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, via Carlo Parea 4, Milan, Italy; Department of Electronics, Information and Biomedical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Aoife Gowran
- Unità di Biologia Vascolare e Medicina Rigenerativa, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, via Carlo Parea 4, Milan, Italy
| | - Bruno Grandinetti
- European Laboratory for Non-Linear Spectroscopy (LENS), Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
| | - Giulio Pompilio
- Unità di Biologia Vascolare e Medicina Rigenerativa, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, via Carlo Parea 4, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Michael Regnier
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Chiara Tesi
- Division of Physiology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Corrado Poggesi
- Division of Physiology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Cecilia Ferrantini
- Division of Physiology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy
| | - Josè Manuel Pioner
- Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy.
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Arslan U, Moruzzi A, Nowacka J, Mummery C, Eckardt D, Loskill P, Orlova V. Microphysiological stem cell models of the human heart. Mater Today Bio 2022; 14:100259. [PMID: 35514437 PMCID: PMC9062349 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Models of heart disease and drug responses are increasingly based on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) since their ability to capture human heart (dys-)function is often better than animal models. Simple monolayer cultures of hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, however, have shortcomings. Some of these can be overcome using more complex, multi cell-type models in 3D. Here we review modalities that address this, describe efforts to tailor readouts and sensors for monitoring tissue- and cell physiology (exogenously and in situ) and discuss perspectives for implementation in industry and academia.
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Chirikian O, Feinstein S, Faynus MA, Kim AA, Lane K, Torres G, Pham J, Singh Z, Nguyen A, Thomas D, Clegg DO, Wu JC, Pruitt BL. The effects of xeno-free cryopreservation on the contractile properties of human iPSC derived cardiomyocytes. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2022; 168:107-114. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Tani H, Tohyama S. Human Engineered Heart Tissue Models for Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:855763. [PMID: 35433691 PMCID: PMC9008275 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.855763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and efficient differentiation of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) induced from diseased donors have the potential to recapitulate the molecular and functional features of the human heart. Although the immaturity of hiPSC-CMs, including the structure, gene expression, conduct, ion channel density, and Ca2+ kinetics, is a major challenge, various attempts to promote maturation have been effective. Three-dimensional cardiac models using hiPSC-CMs have achieved these functional and morphological maturations, and disease models using patient-specific hiPSC-CMs have furthered our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and effective therapies for diseases. Aside from the mechanisms of diseases and drug responses, hiPSC-CMs also have the potential to evaluate the safety and efficacy of drugs in a human context before a candidate drug enters the market and many phases of clinical trials. In fact, novel drug testing paradigms have suggested that these cells can be used to better predict the proarrhythmic risk of candidate drugs. In this review, we overview the current strategies of human engineered heart tissue models with a focus on major cardiac diseases and discuss perspectives and future directions for the real application of hiPSC-CMs and human engineered heart tissue for disease modeling, drug development, clinical trials, and cardiotoxicity tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Tani
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shugo Tohyama
- Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Shugo Tohyama,
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75
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Murata K, Masumoto H. Systems for the functional evaluation of human heart tissues derived from pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cells 2022; 40:537-545. [PMID: 35303744 PMCID: PMC9216506 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxac022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are expected to be a promising cell source in regenerative medicine and drug discovery for the treatment of various intractable diseases. An approach for creating a three-dimensional (3D) structure from hPSCs that mimics human cardiac tissue functions has made it theoretically possible to conduct drug discovery and cardiotoxicity tests by assessing pharmacological responses in human cardiac tissues by a screening system using a compound library. The myocardium functions as a tissue composed of organized vascular networks, supporting stromal cells and cardiac muscle cells. Considering this, the reconstruction of tissue structure by various cells of cardiovascular lineages, such as vascular cells and cardiac muscle cells, is desirable for the ideal conformation of hPSC-derived cardiac tissues. Heart-on-a-chip, an organ-on-a-chip system to evaluate the physiological pump function of 3D cardiac tissues might hold promise in medical researches such as drug discovery and regenerative medicine. Here, we review various modalities to evaluate the function of human stem cell-derived cardiac tissues and introduce heart-on-a-chip systems that can recapitulate physiological parameters of hPSC-derived cardiac tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kozue Murata
- Clinical Translational Research Program, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan.,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.,Institute for Advancement of Clinical and Translational Science, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Masumoto
- Clinical Translational Research Program, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan.,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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76
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Birnbaum F, Eguchi A, Pardon G, Chang ACY, Blau HM. Tamoxifen treatment ameliorates contractile dysfunction of Duchenne muscular dystrophy stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes on bioengineered substrates. NPJ Regen Med 2022; 7:19. [PMID: 35304486 PMCID: PMC8933505 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-022-00214-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive genetic myopathy that leads to heart failure from dilated cardiomyopathy by early adulthood. Recent evidence suggests that tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator widely used to treat breast cancer, ameliorates DMD cardiomyopathy. However, the mechanism of action of 4-hydroxytamoxifen, the active metabolite of tamoxifen, on cardiomyocyte function remains unclear. To examine the effects of chronic 4-hydroxytamoxifen treatment, we used state-of-the-art human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) and a bioengineered platform to model DMD. We assessed the beating rate and beating velocity of iPSC-CMs in monolayers and as single cells on micropatterns that promote a physiological cardiomyocyte morphology. We found that 4-hydroxytamoxifen treatment of DMD iPSC-CMs decreased beating rate, increased beating velocity, and ameliorated calcium-handling deficits, leading to prolonged viability. Our study highlights the utility of a bioengineered iPSC-CM platform for drug testing and underscores the potential of repurposing tamoxifen as a therapy for DMD cardiomyopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foster Birnbaum
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Asuka Eguchi
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Gaspard Pardon
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, 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 University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Department of Cardiology and Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Helen M Blau
- Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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77
