1
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Sridhar A, DeSantiago J, Chen H, Pavel MA, Ly O, Owais A, Barney M, Jousma J, Nukala SB, Abdelhady K, Massad M, Rizkallah LE, Ong SG, Rehman J, Darbar D. Modulation of NOX2 causes obesity-mediated atrial fibrillation. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e175447. [PMID: 39146015 PMCID: PMC11405042 DOI: 10.1172/jci175447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity is linked to an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) via increased oxidative stress. While NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2), a major source of oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the heart, predisposes to AF, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we studied NOX2-mediated ROS production in obesity-mediated AF using Nox2-knockout mice and mature human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-aCMs). Diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice and hiPSC-aCMs treated with palmitic acid (PA) were infused with a NOX blocker (apocynin) and a NOX2-specific inhibitor, respectively. We showed that NOX2 inhibition normalized atrial action potential duration and abrogated obesity-mediated ion channel remodeling with reduced AF burden. Unbiased transcriptomics analysis revealed that NOX2 mediates atrial remodeling in obesity-mediated AF in DIO mice, PA-treated hiPSC-aCMs, and human atrial tissue from obese individuals by upregulation of paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2 (PITX2). Furthermore, hiPSC-aCMs treated with hydrogen peroxide, a NOX2 surrogate, displayed increased PITX2 expression, establishing a mechanistic link between increased NOX2-mediated ROS production and modulation of PITX2. Our findings offer insights into possible mechanisms through which obesity triggers AF and support NOX2 inhibition as a potential novel prophylactic or adjunctive therapy for patients with obesity-mediated AF.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jalees Rehman
- Division of Cardiology
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Dawood Darbar
- Division of Cardiology
- Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Administration, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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2
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Jiang X, Ly OT, Chen H, Zhang Z, Ibarra BA, Pavel MA, Brown GE, Sridhar A, Tofovic D, Swick A, Marszalek R, Vanoye CG, Navales F, George AL, Khetani SR, Rehman J, Gao Y, Darbar D, Saxena A. Transient titin-dependent ventricular defects during development lead to adult atrial arrhythmia and impaired contractility. iScience 2024; 27:110395. [PMID: 39100923 PMCID: PMC11296057 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Developmental causes of the most common arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (AF), are poorly defined, with compensation potentially masking arrhythmic risk. Here, we delete 9 amino acids (Δ9) within a conserved domain of the giant protein titin's A-band in zebrafish and human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-aCMs). We find that ttna Δ9/Δ9 zebrafish embryos' cardiac morphology is perturbed and accompanied by reduced functional output, but ventricular function recovers within days. Despite normal ventricular function, ttna Δ9/Δ9 adults exhibit AF and atrial myopathy, which are recapitulated in TTN Δ9/Δ9-hiPSC-aCMs. Additionally, action potential is shortened and slow delayed rectifier potassium current (I Ks) is increased due to aberrant atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels. Strikingly, suppression of I Ks in both models prevents AF and improves atrial contractility. Thus, a small internal deletion in titin causes developmental abnormalities that increase the risk of AF via ion channel remodeling, with implications for patients who harbor disease-causing variants in sarcomeric proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinghang Jiang
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Olivia T. Ly
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Hanna Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ziwei Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Beatriz A. Ibarra
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Mahmud A. Pavel
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Grace E. Brown
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Arvind Sridhar
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Department of Physiology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - David Tofovic
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Administration, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Abigail Swick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Richard Marszalek
- Department of Physiology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Carlos G. Vanoye
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Fritz Navales
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Alfred L. George
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Salman R. Khetani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Jalees Rehman
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Yu Gao
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Dawood Darbar
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown Veterans Administration, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ankur Saxena
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, UAB Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- University of Illinois Cancer Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
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3
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Abrasheva VO, Kovalenko SG, Slotvitsky M, Romanova SА, Aitova AA, Frolova S, Tsvelaya V, Syunyaev RA. Human sodium current voltage-dependence at physiological temperature measured by coupling a patch-clamp experiment to a mathematical model. J Physiol 2024; 602:633-661. [PMID: 38345560 DOI: 10.1113/jp285162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Voltage-gated Na+ channels are crucial to action potential propagation in excitable tissues. Because of the high amplitude and rapid activation of the Na+ current, voltage-clamp measurements are very challenging and are usually performed at room temperature. In this study, we measured Na+ current voltage-dependence in stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes at physiological temperature. While the apparent activation and inactivation curves, measured as the dependence of current amplitude on voltage, fall within the range reported in previous studies, we identified a systematic error in our measurements. This error is caused by the deviation of the membrane potential from the command potential of the amplifier. We demonstrate that it is possible to account for this artifact using computer simulation of the patch-clamp experiment. We obtained surprising results through patch-clamp model optimization: a half-activation of -11.5 mV and a half-inactivation