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Seeler S, Arnarsson K, Dreßen M, Krane M, Doppler SA. Beyond the Heartbeat: Single-Cell Omics Redefining Cardiovascular Research. Curr Cardiol Rep 2024:10.1007/s11886-024-02117-3. [PMID: 39158785 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-024-02117-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review aims to explore recent advances in single-cell omics techniques as applied to various regions of the human heart, illuminating cellular diversity, regulatory networks, and disease mechanisms. We examine the contributions of single-cell transcriptomics, genomics, proteomics, epigenomics, and spatial transcriptomics in unraveling the complexity of cardiac tissues. RECENT FINDINGS Recent strides in single-cell omics technologies have revolutionized our understanding of the heart's cellular composition, cell type heterogeneity, and molecular dynamics. These advancements have elucidated pathological conditions as well as the cellular landscape in heart development. We highlight emerging applications of integrated single-cell omics, particularly for cardiac regeneration, disease modeling, and precision medicine, and emphasize the transformative potential of these technologies to advance cardiovascular research and clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Seeler
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, School of Medicine and Health, TUM University Hospital, Technical University Munich, Lazarettstr. 36, 80636, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Translational Cardiac Surgery (INSURE), Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, School of Medicine and Health, TUM University Hospital, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kristjan Arnarsson
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, School of Medicine and Health, TUM University Hospital, Technical University Munich, Lazarettstr. 36, 80636, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Translational Cardiac Surgery (INSURE), Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, School of Medicine and Health, TUM University Hospital, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martina Dreßen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, School of Medicine and Health, TUM University Hospital, Technical University Munich, Lazarettstr. 36, 80636, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Translational Cardiac Surgery (INSURE), Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, School of Medicine and Health, TUM University Hospital, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Krane
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, School of Medicine and Health, TUM University Hospital, Technical University Munich, Lazarettstr. 36, 80636, Munich, Germany
- Institute for Translational Cardiac Surgery (INSURE), Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, School of Medicine and Health, TUM University Hospital, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Division of Cardiac Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stefanie A Doppler
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, School of Medicine and Health, TUM University Hospital, Technical University Munich, Lazarettstr. 36, 80636, Munich, Germany.
- Institute for Translational Cardiac Surgery (INSURE), Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, School of Medicine and Health, TUM University Hospital, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
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Bisson JA, Gordillo M, Kumar R, de Silva N, Yang E, Banks KM, Shi ZD, Lee K, Yang D, Chung WK, Huangfu D, Evans T. GATA6 regulates WNT and BMP programs to pattern precardiac mesoderm during the earliest stages of human cardiogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.09.602666. [PMID: 39026742 PMCID: PMC11257636 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.09.602666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Haploinsufficiency for GATA6 is associated with congenital heart disease (CHD) with variable comorbidity of pancreatic or diaphragm defects, although the etiology of disease is not well understood. Here, we used cardiac directed differentiation from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) as a platform to study GATA6 function during early cardiogenesis. GATA6 loss-of-function hESCs had a profound impairment in cardiac progenitor cell (CPC) specification and cardiomyocyte (CM) generation due to early defects during the mesendoderm and lateral mesoderm patterning stages. Profiling by RNA-seq and CUT&RUN identified genes of the WNT and BMP programs regulated by GATA6 during early mesoderm patterning. Furthermore, interactome analysis detected GATA6 binding with developmental transcription factors and chromatin remodelers suggesting cooperative regulation of cardiac lineage gene accessibility. We show that modulating WNT and BMP inputs during the first 48 hours of cardiac differentiation is sufficient to partially rescue CPC and CM defects in GATA6 heterozygous and homozygous mutant hESCs. This study provides evidence of the regulatory functions for GATA6 directing human precardiac mesoderm patterning during the earliest stages of cardiogenesis to further our understanding of haploinsufficiency causing CHD and the co-occurrence of cardiac and other organ defects caused by human GATA6 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A. Bisson
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Miriam Gordillo
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Ritu Kumar
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- current address: Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Neranjan de Silva
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Ellen Yang
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Kelly M. Banks
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Zhong-Dong Shi
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Kihyun Lee
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- current address: College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Dapeng Yang
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Wendy K. Chung
- Childrens Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Danwei Huangfu
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Todd Evans
- Department of Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Hartman Institute for Therapeutic Organ Regeneration, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Center for Genomic Health, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
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Wulkan F, Romagnuolo R, Qiang B, Valdman Sadikov T, Kim KP, Quesnel E, Jiang W, Andharia N, Weyers JJ, Ghugre NR, Ozcan B, Alibhai FJ, Laflamme MA. Stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes expressing a dominant negative pacemaker HCN4 channel do not reduce the risk of graft-related arrhythmias. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1374881. [PMID: 39045008 PMCID: PMC11263024 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1374881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) show tremendous promise for cardiac regeneration following myocardial infarction (MI), but their transplantation gives rise to transient ventricular tachycardia (VT) in large-animal MI models, representing a major hurdle to translation. Our group previously reported that these arrhythmias arise from a focal mechanism whereby graft tissue functions as an ectopic pacemaker; therefore, we hypothesized that hPSC-CMs engineered with a dominant negative form of the pacemaker ion channel HCN4 (dnHCN4) would exhibit reduced automaticity and arrhythmogenic risk following transplantation. Methods We used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-editing to create transgenic dnHCN4 hPSC-CMs, and their electrophysiological behavior was evaluated in vitro by patch-clamp recordings and optical mapping. Next, we transplanted WT and homozygous dnHCN4 hPSC-CMs in a pig MI model and compared post-transplantation outcomes including the incidence of spontaneous arrhythmias and graft structure by immunohistochemistry. Results In vitro dnHCN4 hPSC-CMs exhibited significantly reduced automaticity and pacemaker funny current (I f ) density relative to wildtype (WT) cardiomyocytes. Following transplantation with either dnHCN4 or WT hPSC-CMs, all recipient hearts showed transmural infarct scar that was partially remuscularized by scattered islands of human myocardium. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, both dnHCN4 and WT hPSC-CM recipients exhibited frequent episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Conclusions While genetic silencing of the pacemaker ion channel HCN4 suppresses the automaticity of hPSC-CMs in vitro, this intervention is insufficient to reduce VT risk post-transplantation in the pig MI model, implying more complex mechanism(s) are operational in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Wulkan
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rocco Romagnuolo