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Dou W, Malhi M, Zhao Q, Wang L, Huang Z, Law J, Liu N, Simmons CA, Maynes JT, Sun Y. Microengineered platforms for characterizing the contractile function of in vitro cardiac models. MICROSYSTEMS & NANOENGINEERING 2022; 8:26. [PMID: 35299653 PMCID: PMC8882466 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-021-00344-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Emerging heart-on-a-chip platforms are promising approaches to establish cardiac cell/tissue models in vitro for research on cardiac physiology, disease modeling and drug cardiotoxicity as well as for therapeutic discovery. Challenges still exist in obtaining the complete capability of in situ sensing to fully evaluate the complex functional properties of cardiac cell/tissue models. Changes to contractile strength (contractility) and beating regularity (rhythm) are particularly important to generate accurate, predictive models. Developing new platforms and technologies to assess the contractile functions of in vitro cardiac models is essential to provide information on cell/tissue physiologies, drug-induced inotropic responses, and the mechanisms of cardiac diseases. In this review, we discuss recent advances in biosensing platforms for the measurement of contractile functions of in vitro cardiac models, including single cardiomyocytes, 2D monolayers of cardiomyocytes, and 3D cardiac tissues. The characteristics and performance of current platforms are reviewed in terms of sensing principles, measured parameters, performance, cell sources, cell/tissue model configurations, advantages, and limitations. In addition, we highlight applications of these platforms and relevant discoveries in fundamental investigations, drug testing, and disease modeling. Furthermore, challenges and future outlooks of heart-on-a-chip platforms for in vitro measurement of cardiac functional properties are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenkun Dou
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 Canada
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8 Canada
| | - Manpreet Malhi
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
| | - Qili Zhao
- Institute of Robotics and Automatic Information System and the Tianjin Key Laboratory of Intelligent Robotics, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350 China
| | - Li Wang
- School of Mechanical & Automotive Engineering, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250353 China
| | - Zongjie Huang
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 Canada
| | - Junhui Law
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 Canada
| | - Na Liu
- School of Mechatronics Engineering and Automation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444 China
| | - Craig A. Simmons
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9 Canada
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada
| | - Jason T. Maynes
- Program in Molecular Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada
- Department of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8 Canada
| | - Yu Sun
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8 Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9 Canada
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G4 Canada
- Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3A1 Canada
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78
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Rothermel TM, Cook BL, Alford PW. Cellular Microbiaxial Stretching Assay for Measurement and Characterization of the Anisotropic Mechanical Properties of Micropatterned Cells. Curr Protoc 2022; 2:e370. [PMID: 35195953 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Characterizing the mechanical properties of single cells is important for developing descriptive models of tissue mechanics and improving the understanding of mechanically driven cell processes. Standard methods for measuring single-cell mechanical properties typically provide isotropic mechanical descriptions. However, many cells exhibit specialized geometries in vivo, with anisotropic cytoskeletal architectures reflective of their function, and are exposed to dynamic multiaxial loads, raising the need for more complete descriptions of their anisotropic mechanical properties under complex deformations. Here, we describe the cellular microbiaxial stretching (CμBS) assay in which controlled deformations are applied to micropatterned cells while simultaneously measuring cell stress. CμBS utilizes a set of linear actuators to apply tensile or compressive, short- or long-term deformations to cells micropatterned on a fluorescent bead-doped polyacrylamide gel. Using traction force microscopy principles and the known geometry of the cell and the mechanical properties of the underlying gel, we calculate the stress within the cell to formulate stress-strain curves that can be further used to create mechanical descriptions of the cells, such as strain energy density functions. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Assembly of CμBS stretching constructs Basic Protocol 2: Polymerization of micropatterned, bead-doped polyacrylamide gel on an elastomer membrane Support Protocol: Cell culture and seeding onto CμBS constructs Basic Protocol 3: Implementing CμBS stretching protocols and traction force microscopy Basic Protocol 4: Data analysis and cell stress measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor M Rothermel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Bernard L Cook
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Patrick W Alford
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
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79
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Floy ME, Shabnam F, Simmons AD, Bhute VJ, Jin G, Friedrich WA, Steinberg AB, Palecek SP. Advances in Manufacturing Cardiomyocytes from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2022; 13:255-278. [PMID: 35320695 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-092120-033922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) technology over the past two decades has provided a source of normal and diseased human cells for a wide variety of in vitro and in vivo applications. Notably, hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) are widely used to model human heart development and disease and are in clinical trials for treating heart disease. The success of hPSC-CMs in these applications requires robust, scalable approaches to manufacture large numbers of safe and potent cells. Although significant advances have been made over the past decade in improving the purity and yield of hPSC-CMs and scaling the differentiation process from 2D to 3D, efforts to induce maturation phenotypes during manufacturing have been slow. Process monitoring and closed-loop manufacturing strategies are just being developed. We discuss recent advances in hPSC-CM manufacturing, including differentiation process development and scaling and downstream processes as well as separation and stabilization. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Volume 13 is October 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha E Floy
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; , , , , ,
| | - Fathima Shabnam
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; , , , , ,
| | - Aaron D Simmons
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; , , , , ,
| | - Vijesh J Bhute
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; , .,Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Gyuhyung Jin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA;
| | - Will A Friedrich
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; , , , , ,
| | - Alexandra B Steinberg
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; , , , , ,
| | - Sean P Palecek
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA; , , , , ,
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80
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Monitoring the maturation of the sarcomere network: a super-resolution microscopy-based approach. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:149. [PMID: 35199227 PMCID: PMC8866374 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04196-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The in vitro generation of human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) is of great importance for cardiac disease modeling, drug-testing applications and for regenerative medicine. Despite the development of various cultivation strategies, a sufficiently high degree of maturation is still a decisive limiting factor for the successful application of these cardiac cells. The maturation process includes, among others, the proper formation of sarcomere structures, mediating the contraction of cardiomyocytes. To precisely monitor the maturation of the contractile machinery, we have established an imaging-based strategy that allows quantitative evaluation of important parameters, defining the quality of the sarcomere network. iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes were subjected to different culture conditions to improve sarcomere formation, including prolonged cultivation time and micro patterned surfaces. Fluorescent images of α-actinin were acquired using super-resolution microscopy. Subsequently, we determined cell morphology, sarcomere density, filament alignment, z-Disc thickness and sarcomere length of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Cells from adult and neonatal heart tissue served as control. Our image analysis revealed a profound effect on sarcomere content and filament orientation when iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes were cultured on structured, line-shaped surfaces. Similarly, prolonged cultivation time had a beneficial effect on the structural maturation, leading to a more adult-like phenotype. Automatic evaluation of the sarcomere filaments by machine learning validated our data. Moreover, we successfully transferred this approach to skeletal muscle cells, showing an improved sarcomere formation cells over different differentiation periods. Overall, our image-based workflow can be used as a straight-forward tool to quantitatively estimate the structural maturation of contractile cells. As such, it can support the establishment of novel differentiation protocols to enhance sarcomere formation and maturity.