of -87 mV. Although the half-activation deviates from previous research, we demonstrate that this estimate reproduces the conduction velocity dependence on extracellular potassium concentration. KEY POINTS: Voltage-gated Na+ currents play a crucial role in excitable tissues including neurons, cardiac and skeletal muscle. Measurement of Na+ current is challenging because of its high amplitude and rapid kinetics, especially at physiological temperature. We have used the patch-clamp technique to measure human Na+ current voltage-dependence in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. The patch-clamp data were processed by optimization of the model accounting for voltage-clamp experiment artifacts, revealing a large difference between apparent parameters of Na+ current and the results of the optimization. We conclude that actual Na+ current activation is extremely depolarized in comparison to previous studies. The new Na+ current model provides a better understanding of action potential propagation; we demonstrate that it explains propagation in hyperkalaemic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandaara G Kovalenko
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- ITMO University, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mihail Slotvitsky
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- ITMO University, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Serafima А Romanova
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
| | - Aleria A Aitova
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- ITMO University, St Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sheida Frolova
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valeria Tsvelaya
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow, Russia
- M. F. Vladimirsky Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Russia
- ITMO University, St Petersburg, Russia
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4
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Brown GE, Han YD, Michell AR, Ly OT, Vanoye CG, Spanghero E, George AL, Darbar D, Khetani SR. Engineered cocultures of iPSC-derived atrial cardiomyocytes and atrial fibroblasts for modeling atrial fibrillation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadg1222. [PMID: 38241367 PMCID: PMC10798559 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg1222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia treatable with antiarrhythmic drugs; however, patient responses remain highly variable. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (iPSC-aCMs) are useful for discovering precision therapeutics, but current platforms yield phenotypically immature cells and are not easily scalable for high-throughput screening. Here, primary adult atrial, but not ventricular, fibroblasts induced greater functional iPSC-aCM maturation, partly through connexin-40 and ephrin-B1 signaling. We developed a protein patterning process within multiwell plates to engineer patterned iPSC-aCM and atrial fibroblast coculture (PC) that significantly enhanced iPSC-aCM structural, electrical, contractile, and metabolic maturation for 6+ weeks compared to conventional mono-/coculture. PC displayed greater sensitivity for detecting drug efficacy than monoculture and enabled the modeling and pharmacological or gene editing treatment of an AF-like electrophysiological phenotype due to a mutated sodium channel. Overall, PC is useful for elucidating cell signaling in the atria, drug screening, and modeling AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace E. Brown
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Yong Duk Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ashlin R. Michell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Olivia T. Ly
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Carlos G. Vanoye
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Emanuele Spanghero
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alfred L. George
- Department of Pharmacology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dawood Darbar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Salman R. Khetani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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5
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Chapotte-Baldacci CA, Pierre M, Djemai M, Pouliot V, Chahine M. Biophysical properties of Na V1.5 channels from atrial-like and ventricular-like cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20685. [PMID: 38001331 PMCID: PMC10673932 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47310-6] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Generating atrial-like cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is crucial for modeling and treating atrial-related diseases, such as atrial arrythmias including atrial fibrillations. However, it is essential to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the electrophysiological properties of these cells. The objective of the present study was to investigate the molecular, electrical, and biophysical properties of several ion channels, especially NaV1.5 channels, in atrial hiPSC cardiomyocytes. Atrial cardiomyocytes were obtained by the differentiation of hiPSCs treated with retinoic acid (RA). The quality of the atrial specification was assessed by qPCR, immunocytofluorescence, and western blotting. The electrophysiological properties of action potentials (APs), Ca2+ dynamics, K+ and Na+ currents were investigated using patch-clamp and optical mapping approaches. We evaluated mRNA transcript and protein expressions to show that atrial cardiomyocytes expressed higher atrial- and sinoatrial-specific markers (MYL7, CACNA1D) and lower ventricular-specific markers (MYL2, CACNA1C, GJA1) than ventricular cardiomyocytes. The amplitude, duration, and steady-state phase of APs in atrial cardiomyocytes decreased, and had a shape similar to that of mature atrial cardiomyocytes. Interestingly, NaV1.5 channels in atrial cardiomyocytes exhibited lower mRNA transcripts and protein expression, which could explain the lower current densities recorded by patch-clamp. Moreover, Na+ currents exhibited differences in activation and inactivation parameters. These differences could be explained by an increase in SCN2B regulatory subunit expression and a decrease in SCN1B and SCN4B regulatory subunit expressions. Our results show that a RA treatment made it possible to obtain atrial cardiomyocytes and investigate differences in NaV1.5 channel properties between ventricular- and atrial-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles-Albert Chapotte-Baldacci
- Department of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Marion Pierre
- Department of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Mohammed Djemai
- Department of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Valérie Pouliot
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Mohamed Chahine
- CERVO Brain Research Centre, 2601, chemin de la Canardière, Quebec City, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada.