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Beiping Qiang
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Elya Quesnel
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Wenlei Jiang
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Naaz Andharia
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jill J. Weyers
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nilesh R. Ghugre
- Physical Sciences Platform, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Schulich Heart Program, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bilgehan Ozcan
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Faisal J. Alibhai
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael A. Laflamme
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Deogharia M, Venegas-Zamora L, Agrawal A, Shi M, Jain AK, McHugh KJ, Altamirano F, Marian AJ, Gurha P. Histone demethylase KDM5 regulates cardiomyocyte maturation by promoting fatty acid oxidation, oxidative phosphorylation, and myofibrillar organization. Cardiovasc Res 2024; 120:630-643. [PMID: 38230606 PMCID: PMC11074792 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvae014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) provide a platform to identify and characterize factors that regulate the maturation of CMs. The transition from an immature foetal to an adult CM state entails coordinated regulation of the expression of genes involved in myofibril formation and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) among others. Lysine demethylase 5 (KDM5) specifically demethylates H3K4me1/2/3 and has emerged as potential regulators of expression of genes involved in cardiac development and mitochondrial function. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of KDM5 in iPSC-CM maturation. METHODS AND RESULTS KDM5A, B, and C proteins were mainly expressed in the early post-natal stages, and their expressions were progressively downregulated in the post-natal CMs and were absent in adult hearts and CMs. In contrast, KDM5 proteins were persistently expressed in the iPSC-CMs up to 60 days after the induction of myogenic differentiation, consistent with the immaturity of these cells. Inhibition of KDM5 by KDM5-C70 -a pan-KDM5 inhibitor, induced differential expression of 2372 genes, including upregulation of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation (FAO), OXPHOS, and myogenesis in the iPSC-CMs. Likewise, genome-wide profiling of H3K4me3 binding sites by the cleavage under targets and release using nuclease assay showed enriched of the H3K4me3 peaks at the promoter regions of genes encoding FAO, OXPHOS, and sarcomere proteins. Consistent with the chromatin and gene expression data, KDM5 inhibition increased the expression of multiple sarcomere proteins and enhanced myofibrillar organization. Furthermore, inhibition of KDM5 increased H3K4me3 deposits at the promoter region of the ESRRA gene and increased its RNA and protein levels. Knockdown of ESRRA in KDM5-C70-treated iPSC-CM suppressed expression of a subset of the KDM5 targets. In conjunction with changes in gene expression, KDM5 inhibition increased oxygen consumption rate and contractility in iPSC-CMs. CONCLUSION KDM5 inhibition enhances maturation of iPSC-CMs by epigenetically upregulating the expressions of OXPHOS, FAO, and sarcomere genes and enhancing myofibril organization and mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Deogharia
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, 6770 Bertner Street, C950G, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Leslye Venegas-Zamora
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Akanksha Agrawal
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Miusi Shi
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Abhinav K Jain
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kevin J McHugh
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, 6500 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Francisco Altamirano
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner Avenue, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ali J Marian
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, 6770 Bertner Street, C950G, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Priyatansh Gurha
- Center for Cardiovascular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston, 6770 Bertner Street, C950G, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Stiefbold M, Zhang H, Wan LQ. Engineered platforms for mimicking cardiac development and drug screening. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:197. [PMID: 38664263 PMCID: PMC11045633 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05231-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Congenital heart defects are associated with significant health challenges, demanding a deep understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms and, thus, better devices or platforms that can recapitulate human cardiac development. The discovery of human pluripotent stem cells has substantially reduced the dependence on animal models. Recent advances in stem cell biology, genetic editing, omics, microfluidics, and sensor technologies have further enabled remarkable progress in the development of in vitro platforms with increased fidelity and efficiency. In this review, we provide an overview of advancements in in vitro cardiac development platforms, with a particular focus on technological innovation. We categorize these platforms into four areas: two-dimensional solid substrate cultures, engineered substrate architectures that enhance cellular functions, cardiac organoids, and embryos/explants-on-chip models. We conclude by addressing current limitations and presenting future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison Stiefbold
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Biotech 2147, 110 8t Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Haokang Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Biotech 2147, 110 8t Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Leo Q Wan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Biotech 2147, 110 8t Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
- Center for Modeling, Simulation, and Imaging in Medicine, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
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6
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Wu Z, Shen S, Mizikovsky D, Cao Y, Naval-Sanchez M, Tan SZ, Alvarez YD, Sun Y, Chen X, Zhao Q, Kim D, Yang P, Hill TA, Jones A, Fairlie DP, Pébay A, Hewitt AW, Tam PPL, White MD, Nefzger CM, Palpant NJ. Wnt dose escalation during the exit from pluripotency identifies tranilast as a regulator of cardiac mesoderm. Dev Cell 2024; 59:705-722.e8. [PMID: 38354738 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Wnt signaling is a critical determinant of cell lineage development. This study used Wnt dose-dependent induction programs to gain insights into molecular regulation of stem cell differentiation. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of hiPSCs responding to a dose escalation protocol with Wnt agonist CHIR-99021 during the exit from pluripotency to identify cell types and genetic activity driven by Wnt stimulation. Results of activated gene sets and cell types were used to build a multiple regression model that predicts the efficiency of cardiomyocyte differentiation. Cross-referencing Wnt-associated gene expression profiles to the Connectivity Map database, we identified the small-molecule drug, tranilast. We found that tranilast synergistically activates Wnt signaling to promote cardiac lineage differentiation, which we validate by in vitro analysis of hiPSC differentiation and in vivo analysis of developing quail embryos. Our study provides an integrated workflow that links experimental datasets, prediction models, and small-molecule databases to identify drug-like compounds that control cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixuan Wu
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sophie Shen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Dalia Mizikovsky
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yuanzhao Cao
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Marina Naval-Sanchez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Siew Zhuan Tan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yanina D Alvarez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yuliangzi Sun
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Xiaoli Chen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Qiongyi Zhao
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Daniel Kim
- Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Pengyi Yang
- Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Timothy A Hill
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alun Jones
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David P Fairlie
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alice Pébay
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Patrick P L Tam
- Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Melanie D White