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81
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Bioengineering approaches to treat the failing heart: from cell biology to 3D printing. Nat Rev Cardiol 2022; 19:83-99. [PMID: 34453134 DOI: 10.1038/s41569-021-00603-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Successfully engineering a functional, human, myocardial pump would represent a therapeutic alternative for the millions of patients with end-stage heart disease and provide an alternative to animal-based preclinical models. Although the field of cardiac tissue engineering has made tremendous advances, major challenges remain, which, if properly resolved, might allow the clinical implementation of engineered, functional, complex 3D structures in the future. In this Review, we provide an overview of state-of-the-art studies, challenges that have not yet been overcome and perspectives on cardiac tissue engineering. We begin with the most clinically relevant cell sources used in this field and discuss the use of topological, biophysical and metabolic stimuli to obtain mature phenotypes of cardiomyocytes, particularly in relation to organized cytoskeletal and contractile intracellular structures. We then move from the cellular level to engineering planar cardiac patches and discuss the need for proper vascularization and the main strategies for obtaining it. Finally, we provide an overview of several different approaches for the engineering of volumetric organs and organ parts - from whole-heart decellularization and recellularization to advanced 3D printing technologies.
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82
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Sherman WF, Asad M, Grosberg A. An Energetic Approach to Modeling Cytoskeletal Architecture in Maturing Cardiomyocytes. J Biomech Eng 2022; 144:021002. [PMID: 34382649 PMCID: PMC8547018 DOI: 10.1115/1.4052112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Through a variety of mechanisms, a healthy heart is able to regulate its structure and dynamics across multiple length scales. Disruption of these mechanisms can have a cascading effect, resulting in severe structural and/or functional changes that permeate across different length scales. Due to this hierarchical structure, there is interest in understanding how the components at the various scales coordinate and influence each other. However, much is unknown regarding how myofibril bundles are organized within a densely packed cell and the influence of the subcellular components on the architecture that is formed. To elucidate potential factors influencing cytoskeletal development, we proposed a computational model that integrated interactions at both the cellular and subcellular scale to predict the location of individual myofibril bundles that contributed to the formation of an energetically favorable cytoskeletal network. Our model was tested and validated using experimental metrics derived from analyzing single-cell cardiomyocytes. We demonstrated that our model-generated networks were capable of reproducing the variation observed in experimental cells at different length scales as a result of the stochasticity inherent in the different interactions between the various cellular components. Additionally, we showed that incorporating length-scale parameters resulted in physical constraints that directed cytoskeletal architecture toward a structurally consistent motif. Understanding the mechanisms guiding the formation and organization of the cytoskeleton in individual cardiomyocytes can aid tissue engineers toward developing functional cardiac tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F. Sherman
- Center for Complex Biological Systems, Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Mira Asad
- Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
| | - Anna Grosberg
- Edwards Lifesciences Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Technology, Department of Biomedical Engineering, NSF-Simons Center for Multiscale Cell Fate Research, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697
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83
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Basara G, Saeidi-Javash M, Ren X, Bahcecioglu G, Wyatt BC, Anasori B, Zhang Y, Zorlutuna P. Electrically conductive 3D printed Ti 3C 2T x MXene-PEG composite constructs for cardiac tissue engineering. Acta Biomater 2022; 139:179-189. [PMID: 33352299 PMCID: PMC8213874 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Tissue engineered cardiac patches have great potential as a therapeutic treatment for myocardial infarction (MI). However, for successful integration with the native tissue and proper function of the cells comprising the patch, it is crucial for these patches to mimic the ordered structure of the native extracellular matrix and the electroconductivity of the human heart. In this study, a new composite construct that can provide both conductive and topographical cues for human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes (iCMs) is developed for cardiac tissue engineering applications. The constructs are fabricated by 3D printing conductive titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene in pre-designed patterns on polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels, using aerosol jet printing, at a cell-level resolution and then seeded with iCMs and cultured for one week with no signs of cytotoxicity. The results presented in this work illustrate the vital role of 3D-printed Ti3C2Tx MXene on aligning iCMs with a significant increase in MYH7, SERCA2, and TNNT2 expressions, and with an improved synchronous beating as well as conduction velocity. This study demonstrates that 3D printed Ti3C2Tx MXene can potentially be used to create physiologically relevant cardiac patches for the treatment of MI. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: As cardiovascular diseases and specifically myocardial infarction (MI) continue to be the leading cause of death worldwide, it is critical that new clinical interventions be developed. Tissue engineered cardiac patches have shown significant potential as clinical therapeutics to promote recovery following MI. Unfortunately, current constructs lack the ordered structure and electroconductivity of native human heart. In this study, we engineered a composite construct that can provide both conductive and topographical cues for human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes. By 3D printing conductive Ti3C2Tx MXene in pre-designed patterns on polyethylene glycol hydrogels, using aerosol jet printing, at a cell-level resolution, we developed tissue engineered patches that have the potential for providing a new clinical therapeutic to combat cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gozde Basara
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
| | - Mortaza Saeidi-Javash
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
| | - Xiang Ren
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
| | - Gokhan Bahcecioglu
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
| | - Brian C. Wyatt
- Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute and Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Babak Anasori
- Integrated Nanosystems Development Institute and Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Purdue School of Engineering and Technology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Yanliang Zhang
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
| | - Pinar Zorlutuna
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA,Corresponding author: Pinar Zorlutuna, , Address: 143 Multidisciplinary Research Building, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, Phone no: +1 574 631 8543, Fax no: +1 574 631 8341
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84