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Schulz C, Sönmez M, Krause J, Schwedhelm E, Bangfen P, Alihodzic D, Hansen A, Eschenhagen T, Christ T. A critical role of retinoic acid concentration for the induction of a fully human-like atrial action potential phenotype in hiPSC-CM. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:2096-2107. [PMID: 37922915 PMCID: PMC10679650 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) induces an atrial phenotype in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), but expression of atrium-selective currents such as the ultrarapid (IKur) and acetylcholine-stimulated K+ current is variable and less than in the adult human atrium. We suspected methodological issues and systematically investigated the concentration dependency of RA. RA treatment increased IKur concentration dependently from 1.1 ± 0.54 pA/pF (0 RA) to 3.8 ± 1.1, 5.8 ± 2.5, and 12.2 ± 4.3 at 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μM, respectively. Only 1 μM RA induced enough IKur to fully reproduce human atrial action potential (AP) shape and a robust shortening of APs upon carbachol. We found that sterile filtration caused substantial loss of RA. We conclude that 1 μM RA seems to be necessary and sufficient to induce a full atrial AP shape in hiPSC-CM in EHT format. RA concentrations are prone to methodological issues and may profoundly impact the success of atrial differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Schulz
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Muhammed Sönmez
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Krause
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Edzard Schwedhelm
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Pan Bangfen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dzenefa Alihodzic
- Hospital Pharmacy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Arne Hansen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Eschenhagen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Torsten Christ
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany.
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7
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Shiti A, Arbil G, Shaheen N, Huber I, Setter N, Gepstein L. Utilizing human induced pluripotent stem cells to study atrial arrhythmias in the short QT syndrome. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2023; 183:42-53. [PMID: 37579942 PMCID: PMC10589759 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2023.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among the monogenic inherited causes of atrial fibrillation is the short QT syndrome (SQTS), a rare channelopathy causing atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. One of the limitations in studying the mechanisms and optimizing treatment of SQTS-related atrial arrhythmias has been the lack of relevant human atrial tissues models. OBJECTIVE To generate a unique model to study SQTS-related atrial arrhythmias by combining the use of patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), atrial-specific differentiation schemes, two-dimensional tissue modeling, optical mapping, and drug testing. METHODS AND RESULTS SQTS (N588K KCNH2 mutation), isogenic-control, and healthy-control hiPSCs were coaxed to differentiate into atrial cardiomyocytes using a retinoic-acid based differentiation protocol. The atrial identity of the cells was confirmed by a distinctive pattern of MLC2v downregulation, connexin 40 upregulation, shorter and triangular-shaped action potentials (APs), and expression of the atrial-specific acetylcholine-sensitive potassium current. In comparison to the healthy- and isogenic control cells, the SQTS-hiPSC atrial cardiomyocytes displayed abbreviated APs and refractory periods along with an augmented rapidly activating delayed-rectifier potassium current (IKr). Optical mapping of a hiPSC-based atrial tissue model of the SQTS displayed shortened APD and altered biophysical properties of spiral waves induced in this model, manifested by accelerated spiral-wave frequency and increased rotor curvature. Both AP shortening and arrhythmia irregularities were reversed by quinidine and vernakalant treatment, but not by sotalol. CONCLUSIONS Patient-specific hiPSC-based atrial cellular and tissue models of the SQTS were established, which provide examples on how this type of modeling can shed light on the pathogenesis and pharmacological treatment of inherited atrial arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Assad Shiti
- Sohnis Family Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gil Arbil
- Sohnis Family Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Naim Shaheen
- Sohnis Family Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Irit Huber
- Sohnis Family Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Noga Setter
- Sohnis Family Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Lior Gepstein
- Sohnis Family Research Laboratory for Cardiac Electrophysiology and Regenerative Medicine, The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine and Research Institute, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; Cardiolology Department, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel.