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Christian M Nefzger
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Nathan J Palpant
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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7
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Ye C, Yang C, Zhang H, Gao R, Liao Y, Zhang Y, Jie L, Zhang Y, Cheng T, Wang Y, Ren J. Canonical Wnt signaling directs the generation of functional human PSC-derived atrioventricular canal cardiomyocytes in bioprinted cardiac tissues. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:398-409.e5. [PMID: 38366588 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.01.008] [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: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The creation of a functional 3D bioprinted human heart remains challenging, largely due to the lack of some crucial cardiac cell types, including the atrioventricular canal (AVC) cardiomyocytes, which are essential to slow down the electrical impulse between the atrium and ventricle. By utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and a 3D bioprinting technology, we discover that stage-specific activation of canonical Wnt signaling creates functional AVC cardiomyocytes derived from human pluripotent stem cells. These cardiomyocytes display morphological characteristics and express molecular markers of AVC cardiomyocytes, including transcription factors TBX2 and MSX2. When bioprinted in prefabricated cardiac tissues, these cardiomyocytes successfully delay the electrical impulse, demonstrating their capability of functioning as the AVC cardiomyocytes in vitro. Thus, these findings not only identify canonical Wnt signaling as a key regulator of the AVC cardiomyocyte differentiation in vitro, but, more importantly, provide a critical cellular source for the biofabrication of a functional human heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Ye
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361006, Fujian, China
| | - Chuanlai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Heqiang Zhang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361006, Fujian, China
| | - Rui Gao
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361006, Fujian, China
| | - Yingnan Liao
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361006, Fujian, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Lingjun Jie
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361006, Fujian, China
| | - Yanhui Zhang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361006, Fujian, China
| | - Tong Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, National Institute of Diagnostics and Vaccine Development in Infectious Diseases, School of Life Sciences, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361006, Fujian, China.
| | - Jie Ren
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361006, Fujian, China.
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8
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Noël ES. Cardiac construction-Recent advances in morphological and transcriptional modeling of early heart development. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 156:121-156. [PMID: 38556421 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.02.005] [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] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
During human embryonic development the early establishment of a functional heart is vital to support the growing fetus. However, forming the embryonic heart is an extremely complex process, requiring spatiotemporally controlled cell specification and differentiation, tissue organization, and coordination of cardiac function. These complexities, in concert with the early and rapid development of the embryonic heart, mean that understanding the intricate interplay between these processes that help shape the early heart remains highly challenging. In this review I focus on recent insights from animal models that have shed new light on the earliest stages of heart development. This includes specification and organization of cardiac progenitors, cell and tissue movements that make and shape the early heart tube, and the initiation of the first beat in the developing heart. In addition I highlight relevant in vitro models that could support translation of findings from animal models to human heart development. Finally I discuss challenges that are being addressed in the field, along with future considerations that together may help move us towards a deeper understanding of how our hearts are made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Noël
- School of Biosciences and Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
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9
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Guo H, Hang C, Lin B, Lin Z, Xiong H, Zhang M, Lu R, Liu J, Shi D, Xie D, Liu Y, Liang D, Yang J, Chen YH. HAND factors regulate cardiac lineage commitment and differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:31. [PMID: 38317221 PMCID: PMC10845658 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03649-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcription factors HAND1 and HAND2 (HAND1/2) play significant roles in cardiac organogenesis. Abnormal expression and deficiency of HAND1/2 result in severe cardiac defects. However, the function and mechanism of HAND1/2 in regulating human early cardiac lineage commitment and differentiation are still unclear. METHODS With NKX2.5eGFP H9 human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), we established single and double knockout cell lines for HAND1 and HAND2, respectively, whose cardiomyocyte differentiation efficiency could be monitored by assessing NKX2.5-eGFP+ cells with flow cytometry. The expression of specific markers for heart fields and cardiomyocyte subtypes was examined by quantitative PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence staining. Microelectrode array and whole-cell patch clamp were performed to determine the electrophysiological characteristics of differentiated cardiomyocytes. The transcriptomic changes of HAND knockout cells were revealed by RNA sequencing. The HAND1/2 target genes were identified and validated experimentally by integrating with HAND1/2 chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data. RESULTS Either HAND1 or HAND2 knockout did not affect the cardiomyocyte differentiation kinetics, whereas depletion of HAND1/2 resulted in delayed differentiation onset. HAND1 knockout biased cardiac mesoderm toward second heart field progenitors at the expense of first heart field progenitors, leading to increased expression of atrial and outflow tract cardiomyocyte markers, which was further confirmed by the appearance of atrial-like action potentials. By contrast, HAND2 knockout cardiomyocytes had reduced expression of atrial cardiomyocyte markers and displayed ventricular-like action potentials. HAND1/2-deficient hESCs were more inclined to second heart field lineage and its derived cardiomyocytes with atrial-like action potentials than HAND1 single knockout during differentiation. Further mechanistic investigations suggested TBX5 as one of the downstream targets of HAND1/2, whose overexpression partially restored the abnormal cardiomyocyte differentiation in HAND1/2-deficient hESCs. CONCLUSIONS HAND1/2 have specific and redundant roles in cardiac lineage commitment and differentiation. These findings not only reveal the essential function of HAND1/2 in cardiac organogenesis, but also provide important information on the pathogenesis of HAND1/2 deficiency-related congenital heart diseases, which could potentially lead to new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huixin Guo
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China
| | - Chengwen Hang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Bowen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zheyi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Hui Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Cell Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Mingshuai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Cell Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Renhong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Junyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Cell Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Dan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Duanyang Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Dandan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Research Units of Origin and Regulation of Heart Rhythm, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jian Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Department of Cell Biology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Research Units of Origin and Regulation of Heart Rhythm, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Yi-Han Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
- Shanghai Arrhythmia Research Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200120, China.