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Morsink M, Severino P, Luna-Ceron E, Hussain MA, Sobahi N, Shin SR. Effects of electrically conductive nano-biomaterials on regulating cardiomyocyte behavior for cardiac repair and regeneration. Acta Biomater 2022; 139:141-156. [PMID: 34818579 PMCID: PMC11041526 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial infarction (MI) represents one of the most prevalent cardiovascular diseases, with a highly relevant and impactful role in public health. Despite the therapeutic advances of the last decades, MI still begets extensive death rates around the world. The pathophysiology of the disease correlates with cardiomyocyte necrosis, caused by an imbalance in the demand of oxygen to cardiac tissues, resulting from obstruction of the coronary flow. To alleviate the severe effects of MI, the use of various biomaterials exhibit vast potential in cardiac repair and regeneration, acting as native extracellular matrices. These hydrogels have been combined with nano sized or functional materials which possess unique electrical, mechanical, and topographical properties that play important roles in regulating phenotypes and the contractile function of cardiomyocytes even in adverse microenvironments. These nano-biomaterials' differential properties have led to substantial healing on in vivo cardiac injury models by promoting fibrotic scar reduction, hemodynamic function preservation, and benign cardiac remodeling. In this review, we discuss the interplay of the unique physical properties of electrically conductive nano-biomaterials, are able to manipulate the phenotypes and the electrophysiological behavior of cardiomyocytes in vitro, and can enhance heart regeneration in vivo. Consequently, the understanding of the decisive roles of the nano-biomaterials discussed in this review could be useful for designing novel nano-biomaterials in future research for cardiac tissue engineering and regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: This study introduced and deciphered the understanding of the role of multimodal cues in recent advances of electrically conductive nano-biomaterials on cardiac tissue engineering. Compared with other review papers, which mainly describe these studies based on various types of electrically conductive nano-biomaterials, in this review paper we mainly discussed the interplay of the unique physical properties (electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, and topography) of electrically conductive nano-biomaterials, which would allow them to manipulate phenotypes and the electrophysiological behavior of cardiomyocytes in vitro and to enhance heart regeneration in vivo. Consequently, understanding the decisive roles of the nano-biomaterials discussed in the review could help design novel nano-biomaterials in future research for cardiac tissue engineering and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaretha Morsink
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America; Translational Liver Research, Department of Medical Cell BioPhysics, Technical Medical Centre, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands; Department of Developmental BioEngineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Patrícia Severino
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America; University of Tiradentes (Unit), Biotechnological Postgraduate Program. Av. Murilo Dantas, 300, 49010-390 Aracaju, Brazil; Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), Nanomedicine and Nanotechnology Laboratory (LNMed), Av. Murilo Dantas, 300, 49010-390 Aracaju, Brazil; Tiradentes Institute, 150 Mt Vernon St, Dorchester, MA 02125, United States of America
| | - Eder Luna-Ceron
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America
| | - Mohammad A Hussain
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21569, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nebras Sobahi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21569, Saudi Arabia
| | - Su Ryon Shin
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States of America.
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85
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Alvarez-Dominguez JR, Melton DA. Cell maturation: Hallmarks, triggers, and manipulation. Cell 2022; 185:235-249. [PMID: 34995481 PMCID: PMC8792364 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
How cells become specialized, or "mature," is important for cell and developmental biology. While maturity is usually deemed a terminal fate, it may be more helpful to consider maturation not as a switch but as a dynamic continuum of adaptive phenotypic states set by genetic and environment programing. The hallmarks of maturity comprise changes in anatomy (form, gene circuitry, and interconnectivity) and physiology (function, rhythms, and proliferation) that confer adaptive behavior. We discuss efforts to harness their chemical (nutrients, oxygen, and growth factors) and physical (mechanical, spatial, and electrical) triggers in vitro and in vivo and how maturation strategies may support disease research and regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan R. Alvarez-Dominguez
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Douglas A. Melton
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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86
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Bourque K, Hawey C, Jiang A, Mazarura GR, Hébert TE. Biosensor-based profiling to track cellular signalling in patient-derived models of dilated cardiomyopathy. Cell Signal 2022; 91:110239. [PMID: 34990783 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2021.110239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Dilated cardiomyopathies (DCM) represent a diverse group of cardiovascular diseases impacting the structure and function of the myocardium. To better treat these diseases, we need to understand the impact of such cardiomyopathies on critical signalling pathways that drive disease progression downstream of receptors we often target therapeutically. Our understanding of cellular signalling events has progressed substantially in the last few years, in large part due to the design, validation and use of biosensor-based approaches to studying such events in cells, tissues and in some cases, living animals. Another transformative development has been the use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate disease-relevant models from individual patients. We highlight the importance of going beyond monocellular cultures to incorporate the influence of paracrine signalling mediators. Finally, we discuss the recent coalition of these approaches in the context of DCM. We discuss recent work in generating patient-derived models of cardiomyopathies and the utility of using signalling biosensors to track disease progression and test potential therapeutic strategies that can be later used to inform treatment options in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyla Bourque
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Cara Hawey
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Alyson Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Grace R Mazarura
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Terence E Hébert
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec H3G 1Y6, Canada.
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87
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Müller D, Donath S, Brückner EG, Biswanath Devadas S, Daniel F, Gentemann L, Zweigerdt R, Heisterkamp A, Kalies SMK. How Localized Z-Disc Damage Affects Force Generation and Gene Expression in Cardiomyocytes. Bioengineering (Basel) 2021; 8:bioengineering8120213. [PMID: 34940366 PMCID: PMC8698600 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering8120213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The proper function of cardiomyocytes (CMs) is highly related to the Z-disc, which has a pivotal role in orchestrating the sarcomeric cytoskeletal function. To better understand Z-disc related cardiomyopathies, novel models of Z-disc damage have to be developed. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived CMs can serve as an in vitro model to better understand the sarcomeric cytoskeleton. A femtosecond laser system can be applied for localized and defined damage application within cells as single Z-discs can be removed. We have investigated the changes in force generation via traction force microscopy, and in gene expression after Z-disc manipulation in hPSC-derived CMs. We observed a significant weakening of force generation after removal of a Z-disc. However, no significant changes of the number of contractions after manipulation were detected. The stress related gene NF-kB was significantly upregulated. Additionally, α-actinin (ACTN2) and filamin-C (FLNc) were upregulated, pointing to remodeling of the Z-disc and the sarcomeric cytoskeleton. Ultimately, cardiac troponin I (TNNI3) and cardiac muscle troponin T (TNNT2) were significantly downregulated. Our results allow a better understanding of transcriptional coupling of Z-disc damage and the relation of damage to force generation and can therefore finally pave the way to novel therapies of sarcomeric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Müller
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (D.M.); (S.D.); (E.G.B.); (F.D.); (L.G.); (A.H.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.B.D.); (R.Z.)