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8
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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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9
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Ahmad FS, Jin Y, Grassam-Rowe A, Zhou Y, Yuan M, Fan X, Zhou R, Mu-u-min R, O'Shea C, Ibrahim AM, Hyder W, Aguib Y, Yacoub M, Pavlovic D, Zhang Y, Tan X, Lei M, Terrar DA. Generation of cardiomyocytes from human-induced pluripotent stem cells resembling atrial cells with ability to respond to adrenoceptor agonists. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220312. [PMID: 37122218 PMCID: PMC10150206 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common chronic arrhythmia presenting a heavy disease burden. We report a new approach for generating cardiomyocytes (CMs) resembling atrial cells from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) using a combination of Gremlin 2 and retinoic acid treatment. More than 40% of myocytes showed rod-shaped morphology, expression of CM proteins (including ryanodine receptor 2, α-actinin-2 and F-actin) and striated appearance, all of which were broadly similar to the characteristics of adult atrial myocytes (AMs). Isolated myocytes were electrically quiescent until stimulated to fire action potentials with an AM profile and an amplitude of approximately 100 mV, arising from a resting potential of approximately -70 mV. Single-cell RNA sequence analysis showed a high level of expression of several atrial-specific transcripts including NPPA, MYL7, HOXA3, SLN, KCNJ4, KCNJ5 and KCNA5. Amplitudes of calcium transients recorded from spontaneously beating cultures were increased by the stimulation of α-adrenoceptors (activated by phenylephrine and blocked by prazosin) or β-adrenoceptors (activated by isoproterenol and blocked by CGP20712A). Our new approach provides human AMs with mature characteristics from hiPSCs which will facilitate drug discovery by enabling the study of human atrial cell signalling pathways and AF. This article is part of the theme issue 'The heartbeat: its molecular basis and physiological mechanisms'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faizzan S. Ahmad
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
- Cure8bio, Inc, 395 Fulton Street, Westbury, NY 11590, USA
| | - Yongcheng Jin
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
| | | | - Yafei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education and Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 6400, People's Republic of China
- Shaanxi Institute for Pediatric Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an 710003, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Xuehui Fan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education and Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 6400, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education and Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 6400, People's Republic of China
| | - Razik Mu-u-min
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Christopher O'Shea
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medicine and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Ayman M. Ibrahim
- Aswan Heart Centre, Aswan 1242770, Egypt
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt
| | - Wajiha Hyder
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Yasmine Aguib
- Aswan Heart Centre, Aswan 1242770, Egypt
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Heart Science Centre, Imperial College London, Middlesex SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Magdi Yacoub
- Aswan Heart Centre, Aswan 1242770, Egypt
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Heart Science Centre, Imperial College London, Middlesex SW3 6LY, UK
| | - Davor Pavlovic
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medicine and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Yanmin Zhang
- Shaanxi Institute for Pediatric Diseases, Department of Cardiology, Xi'an Children's Hospital, Xi'an 710003, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqiu Tan
- Key Laboratory of Medical Electrophysiology of the Ministry of Education and Institute of Cardiovascular Research, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 6400, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Lei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
| | - Derek A. Terrar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
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10
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Altomare C, Bartolucci C, Sala L, Balbi C, Burrello J, Pietrogiovanna N, Burrello A, Bolis S, Panella S, Arici M, Krause R, Rocchetti M, Severi S, Barile L. A dynamic clamping approach using in silico IK1 current for discrimination of chamber-specific hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Commun Biol 2023; 6:291. [PMID: 36934210 PMCID: PMC10024709 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04674-9] [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] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CM) constitute a mixed population of ventricular-, atrial-, nodal-like cells, limiting the reliability for studying chamber-specific disease mechanisms. Previous studies characterised CM phenotype based on action potential (AP) morphology, but the classification criteria were still undefined. Our aim was to use in silico models to develop an automated approach for discriminating the electrophysiological differences between hiPSC-CM. We propose the dynamic clamp (DC) technique with the injection of a specific IK1 current as a tool for deriving nine electrical biomarkers and blindly classifying differentiated CM. An unsupervised learning algorithm was applied to discriminate CM phenotypes and principal component analysis was used to visualise cell clustering. Pharmacological validation was performed by specific ion channel blocker and receptor agonist. The proposed approach improves the translational relevance of the hiPSC-CM model for studying mechanisms underlying inherited or acquired atrial arrhythmias in human CM, and for screening anti-arrhythmic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Altomare
- Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
- Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Euler institute, Università Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Bartolucci
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering 'Guglielmo Marconi', University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy
| | - Luca Sala
- Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias of Genetic Origin and Laboratory of Cardiovascular Genetics, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Carolina Balbi
- Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Cellular and Molecular Cardiology, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
- Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jacopo Burrello
- Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
- Division of Internal Medicine 4 and Hypertension Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Nicole Pietrogiovanna
- Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Alessio Burrello
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering (DEI), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sara Bolis
- Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
- Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
- Cellular and Molecular Cardiology, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Stefano Panella
- Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
- Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Martina Arici
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Rolf Krause
- Euler institute, Università Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Marcella Rocchetti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Severi
- Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering 'Guglielmo Marconi', University of Bologna, Cesena, Italy.
| | - Lucio Barile
- Cardiovascular Theranostics, Istituto Cardiocentro Ticino, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland.