- Shanghai Frontiers Center of Nanocatalytic Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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10
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Al-attar R, Jargstorf J, Romagnuolo R, Jouni M, Alibhai FJ, Lampe PD, Solan JL, Laflamme MA. Casein Kinase 1 Phosphomimetic Mutations Negatively Impact Connexin-43 Gap Junctions in Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Biomolecules 2024; 14:61. [PMID: 38254663 PMCID: PMC10813327 DOI: 10.3390/biom14010061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The transplantation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) has shown promise in preclinical models of myocardial infarction, but graft myocardium exhibits incomplete host-graft electromechanical integration and a propensity for pro-arrhythmic behavior. Perhaps contributing to this situation, hPSC-CM grafts show low expression of connexin 43 (Cx43), the major gap junction (GJ) protein, in ventricular myocardia. We hypothesized that Cx43 expression and function could be rescued by engineering Cx43 in hPSC-CMs with a series of phosphatase-resistant mutations at three casein kinase 1 phosphorylation sites (Cx43-S3E) that have been previously reported to stabilize Cx43 GJs and reduce arrhythmias in transgenic mice. However, contrary to our predictions, transgenic Cx43-S3E hPSC-CMs exhibited reduced Cx43 expression relative to wild-type cells, both at baseline and following ischemic challenge. Cx43-S3E hPSC-CMs showed correspondingly slower conduction velocities, increased automaticity, and differential expression of other connexin isoforms and various genes involved in cardiac excitation-contraction coupling. Cx43-S3E hPSC-CMs also had phosphorylation marks associated with Cx43 GJ internalization, a finding that may account for their impaired GJ localization. Taken collectively, our data indicate that the Cx43-S3E mutation behaves differently in hPSC-CMs than in adult mouse ventricular myocytes and that multiple biological factors likely need to be addressed synchronously to ensure proper Cx43 expression, localization, and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasha Al-attar
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; (R.A.-a.); (J.J.); (R.R.); (M.J.); (F.J.A.)
| | - Joseph Jargstorf
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; (R.A.-a.); (J.J.); (R.R.); (M.J.); (F.J.A.)
| | - Rocco Romagnuolo
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; (R.A.-a.); (J.J.); (R.R.); (M.J.); (F.J.A.)
| | - Mariam Jouni
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; (R.A.-a.); (J.J.); (R.R.); (M.J.); (F.J.A.)
| | - Faisal J. Alibhai
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; (R.A.-a.); (J.J.); (R.R.); (M.J.); (F.J.A.)
| | - Paul D. Lampe
- Translational Research Program, Public Health Sciences and Human Biology Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (P.D.L.); (J.L.S.)
| | - Joell L. Solan
- Translational Research Program, Public Health Sciences and Human Biology Divisions, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; (P.D.L.); (J.L.S.)
| | - Michael A. Laflamme
- McEwen Stem Cell Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; (R.A.-a.); (J.J.); (R.R.); (M.J.); (F.J.A.)
- Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
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11
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Shafi O, Siddiqui G, Jaffry HA. The benign nature and rare occurrence of cardiac myxoma as a possible consequence of the limited cardiac proliferative/ regenerative potential: a systematic review. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:1245. [PMID: 38110859 PMCID: PMC10726542 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11723-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiac Myxoma is a primary tumor of heart. Its origins, rarity of the occurrence of primary cardiac tumors and how it may be related to limited cardiac regenerative potential, are not yet entirely known. This study investigates the key cardiac genes/ transcription factors (TFs) and signaling pathways to understand these important questions. METHODS Databases including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar were searched for published articles without any date restrictions, involving cardiac myxoma, cardiac genes/TFs/signaling pathways and their roles in cardiogenesis, proliferation, differentiation, key interactions and tumorigenesis, with focus on cardiomyocytes. RESULTS The cardiac genetic landscape is governed by a very tight control between proliferation and differentiation-related genes/TFs/pathways. Cardiac myxoma originates possibly as a consequence of dysregulations in the gene expression of differentiation regulators including Tbx5, GATA4, HAND1/2, MYOCD, HOPX, BMPs. Such dysregulations switch the expression of cardiomyocytes into progenitor-like state in cardiac myxoma development by dysregulating Isl1, Baf60 complex, Wnt, FGF, Notch, Mef2c and others. The Nkx2-5 and MSX2 contribute predominantly to both proliferation and differentiation of Cardiac Progenitor Cells (CPCs), may possibly serve roles based on the microenvironment and the direction of cell circuitry in cardiac tumorigenesis. The Nkx2-5 in cardiac myxoma may serve to limit progression of tumorigenesis as it has massive control over the proliferation of CPCs. The cardiac cell type-specific genetic programming plays governing role in controlling the tumorigenesis and regenerative potential. CONCLUSION The cardiomyocytes have very limited proliferative and regenerative potential. They survive for long periods of time and tightly maintain the gene expression of differentiation genes such as Tbx5, GATA4 that interact with tumor suppressors (TS) and exert TS like effect. The total effect such gene expression exerts is responsible for the rare occurrence and benign nature of primary cardiac tumors. This prevents the progression of tumorigenesis. But this also limits the regenerative and proliferative potential of cardiomyocytes. Cardiac Myxoma develops as a consequence of dysregulations in these key genes which revert the cells towards progenitor-like state, hallmark of CM. The CM development in carney complex also signifies the role of TS in cardiac cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ovais Shafi
- Sindh Medical College - Jinnah Sindh Medical University / Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
| | - Ghazia Siddiqui
- Sindh Medical College - Jinnah Sindh Medical University / Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Hassam A Jaffry
- Sindh Medical College - Jinnah Sindh Medical University / Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
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12