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Sören Donath
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (D.M.); (S.D.); (E.G.B.); (F.D.); (L.G.); (A.H.)
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Emanuel Georg Brückner
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (D.M.); (S.D.); (E.G.B.); (F.D.); (L.G.); (A.H.)
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Santoshi Biswanath Devadas
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.B.D.); (R.Z.)
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Fiene Daniel
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (D.M.); (S.D.); (E.G.B.); (F.D.); (L.G.); (A.H.)
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Lara Gentemann
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (D.M.); (S.D.); (E.G.B.); (F.D.); (L.G.); (A.H.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.B.D.); (R.Z.)
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Robert Zweigerdt
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.B.D.); (R.Z.)
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Heisterkamp
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (D.M.); (S.D.); (E.G.B.); (F.D.); (L.G.); (A.H.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.B.D.); (R.Z.)
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Michael Klaus Kalies
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (D.M.); (S.D.); (E.G.B.); (F.D.); (L.G.); (A.H.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (S.B.D.); (R.Z.)
- Lower Saxony Centre for Biomedical Engineering and Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Correspondence:
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88
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Fang Y, Sun W, Zhang T, Xiong Z. Recent advances on bioengineering approaches for fabrication of functional engineered cardiac pumps: A review. Biomaterials 2021; 280:121298. [PMID: 34864451 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The field of cardiac tissue engineering has advanced over the past decades; however, most research progress has been limited to engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs) at the microscale with minimal geometrical complexities such as 3D strips and patches. Although microscale ECTs are advantageous for drug screening applications because of their high-throughput and standardization characteristics, they have limited translational applications in heart repair and the in vitro modeling of cardiac function and diseases. Recently, researchers have made various attempts to construct engineered cardiac pumps (ECPs) such as chambered ventricles, recapitulating the geometrical complexity of the native heart. The transition from microscale ECTs to ECPs at a translatable scale would greatly accelerate their translational applications; however, researchers are confronted with several major hurdles, including geometrical reconstruction, vascularization, and functional maturation. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to review the recent advances on bioengineering approaches for fabrication of functional engineered cardiac pumps. We first review the bioengineering approaches to fabricate ECPs, and then emphasize the unmatched potential of 3D bioprinting techniques. We highlight key advances in bioprinting strategies with high cell density as researchers have begun to realize the critical role that the cell density of non-proliferative cardiomyocytes plays in the cell-cell interaction and functional contracting performance. We summarize the current approaches to engineering vasculatures both at micro- and meso-scales, crucial for the survival of thick cardiac tissues and ECPs. We showcase a variety of strategies developed to enable the functional maturation of cardiac tissues, mimicking the in vivo environment during cardiac development. By highlighting state-of-the-art research, this review offers personal perspectives on future opportunities and trends that may bring us closer to the promise of functional ECPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongcong Fang
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China; Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, PR China; "Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems" Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, PR China
| | - Wei Sun
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China; Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, PR China; "Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems" Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, PR China; Department of Mechanical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Ting Zhang
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China; Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, PR China; "Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems" Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, PR China.
| | - Zhuo Xiong
- Biomanufacturing Center, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, PR China; Biomanufacturing and Rapid Forming Technology Key Laboratory of Beijing, Beijing, 100084, PR China; "Biomanufacturing and Engineering Living Systems" Innovation International Talents Base (111 Base), Beijing, 100084, PR China.
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89
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Brazhkina O, Park JH, Park HJ, Bheri S, Maxwell JT, Hollister SJ, Davis ME. Designing a 3D Printing Based Auxetic Cardiac Patch with hiPSC-CMs for Heart Repair. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8120172. [PMID: 34940527 PMCID: PMC8706296 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8120172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Myocardial infarction is one of the largest contributors to cardiovascular disease and reduces the ability of the heart to pump blood. One promising therapeutic approach to address the diminished function is the use of cardiac patches composed of biomaterial substrates and cardiac cells. These patches can be enhanced with the application of an auxetic design, which has a negative Poisson’s ratio and can be modified to suit the mechanics of the infarct and surrounding cardiac tissue. Here, we examined multiple auxetic models (orthogonal missing rib and re-entrant honeycomb in two orientations) with tunable mechanical properties as a cardiac patch substrate. Further, we demonstrated that 3D printing based auxetic cardiac patches of varying thicknesses (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mm) composed of polycaprolactone and gelatin methacrylate can support induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte function for 14-day culture. Taken together, this work shows the potential of cellularized auxetic cardiac patches as a suitable tissue engineering approach to treating cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Brazhkina
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; (O.B.); (H.-J.P.); (S.B.)
| | - Jeong Hun Park
- Center for 3D Medical Fabrication, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA;
| | - Hyun-Ji Park
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; (O.B.); (H.-J.P.); (S.B.)
| | - Sruti Bheri
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; (O.B.); (H.-J.P.); (S.B.)
| | - Joshua T. Maxwell
- Children’s Heart Research & Outcomes (HeRO) Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta & Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA;
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Scott J. Hollister
- Center for 3D Medical Fabrication, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA;
- Correspondence: (S.J.H.); (M.E.D.)
| | - Michael E. Davis
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA; (O.B.); (H.-J.P.); (S.B.)
- Children’s Heart Research & Outcomes (HeRO) Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta & Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA;
- Correspondence: (S.J.H.); (M.E.D.)
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90
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Lindholm ME, Jimenez-Morales D, Zhu H, Seo K, Amar D, Zhao C, Raja A, Madhvani R, Abramowitz S, Espenel C, Sutton S, Caleshu C, Berry GJ, Motonaga KS, Dunn K, Platt J, Ashley EA, Wheeler MT. Mono- and Biallelic Protein-Truncating Variants in Alpha-Actinin 2 Cause Cardiomyopathy Through Distinct Mechanisms. CIRCULATION. GENOMIC AND PRECISION MEDICINE 2021; 14:e003419. [PMID: 34802252 PMCID: PMC8692448 DOI: 10.1161/circgen.121.003419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND ACTN2 (alpha-actinin 2) anchors actin within cardiac sarcomeres. The mechanisms linking ACTN2 mutations to myocardial disease phenotypes are unknown. Here, we characterize patients with novel ACTN2 mutations to reveal insights into the physiological function of ACTN2. METHODS Patients harboring ACTN2 protein-truncating variants were identified using a custom mutation pipeline. In patient-derived iPSC-cardiomyocytes, we investigated transcriptional profiles using RNA sequencing, contractile properties using video-based edge detection, and cellular hypertrophy using immunohistochemistry. Structural changes were analyzed through electron microscopy. For mechanistic studies, we used co-immunoprecipitation for ACTN2, followed by mass-spectrometry to investigate protein-protein interaction, and protein tagging followed by confocal microscopy to investigate introduction of truncated ACTN2 into the sarcomeres. RESULTS Patient-derived iPSC-cardiomyocytes were hypertrophic, displayed sarcomeric structural disarray, impaired contractility, and aberrant Ca2+-signaling. In heterozygous indel cells, the truncated protein incorporates into cardiac sarcomeres, leading to aberrant Z-disc ultrastructure. In homozygous stop-gain cells, affinity-purification mass-spectrometry reveals an intricate ACTN2 interactome with sarcomere and sarcolemma-associated proteins. Loss of the C-terminus of ACTN2 disrupts interaction with ACTN1 (alpha-actinin 1) and GJA1 (gap junction protein alpha 1), 2 sarcolemma-associated proteins, which may contribute to the clinical arrhythmic and relaxation defects. The causality of the stop-gain mutation was verified using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. CONCLUSIONS Together, these data advance our understanding of the role of ACTN2 in the human heart and establish recessive inheritance of ACTN2 truncation as causative of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malene E. Lindholm
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - David Jimenez-Morales
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Han Zhu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Kinya Seo
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - David Amar
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Chunli Zhao
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Archana Raja
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Roshni Madhvani
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Sarah Abramowitz
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Cedric Espenel
- Cell Sciences Imaging Facility, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - Shirley Sutton
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Colleen Caleshu
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
- GeneMatters, San Francisco, CA
| | - Gerald J. Berry
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - Kara S. Motonaga
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - Kyla Dunn
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
| | - Julia Platt
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Euan A. Ashley
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Matthew T. Wheeler
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
- Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
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91
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Liao Y, Zhu L, Wang Y. Maturation of Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes: Foe in Translation Medicine. Int J Stem Cells 2021; 14:366-385. [PMID: 34711701 PMCID: PMC8611306 DOI: 10.15283/ijsc21077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
With the in-depth study of heart development, many human cardiomyocytes (CMs) have been generated in a laboratory environment. CMs derived from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have been widely used for a series of applications such as laboratory studies, drug toxicology screening, cardiac disease models, and as an unlimited resource for cell-based cardiac regeneration therapy. However, the low maturity of the induced CMs significantly impedes their applicability. Scientists have been committed to improving the maturation of CMs to achieve the purpose of heart regeneration in the past decades. In this review, we take CMs maturation as the main object of discussion, describe the characteristics of CMs maturation, summarize the key regulatory mechanism of regulating maturation and address the approaches to promote CMs maturation. The maturation of CM is gradually improving due to the incorporation of advanced technologies and is expected to continue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingnan Liao
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Liyuan Zhu
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Xiamen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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92
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Engineering the niche to differentiate and deploy cardiovascular cells. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 74:122-128. [PMID: 34861477 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Applications for stem cells have ranged from therapeutic interventions to more conventional screening and in vitro modeling, but significant limitations to each is due to the lack of maturity from decades old monolayer protocols. While those methods remain the 'gold standard,' newer three-dimensional methods, when combined with engineered niche, stand to significantly improve cell maturity and enable new applications. Here in three parts, we first discuss past methods, and where and why we believe those methods produced suboptimal myocytes. Second, we note how newer methods are moving the field into an era of cell mechanical, electrical, and biological maturity. Finally, we highlight how these improvements will solve issues of scale and engraftment to yield clinical success. It is our conclusion that only through a combination of diverse cell populations and engineered niche will we create an engineered heart tissue with the maturity and vasculature to integrate successfully into a host.
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93
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Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T. Tools for studying and modulating (cardiac muscle) cell mechanics and mechanosensing across the scales. Biophys Rev 2021; 13:611-623. [PMID: 34765044 PMCID: PMC8553672 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-021-00837-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes generate force for the contraction of the heart to pump blood into the lungs and body. At the same time, they are exquisitely tuned to the mechanical environment and react to e.g. changes in cell and extracellular matrix stiffness or altered stretching due to reduced ejection fraction in heart disease, by adapting their cytoskeleton, force generation and cell mechanics. Both mechanical sensing and cell mechanical adaptations are multiscale processes. Receptor interactions with the extracellular matrix at the nanoscale will lead to clustering of receptors and modification of the cytoskeleton. This in turn alters mechanosensing, force generation, cell and nuclear stiffness and viscoelasticity at the microscale. Further, this affects cell shape, orientation, maturation and tissue integration at the microscale to macroscale. A variety of tools have been developed and adapted to measure cardiomyocyte receptor-ligand interactions and forces or mechanics at the different ranges, resulting in a wealth of new information about cardiomyocyte mechanobiology. Here, we take stock at the different tools for exploring cardiomyocyte mechanosensing and cell mechanics at the different scales from the nanoscale to microscale and macroscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Swiatlowska
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Thomas Iskratsch
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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94
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Wafer-Scale Patterning of Protein Templates for Hydrogel Fabrication. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:mi12111386. [PMID: 34832798 PMCID: PMC8620583 DOI: 10.3390/mi12111386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes are a potentially unlimited cell source and promising patient-specific in vitro model of cardiac diseases. Yet, these cells are limited by immaturity and population heterogeneity. Current in vitro studies aiming at better understanding of the mechanical and chemical cues in the microenvironment that drive cellular maturation involve deformable materials and precise manipulation of the microenvironment with, for example, micropatterns. Such microenvironment manipulation most often involves microfabrication protocols which are time-consuming, require cleanroom facilities and photolithography expertise. Here, we present a method to increase the scale of the fabrication pipeline, thereby enabling large-batch generation of shelf-stable microenvironment protein templates on glass chips. This decreases fabrication time and allows for more flexibility in the subsequent steps, for example, in tuning the material properties and the selection of extracellular matrix or cell proteins. Further, the fabrication of deformable hydrogels has been optimized for compatibility with these templates, in addition to the templates being able to be used to acquire protein patterns directly on the glass chips. With our approach, we have successfully controlled the shapes of cardiomyocytes seeded on Matrigel-patterned hydrogels.