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Bileckyj C, Blotz B, Cripps RM. Drosophila as a Model to Understand Second Heart Field Development. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:494. [PMID: 38132661 PMCID: PMC10744189 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10120494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The genetic model system Drosophila has contributed fundamentally to our understanding of mammalian heart specification, development, and congenital heart disease. The relatively simple Drosophila heart is a linear muscular tube that is specified and develops in the embryo and persists throughout the life of the animal. It functions at all stages to circulate hemolymph within the open circulatory system of the body. During Drosophila metamorphosis, the cardiac tube is remodeled, and a new layer of muscle fibers spreads over the ventral surface of the heart to form the ventral longitudinal muscles. The formation of these fibers depends critically upon genes known to be necessary for mammalian second heart field (SHF) formation. Here, we review the prior contributions of the Drosophila system to the understanding of heart development and disease, discuss the importance of the SHF to mammalian heart development and disease, and then discuss how the ventral longitudinal adult cardiac muscles can serve as a novel model for understanding SHF development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Richard M. Cripps
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA
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13
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Schmidt C, Deyett A, Ilmer T, Haendeler S, Torres Caballero A, Novatchkova M, Netzer MA, Ceci Ginistrelli L, Mancheno Juncosa E, Bhattacharya T, Mujadzic A, Pimpale L, Jahnel SM, Cirigliano M, Reumann D, Tavernini K, Papai N, Hering S, Hofbauer P, Mendjan S. Multi-chamber cardioids unravel human heart development and cardiac defects. Cell 2023; 186:5587-5605.e27. [PMID: 38029745 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The number one cause of human fetal death are defects in heart development. Because the human embryonic heart is inaccessible and the impacts of mutations, drugs, and environmental factors on the specialized functions of different heart compartments are not captured by in vitro models, determining the underlying causes is difficult. Here, we established a human cardioid platform that recapitulates the development of all major embryonic heart compartments, including right and left ventricles, atria, outflow tract, and atrioventricular canal. By leveraging 2D and 3D differentiation, we efficiently generated progenitor subsets with distinct first, anterior, and posterior second heart field identities. This advance enabled the reproducible generation of cardioids with compartment-specific in vivo-like gene expression profiles, morphologies, and functions. We used this platform to unravel the ontogeny of signal and contraction propagation between interacting heart chambers and dissect how mutations, teratogens, and drugs cause compartment-specific defects in the developing human heart.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Schmidt
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna, and Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alison Deyett
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna, and Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tobias Ilmer
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria; FH Campus Wien, Favoritenstraße 226, 1100 Vienna, Austria
| | - Simon Haendeler
- Center for Integrative Bioinformatics Vienna, Max Perutz Laboratories, University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna, and Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Aranxa Torres Caballero
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Novatchkova
- Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP), Campus-Vienna-Biocenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael A Netzer
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lavinia Ceci Ginistrelli
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna, and Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Estela Mancheno Juncosa
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna, and Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Tanishta Bhattacharya
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Amra Mujadzic
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lokesh Pimpale
- HeartBeat.bio AG, Dr. Bohr Gasse 7, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan M Jahnel
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martina Cirigliano
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Daniel Reumann
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna, and Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katherina Tavernini
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna, and Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Nora Papai
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria; Vienna BioCenter PhD Program, Doctoral School of the University of Vienna, and Medical University of Vienna, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Steffen Hering
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Vienna, Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Pablo Hofbauer
- HeartBeat.bio AG, Dr. Bohr Gasse 7, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Sasha Mendjan
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria.
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14
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Chua CJ, Morrissette-McAlmon J, Tung L, Boheler KR. Understanding Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy: Advances through the Use of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Models. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1864. [PMID: 37895213 PMCID: PMC10606441 DOI: 10.3390/genes14101864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyopathies (CMPs) represent a significant healthcare burden and are a major cause of heart failure leading to premature death. Several CMPs are now recognized to have a strong genetic basis, including arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM), which predisposes patients to arrhythmic episodes. Variants in one of the five genes (PKP2, JUP, DSC2, DSG2, and DSP) encoding proteins of the desmosome are known to cause a subset of ACM, which we classify as desmosome-related ACM (dACM). Phenotypically, this disease may lead to sudden cardiac death in young athletes and, during late stages, is often accompanied by myocardial fibrofatty infiltrates. While the pathogenicity of the desmosome genes has been well established through animal studies and limited supplies of primary human cells, these systems have drawbacks that limit their utility and relevance to understanding human disease. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have emerged as a powerful tool for modeling ACM in vitro that can overcome these challenges, as they represent a reproducible and scalable source of cardiomyocytes (CMs) that recapitulate patient phenotypes. In this review, we provide an overview of dACM, summarize findings in other model systems linking desmosome proteins with this disease, and provide an up-to-date summary of the work that has been conducted in hiPSC-cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) models of dACM. In the context of the hiPSC-CM model system, we highlight novel findings that have contributed to our understanding of disease and enumerate the limitations, prospects, and directions for research to consider towards future progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christianne J. Chua
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (C.J.C.); (J.M.-M.); (L.T.)
| | - Justin Morrissette-McAlmon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (C.J.C.); (J.M.-M.); (L.T.)
| | - Leslie Tung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (C.J.C.); (J.M.-M.); (L.T.)
| | - Kenneth R. Boheler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (C.J.C.); (J.M.-M.); (L.T.)
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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15
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Reece AS, Hulse GK. Perturbation of 3D nuclear architecture, epigenomic dysregulation and aging, and cannabinoid synaptopathy reconfigures conceptualization of cannabinoid pathophysiology: part 1-aging and epigenomics. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1182535. [PMID: 37732074 PMCID: PMC10507876 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1182535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Much recent attention has been directed toward the spatial organization of the cell nucleus and the manner in which three-dimensional topologically associated domains and transcription factories are epigenetically coordinated to precisely bring enhancers into close proximity with promoters to control gene expression. Twenty lines of evidence robustly implicate cannabinoid exposure with accelerated organismal and cellular aging. Aging has recently been shown to be caused by increased DNA breaks. These breaks rearrange and maldistribute the epigenomic machinery to weaken and reverse cellular differentiation, cause genome-wide DNA demethylation, reduce gene transcription, and lead to the inhibition of developmental pathways, which contribute to the progressive loss of function and chronic immune stimulation that characterize cellular aging. Both cell lineage-defining superenhancers and the superanchors that control them are weakened. Cannabis exposure phenocopies the elements of this process and reproduces DNA and chromatin breakages, reduces the DNA, RNA protein and histone synthesis, interferes with the epigenomic machinery controlling both DNA and histone modifications, induces general DNA hypomethylation, and epigenomically disrupts both the critical boundary elements and the cohesin motors that create chromatin loops. This pattern of widespread interference with developmental programs and relative cellular dedifferentiation (which is pro-oncogenic) is reinforced by cannabinoid impairment of intermediate metabolism (which locks in the stem cell-like hyper-replicative state) and cannabinoid immune stimulation (which perpetuates and increases aging and senescence programs, DNA damage, DNA hypomethylation, genomic instability, and oncogenesis), which together account for the diverse pattern of teratologic and carcinogenic outcomes reported in recent large epidemiologic studies in Europe, the USA, and elsewhere. It also accounts for the prominent aging phenotype observed clinically in long-term cannabis use disorder and the 20 characteristics of aging that it manifests. Increasing daily cannabis use, increasing use in pregnancy, and exponential dose-response effects heighten the epidemiologic and clinical urgency of these findings. Together, these findings indicate that cannabinoid genotoxicity and epigenotoxicity are prominent features of cannabis dependence and strongly indicate coordinated multiomics investigations of cannabinoid genome-epigenome-transcriptome-metabolome, chromatin conformation, and 3D nuclear architecture. Considering the well-established exponential dose-response relationships, the diversity of cannabinoids, and the multigenerational nature of the implications, great caution is warranted in community cannabinoid penetration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Stuart Reece
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
| | - Gary Kenneth Hulse
- Division of Psychiatry, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
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16
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Wu F, He Q, Li F, Yang X. A review of protocols for engineering human cardiac organoids. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19938. [PMID: 37809996 PMCID: PMC10559357 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19938] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of human cardiac organoids (hCOs) as 3D in vitro models for cardiovascular research has shown great promise. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have proven to be a potent source for engineering hCOs. However, various protocols for generating hCOs from hPSCs result in significant differences in heart development, maturity, complexity, vascularization, and spatial structure, all of which can influence their functional and physiological properties. This protocol review aims to highlight different strategies for generating hCOs using hPSCs while also critically discussing their challenges and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fujian Wu
- Translational Medicine Collaborative Innovation Center, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
- Post-doctoral Scientific Research Station of Basic Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Stem Cell and Cell Therapy, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Transformation, Shenzhen Immune Cell Therapy Public Service Platform, Shenzhen, 518020, China
| | - Qian He
- School of Food and Drug, Shenzhen Polytechnic, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Furong Li
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Stem Cell and Cell Therapy, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Transformation, Shenzhen Immune Cell Therapy Public Service Platform, Shenzhen, 518020, China
| | - Xiaofei Yang
- Translational Medicine Collaborative Innovation Center, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Stem Cell and Cell Therapy, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Transformation, Shenzhen Immune Cell Therapy Public Service Platform, Shenzhen, 518020, China
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17
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Maas RGC, van den Dolder FW, Yuan Q, van der Velden J, Wu SM, Sluijter JPG, Buikema JW. Harnessing developmental cues for cardiomyocyte production. Development 2023; 150:dev201483. [PMID: 37560977 PMCID: PMC10445742 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Developmental research has attempted to untangle the exact signals that control heart growth and size, with knockout studies in mice identifying pivotal roles for Wnt and Hippo signaling during embryonic and fetal heart growth. Despite this improved understanding, no clinically relevant therapies are yet available to compensate for the loss of functional adult myocardium and the absence of mature cardiomyocyte renewal that underlies cardiomyopathies of multiple origins. It remains of great interest to understand which mechanisms are responsible for the decline in proliferation in adult hearts and to elucidate new strategies for the stimulation of cardiac regeneration. Multiple signaling pathways have been identified that regulate the proliferation of cardiomyocytes in the embryonic heart and appear to be upregulated in postnatal injured hearts. In this Review, we highlight the interaction of signaling pathways in heart development and discuss how this knowledge has been translated into current technologies for cardiomyocyte production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee G. C. Maas
- Utrecht Regenerative Medicine Center, Circulatory Health Laboratory, University Utrecht, Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Floor W. van den Dolder
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Qianliang Yuan
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jolanda van der Velden
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sean M. Wu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine,Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joost P. G. Sluijter
- Utrecht Regenerative Medicine Center, Circulatory Health Laboratory, University Utrecht, Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jan W. Buikema
- Utrecht Regenerative Medicine Center, Circulatory Health Laboratory, University Utrecht, Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, Amsterdam Heart Center, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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18