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95
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Huethorst E, Mortensen P, Simitev RD, Gao H, Pohjolainen L, Talman V, Ruskoaho H, Burton FL, Gadegaard N, Smith GL. Conventional rigid 2D substrates cause complex contractile signals in monolayers of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. J Physiol 2021; 600:483-507. [PMID: 34761809 PMCID: PMC9299844 DOI: 10.1113/jp282228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC‐CM) in monolayers interact mechanically via cell–cell and cell–substrate adhesion. Spatiotemporal features of contraction were analysed in hiPSC‐CM monolayers (1) attached to glass or plastic (Young's modulus (E) >1 GPa), (2) detached (substrate‐free) and (3) attached to a flexible collagen hydrogel (E = 22 kPa). The effects of isoprenaline on contraction were compared between rigid and flexible substrates. To clarify the underlying mechanisms, further gene expression and computational studies were performed. HiPSC‐CM monolayers exhibited multiphasic contractile profiles on rigid surfaces in contrast to hydrogels, substrate‐free cultures or single cells where only simple twitch‐like time‐courses were observed. Isoprenaline did not change the contraction profile on either surface, but its lusitropic and chronotropic effects were greater in hydrogel compared with glass. There was no significant difference between stiff and flexible substrates in regard to expression of the stress‐activated genes NPPA and NPPB. A computational model of cell clusters demonstrated similar complex contractile interactions on stiff substrates as a consequence of cell‐to‐cell functional heterogeneity. Rigid biomaterial surfaces give rise to unphysiological, multiphasic contractions in hiPSC‐CM monolayers. Flexible substrates are necessary for normal twitch‐like contractility kinetics and interpretation of inotropic interventions.
![]() Key points Spatiotemporal contractility analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC‐CM) monolayers seeded on conventional, rigid surfaces (glass or plastic) revealed the presence of multiphasic contraction patterns across the monolayer with a high variability, despite action potentials recorded in the same areas being identical. These multiphasic patterns are not present in single cells, in detached monolayers or in monolayers seeded on soft substrates such as a hydrogel, where only ‘twitch’‐like transients are observed. HiPSC‐CM monolayers that display a high percentage of regions with multiphasic contraction have significantly increased contractile duration and a decreased lusotropic drug response. There is no indication that the multiphasic contraction patterns are associated with significant activation of the stress‐activated NPPA or NPPB signalling pathways. A computational model of cell clusters supports the biological findings that the rigid surface and the differential cell–substrate adhesion underly multiphasic contractile behaviour of hiPSC‐CMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline Huethorst
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.,Division of Biomedical Engineering, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Peter Mortensen
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Radostin D Simitev
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Hao Gao
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Lotta Pohjolainen
- Drug Research Program and Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Virpi Talman
- Drug Research Program and Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heikki Ruskoaho
- Drug Research Program and Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Francis L Burton
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Nikolaj Gadegaard
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Godfrey L Smith
- Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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96
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Mehrotra S, Singh RD, Bandyopadhyay A, Janani G, Dey S, Mandal BB. Engineering Microsphere-Loaded Non-mulberry Silk-Based 3D Bioprinted Vascularized Cardiac Patches with Oxygen-Releasing and Immunomodulatory Potential. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:50744-50759. [PMID: 34664954 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c14118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A hostile myocardial microenvironment post ischemic injury (myocardial infarction) plays a decisive role in determining the fate of tissue-engineered approaches. Therefore, engineering hybrid 3D printed platforms that can modulate the MI microenvironment for improving implant acceptance has surfaced as a critical requirement for reconstructing an infarcted heart. Here, we have employed a non-mulberry silk-based conductive bioink comprising carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to bioprint functional 3D vascularized anisotropic cardiac constructs. Immunofluorescence staining, polymerase chain reaction-based gene expression studies, and electrophysiological studies showed that the inclusion of CNTs in the bioink played a significant role in upregulating matured cardiac biomarkers, sarcomere formation, and beating rate while promoting cardiomyocyte viability. These constructs were then microinjected with calcium peroxide and IL-10-loaded gelatin methacryloyl microspheres. Measurements of oxygen concentration revealed that these microspheres upheld the oxygen availability for maintaining cellular viability for at least 5 days in a hypoxic environment. Also, the ability of microinjected IL-10 microspheres to modulate the macrophages to anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype in vitro was uncovered using immunofluorescent staining and gene expression studies. Furthermore, in vivo subcutaneous implantation of microsphere-injected 3D constructs provided insights toward the extended time frame that was achieved for dealing with the hostile microenvironment for promoting host neovascularization and implant acceptance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Mehrotra
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
| | - Rishabh Deo Singh
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
| | - Ashutosh Bandyopadhyay
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
| | - G Janani
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
| | - Souradeep Dey
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
| | - Biman B Mandal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
- Centre for Nanotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
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97
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Turnbull IC, Zhu W, Stillitano F, Chien CC, Gaitas A. A micromachined force sensing apparatus and method for human engineered cardiac tissue and induced pluripotent stem cell characterization. SENSORS AND ACTUATORS. A, PHYSICAL 2021; 331:112874. [PMID: 34305317 PMCID: PMC8294102 DOI: 10.1016/j.sna.2021.112874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cell derived-cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) have great potential for cell therapy, drug assessment, and for understanding the pathophysiology and genetic underpinnings of cardiac diseases. Contraction forces are one of the most important characteristics of cardiac function and are predictors of healthy and diseased states. Cantilever techniques, such as atomic force microscopy, measure the vertical force of a single cell, while systems designed to more closely resemble the physical heart function, such as engineered cardiac tissue held by end-posts, measure the axial force. One important question is how do these two force measurements correlate? By establishing a correlation of the axial and vertical force, we will be one step closer in being able to use single cell iPSC-CMs as models. A novel micromachined sensor for measuring force contractions of engineered tissue has been developed. Using this novel sensor, a correlation between axial force and vertical force is experimentally established. This finding supports the use of vertical measurements as an alternative to tissue measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Weibin Zhu
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | | | - Chen-Chi Chien
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
| | - Angelo Gaitas
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 10029
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98