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Thorpe J, Perry MD, Contreras O, Hurley E, Parker G, Harvey RP, Hill AP, Vandenberg JI. Development of a robust induced pluripotent stem cell atrial cardiomyocyte differentiation protocol to model atrial arrhythmia. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:183. [PMID: 37501071 PMCID: PMC10373292 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03405-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia syndrome and causes significant morbidity and mortality. Current therapeutics, however, have limited efficacy. Notably, many therapeutics shown to be efficacious in animal models have not proved effective in humans. Thus, there is a need for a drug screening platform based on human tissue. The aim of this study was to develop a robust protocol for generating atrial cardiomyocytes from human-induced pluripotent stem cells. METHODS A novel protocol for atrial differentiation, with optimized timing of retinoic acid during mesoderm formation, was compared to two previously published methods. Each differentiation method was assessed for successful formation of a contractile syncytium, electrical properties assayed by optical action potential recordings and multi-electrode array electrophysiology, and response to the G-protein-gated potassium channel activator, carbamylcholine. Atrial myocyte monolayers, derived using the new differentiation protocol, were further assessed for cardiomyocyte purity, gene expression, and the ability to form arrhythmic rotors in response to burst pacing. RESULTS Application of retinoic acid at day 1 of mesoderm formation resulted in a robust differentiation of atrial myocytes with contractile syncytium forming in 16/18 differentiations across two cell lines. Atrial-like myocytes produced have shortened action potentials and field potentials, when compared to standard application of retinoic acid at the cardiac mesoderm stage. Day 1 retinoic acid produced atrial cardiomyocytes are also carbamylcholine sensitive, indicative of active Ikach currents, which was distinct from ventricular myocytes and standard retinoic addition in matched differentiations. A current protocol utilizing reduced Activin A and BMP4 can produce atrial cardiomyocytes with equivalent functionality but with reduced robustness of differentiation; only 8/17 differentiations produced a contractile syncytium. The day 1 retinoic acid protocol was successfully applied to 6 iPSC lines (3 male and 3 female) without additional optimization or modification. Atrial myocytes produced could also generate syncytia with rapid conduction velocities, > 40 cm s-1, and form rotor style arrhythmia in response to burst pacing. CONCLUSIONS This method combines an enhanced atrial-like phenotype with robustness of differentiation, which will facilitate further research in human atrial arrhythmia and myopathies, while being economically viable for larger anti-arrhythmic drug screens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Thorpe
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew D Perry
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Osvaldo Contreras
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Emily Hurley
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - George Parker
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Richard P Harvey
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Adam P Hill
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Jamie I Vandenberg
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
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19
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Lam YY, Chan CH, Geng L, Wong N, Keung W, Cheung YF. APLNR marks a cardiac progenitor derived with human induced pluripotent stem cells. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18243. [PMID: 37539315 PMCID: PMC10395470 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18243] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes can be readily derived from human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines, yet its efficacy varies across different batches of the same and different hiPSC lines. To unravel the inconsistencies of in vitro cardiac differentiation, we utilized single cell transcriptomics on hiPSCs undergoing cardiac differentiation and identified cardiac and extra-cardiac lineages throughout differentiation. We further identified APLNR as a surface marker for in vitro cardiac progenitors and immunomagnetically isolated them. Differentiation of isolated in vitro APLNR+ cardiac progenitors derived from multiple hiPSC lines resulted in predominantly cardiomyocytes accompanied with cardiac mesenchyme. Transcriptomic analysis of differentiating in vitro APLNR+ cardiac progenitors revealed transient expression of cardiac progenitor markers before further commitment into cardiomyocyte and cardiac mesenchyme. Analysis of in vivo human and mouse embryo single cell transcriptomic datasets have identified APLNR expression in early cardiac progenitors of multiple lineages. This platform enables generation of in vitro cardiac progenitors from multiple hiPSC lines without genetic manipulation, which has potential applications in studying cardiac development, disease modelling and cardiac regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-Yu Lam
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Chun-Ho Chan
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Lin Geng
- – Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, HKU-KI Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Nicodemus Wong
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Wendy Keung
- – Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, HKU-KI Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Yiu-Fai Cheung
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, China
- – Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, HKU-KI Collaboration in Regenerative Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, China
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20
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Soares BX, Miranda CC, Fernandes TG. Systems bioengineering approaches for developmental toxicology. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:3272-3279. [PMID: 38213895 PMCID: PMC10781881 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Developmental toxicology is the field of study that examines the effects of chemical and physical agents on developing organisms. By using principles of systems biology and bioengineering, a systems bioengineering approach could be applied to study the complex interactions between developing organisms, the environment, and toxic agents. This approach would result in a holistic understanding of the effects of toxic agents on organisms, by considering the interactions between different biological systems and the impacts of toxicants on those interactions. It would be useful in identifying key biological pathways and mechanisms affected by toxic agents, as well as in the development of predictive models to assess potential risks of exposure to toxicants during development. In this review, we discuss the relevance of systems bioengineering to the field of developmental toxicity and provide up-to-date examples that illustrate the use of engineering principles for this application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Xavier Soares
- Department of Bioengineering and iBB – Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Cláudia C. Miranda
- Department of Bioengineering and iBB – Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- AccelBio, Collaborative Laboratory to Foster Translation and Drug Discovery, Cantanhede, Portugal
| | - Tiago G. Fernandes
- Department of Bioengineering and iBB – Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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21
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Dark N, Cosson MV, Tsansizi LI, Owen TJ, Ferraro E, Francis AJ, Tsai S, Bouissou C, Weston A, Collinson L, Abi-Gerges N, Miller PE, MacLeod KT, Ehler E, Mitter R, Harding SE, Smith JC, Bernardo AS. Generation of left ventricle-like cardiomyocytes with improved structural, functional, and metabolic maturity from human pluripotent stem cells. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2023; 3:100456. [PMID: 37159667 PMCID: PMC10163040 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2023.100456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Decreased left ventricle (LV) function caused by genetic mutations or injury often leads to debilitating and fatal cardiovascular disease. LV cardiomyocytes are, therefore, a potentially valuable therapeutical target. Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) are neither homogeneous nor functionally mature, which reduces their utility. Here, we exploit cardiac development knowledge to instruct differentiation of hPSCs specifically toward LV cardiomyocytes. Correct mesoderm patterning and retinoic acid pathway blocking are essential to generate near-homogenous LV-specific hPSC-CMs (hPSC-LV-CMs). These cells transit via first heart field progenitors and display typical ventricular action potentials. Importantly, hPSC-LV-CMs exhibit increased metabolism, reduced proliferation, and improved cytoarchitecture and functional maturity compared with age-matched cardiomyocytes generated using the standard WNT-ON/WNT-OFF protocol. Similarly, engineered heart tissues made from hPSC-LV-CMs are better organized, produce higher force, and beat more slowly but can be paced to physiological levels. Together, we show that functionally matured hPSC-LV-CMs can be obtained rapidly without exposure to current maturation regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lorenza I. Tsansizi
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Andreia S. Bernardo
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
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22
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Zawada D, Kornherr J, Meier AB, Santamaria G, Dorn T, Nowak-Imialek M, Ortmann D, Zhang F, Lachmann M, Dreßen M, Ortiz M, Mascetti VL, Harmer SC, Nobles M, Tinker A, De Angelis MT, Pedersen RA, Grote P, Laugwitz KL, Moretti A, Goedel A. Retinoic acid signaling modulation guides in vitro specification of human heart field-specific progenitor pools. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1722. [PMID: 37012244 PMCID: PMC10070453 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36764-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiogenesis relies on the precise spatiotemporal coordination of multiple progenitor populations. Understanding the specification and differentiation of these distinct progenitor pools during human embryonic development is crucial for advancing our knowledge of congenital cardiac malformations and designing new regenerative therapies. By combining genetic labelling, single-cell transcriptomics, and ex vivo human-mouse embryonic chimeras we uncovered that modulation of retinoic acid signaling instructs human pluripotent stem cells to form heart field-specific progenitors with distinct fate potentials. In addition to the classical first and second heart fields, we observed the appearance of juxta-cardiac field progenitors giving rise to both myocardial and epicardial cells. Applying these findings to stem-cell based disease modelling we identified specific transcriptional dysregulation in first and second heart field progenitors derived from stem cells of patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. This highlights the suitability of our in vitro differentiation platform for studying human cardiac development and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Zawada
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Jessica Kornherr
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna B Meier
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Gianluca Santamaria
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Tatjana Dorn
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Monika Nowak-Imialek
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Ortmann
- Department of Surgery, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fangfang Zhang
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Mark Lachmann
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Martina Dreßen
- German Heart Center Munich, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Institute Insure - Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Victoria L Mascetti
- Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol Medical School, Translational Health Sciences, Bristol, UK
| | - Stephen C Harmer
- School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Muriel Nobles
- Clinical Pharmacology & Precision Medicine, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Tinker
- Clinical Pharmacology & Precision Medicine, William Harvey Research Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Maria Teresa De Angelis
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Graecia", Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Roger A Pedersen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Phillip Grote
- Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Karl-Ludwig Laugwitz
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany.
| | - Alessandra Moretti
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany.
- Regenerative Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases, First Department of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA.
| | - Alexander Goedel
- First Department of Medicine, Cardiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany.
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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23
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Metabolism-based cardiomyocytes production for regenerative therapy. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 176:11-20. [PMID: 36681267 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are currently used in clinical applications such as cardiac regenerative therapy, studying disease models, and drug screening for heart failure. Transplantation of hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) can be used as an alternative therapy for heart transplantation. In contrast to differentiated somatic cells, hPSCs possess unique metabolic programs to maintain pluripotency, and understanding their metabolic features can contribute to the development of technologies that can be useful for their clinical applications. The production of hPSC-CMs requires stepwise specification during embryonic development and metabolic regulation is crucial for proper embryonic development. These metabolic features have been applied to hPSC-CM production methods, such as mesoderm induction, specifications for cardiac progenitors, and their maturation. This review describes the metabolic programs in hPSCs and the metabolic regulation in hPSC-CM production for cardiac regenerative therapy.
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24
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Kelly RG. The heart field transcriptional landscape at single-cell resolution. Dev Cell 2023; 58:257-266. [PMID: 36809764 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
Organogenesis requires the orchestrated development of multiple cell lineages that converge, interact, and specialize to generate coherent functional structures, exemplified by transformation of the cardiac crescent into a four-chambered heart. Cardiomyocytes originate from the first and second heart fields, which make different regional contributions to the definitive heart. In this review, a series of recent single-cell transcriptomic analyses, together with genetic tracing experiments, are discussed, providing a detailed panorama of the cardiac progenitor cell landscape. These studies reveal that first heart field cells originate in a juxtacardiac field adjacent to extraembryonic mesoderm and contribute to the ventrolateral side of the cardiac primordium. In contrast, second heart field cells are deployed dorsomedially from a multilineage-primed progenitor population via arterial and venous pole pathways. Refining our knowledge of the origin and developmental trajectories of cells that build the heart is essential to address outstanding challenges in cardiac biology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert G Kelly
- Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS UMR 7288, IBDM, Marseille, France.
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25
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Ditadi A, Sturgeon CM. Back to the future: lessons from development drive innovation of human pluripotent stem cell therapies. Exp Hematol 2023; 117:9-14. [PMID: 36400313 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2022.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ditadi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
| | - Christopher M Sturgeon
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY.
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26
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Miyamoto M, Kwon C. Uncovering the origins and lineage markers of human heart fields. Cell Stem Cell 2022; 29:1285-1287. [PMID: 36055186 PMCID: PMC9479643 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.08.004] [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] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In this issue of Cell Stem Cell, Yang et al. devise a protocol for induction and differentiation of human heart-field precursors, drawing on inspiration from in vivo development. Intricate computational analyses uncovered conserved factors governing heart-field segregation, which facilitate enhanced study of human heart development and disease in the dish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Miyamoto
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Cell Biology, Heart and Vascular Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21042, USA; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Chulan Kwon
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Cell Biology, Heart and Vascular Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21042, USA.
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