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Tsan YC, DePalma SJ, Zhao YT, Capilnasiu A, Wu YW, Elder B, Panse I, Ufford K, Matera DL, Friedline S, O'Leary TS, Wubshet N, Ho KKY, Previs MJ, Nordsletten D, Isom LL, Baker BM, Liu AP, Helms AS. Physiologic biomechanics enhance reproducible contractile development in a stem cell derived cardiac muscle platform. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6167. [PMID: 34697315 PMCID: PMC8546060 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26496-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) allow investigations in a human cardiac model system, but disorganized mechanics and immaturity of hPSC-CMs on standard two-dimensional surfaces have been hurdles. Here, we developed a platform of micron-scale cardiac muscle bundles to control biomechanics in arrays of thousands of purified, independently contracting cardiac muscle strips on two-dimensional elastomer substrates with far greater throughput than single cell methods. By defining geometry and workload in this reductionist platform, we show that myofibrillar alignment and auxotonic contractions at physiologic workload drive maturation of contractile function, calcium handling, and electrophysiology. Using transcriptomics, reporter hPSC-CMs, and quantitative immunofluorescence, these cardiac muscle bundles can be used to parse orthogonal cues in early development, including contractile force, calcium load, and metabolic signals. Additionally, the resultant organized biomechanics facilitates automated extraction of contractile kinetics from brightfield microscopy imaging, increasing the accessibility, reproducibility, and throughput of pharmacologic testing and cardiomyopathy disease modeling. Investigations of human cardiac disease involving human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes are limited by the disorganized presentation of biomechanical cues resulting in cell immaturity. Here the authors develop a platform of micron-scale 2D cardiac muscle bundles to precisely deliver physiologic cues, improving reproducibility and throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Chang Tsan
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Samuel J DePalma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yan-Ting Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Adela Capilnasiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yu-Wei Wu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, NanKang, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Brynn Elder
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Isabella Panse
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kathryn Ufford
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Daniel L Matera
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sabrina Friedline
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Thomas S O'Leary
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - Nadab Wubshet
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kenneth K Y Ho
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Michael J Previs
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA
| | - David Nordsletten
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lori L Isom
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Brendon M Baker
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Allen P Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Adam S Helms
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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99
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Tenreiro MF, Almeida HV, Calmeiro T, Fortunato E, Ferreira L, Alves PM, Serra M. Interindividual heterogeneity affects the outcome of human cardiac tissue decellularization. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20834. [PMID: 34675273 PMCID: PMC8531368 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00226-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) of engineered human cardiac tissues corresponds to simplistic biomaterials that allow tissue assembly, or animal derived off-the-shelf non-cardiac specific matrices. Decellularized ECM from human cardiac tissue could provide a means to improve the mimicry of engineered human cardiac tissues. Decellularization of cardiac tissue samples using immersion-based methods can produce acceptable cardiac ECM scaffolds; however, these protocols are mostly described for animal tissue preparations. We have tested four methods to decellularize human cardiac tissue and evaluated their efficiency in terms of cell removal and preservation of key ECM components, such as collagens and sulfated glycosaminoglycans. Extended exposure to decellularization agents, namely sodium dodecyl sulfate and Triton-X-100, was needed to significantly remove DNA content by approximately 93% in all human donors. However, the biochemical composition of decellularized tissue is affected, and the preservation of ECM architecture is donor dependent. Our results indicate that standardization of decellularization protocols for human tissue is likely unfeasible, and a compromise between cell removal and ECM preservation must be established in accordance with the scaffold's intended application. Notwithstanding, decellularized human cardiac ECM supported human induced pluripotent-derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) attachment and retention for up to 2 weeks of culture, and promoted cell alignment and contraction, providing evidence it could be a valuable tool for cardiac tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel F Tenreiro
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Henrique V Almeida
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Tomás Calmeiro
- CENIMAT|i3N, Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Elvira Fortunato
- CENIMAT|i3N, Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus de Caparica, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Lino Ferreira
- CNC, Centro de Neurociências e Biologia Celular, Universidade de Coimbra, 3004-517, Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua Larga, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paula M Alves
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Margarida Serra
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901, Oeiras, Portugal.
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República, 2780-157, Oeiras, Portugal.
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100
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Harlev I, Holmes JW, Cohen N. The influence of boundary conditions and protein availability on the remodeling of cardiomyocytes. Biomech Model Mechanobiol 2021; 21:189-201. [PMID: 34661804 DOI: 10.1007/s10237-021-01526-5] [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: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The heart muscle is capable of growing and remodeling in response to changes in its mechanical and hormonal environment. While this capability is essential to the healthy function of the heart, under extreme conditions it may also lead to heart failure. In this work, we derive a thermodynamically based and microscopically motivated model that highlights the influence of mechanical boundary conditions and hormonal changes on the remodeling process in cardiomyocytes. We begin with a description of the kinematics associated with the remodeling process. Specifically, we derive relations between the macroscopic deformation, the number of sarcomeres, the sarcomere stretch, and the number of myofibrils in the cell. We follow with the derivation of evolution equations that describe the production and the degradation of protein in the cytosol. Next, we postulate a dissipation-based formulation that characterizes the remodeling process. We show that this process stems from a competition between the internal energy, the entropy, the energy supplied to the system by ATP and other sources, and dissipation mechanisms. To illustrate the merit of this framework, we study four initial and boundary conditions: (1) a myocyte undergoing isometric contractions in the presence of either an infinite or a limited supply of proteins and (2) a myocyte that is free to dilate along the radial direction with an infinite and a limited supply of proteins. This work underscores the importance of boundary conditions on the overall remodeling response of cardiomyocytes, suggesting a plausible mechanism that might play a role in distinguishing eccentric vs. concentric hypertrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ido Harlev
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel
| | - Jeffrey W Holmes
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Noy Cohen
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 3200003, Haifa, Israel.
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