- Laboratories for Translational Research, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland.
- Euler institute, Università Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland.
- Institute of Life Science, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.
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11
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Schulz C, Lemoine MD, Mearini G, Koivumäki J, Sani J, Schwedhelm E, Kirchhof P, Ghalawinji A, Stoll M, Hansen A, Eschenhagen T, Christ T. PITX2 Knockout Induces Key Findings of Electrical Remodeling as Seen in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2023; 16:e011602. [PMID: 36763906 DOI: 10.1161/circep.122.011602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Electrical remodeling in human persistent atrial fibrillation is believed to result from rapid electrical activation of the atria, but underlying genetic causes may contribute. Indeed, common gene variants in an enhancer region close to PITX2 (paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 2) are strongly associated with atrial fibrillation, but the mechanism behind this association remains unknown. This study evaluated the consequences of PITX2 deletion (PITX2-/-) in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes. METHODS CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated 9) was used to delete PITX2 in a healthy human iPSC line that served as isogenic control. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes were differentiated with unfiltered retinoic acid and cultured in atrial engineered heart tissue. Force and action potential were measured in atrial engineered heart tissues. Single human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes were isolated from atrial engineered heart tissue for ion current measurements. RESULTS PITX2-/- atrial engineered heart tissue beats slightly slower than isogenic control without irregularity. Force was lower in PITX2-/- than in isogenic control (0.053±0.015 versus 0.131±0.017 mN, n=28/3 versus n=28/4, PITX2-/- versus isogenic control; P<0.0001), accompanied by lower expression of CACNA1C and lower L-type Ca2+ current density. Early repolarization was weaker (action potential duration at 20% repolarization; 45.5±13.2 versus 8.6±5.3 ms, n=18/3 versus n=12/4, PITX2-/- versus isogenic control; P<0.0001), and maximum diastolic potential was more negative (-78.3±3.1 versus -69.7±0.6 mV, n=18/3 versus n=12/4, PITX2-/- versus isogenic control; P=0.001), despite normal inward rectifier currents (both IK1 and IK,ACh) and carbachol-induced shortening of action potential duration. CONCLUSIONS Complete PITX2 deficiency in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes recapitulates some findings of electrical remodeling of atrial fibrillation in the absence of fast beating, indicating that these abnormalities could be primary consequences of lower PITX2 levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carl Schulz
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
| | - Marc D Lemoine
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany (M.D.L., A.H., P.K., T.E., T.C.)
| | - Giulia Mearini
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
- DiNAQOR AG, Pfäffikon, Switzerland (G.M., P.K.)
| | - Jussi Koivumäki
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Finland (J.K.)
| | - Jascha Sani
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
| | - Edzard Schwedhelm
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (E.S.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
| | - Paulus Kirchhof
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., E.S., P.K.)
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany (M.D.L., A.H., P.K., T.E., T.C.)
- DiNAQOR AG, Pfäffikon, Switzerland (G.M., P.K.)
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom (P.K.)
| | - Amer Ghalawinji
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Germany (A.G., M.S.)
| | - Monika Stoll
- Division of Genetic Epidemiology, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Germany (A.G., M.S.)
- Department of Biochemistry, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Sciences, Maastricht University, the Netherlands (M.S.)
| | - Arne Hansen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany (M.D.L., A.H., P.K., T.E., T.C.)
| | - Thomas Eschenhagen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany (M.D.L., A.H., P.K., T.E., T.C.)
| | - Torsten Christ
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology (C.S., M.D.L., G.M., J.S., A.H., T.E., T.C.), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg, Germany (M.D.L., A.H., P.K., T.E., T.C.)
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12
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Ismaili D, Schulz C, Horváth A, Koivumäki JT, Mika D, Hansen A, Eschenhagen T, Christ T. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes as an electrophysiological model: Opportunities and challenges-The Hamburg perspective. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1132165. [PMID: 36875015 PMCID: PMC9978010 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1132165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Models based on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) are proposed in almost any field of physiology and pharmacology. The development of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes is expected to become a step forward to increase the translational power of cardiovascular research. Importantly they should allow to study genetic effects on an electrophysiological background close to the human situation. However, biological and methodological issues revealed when human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes were used in experimental electrophysiology. We will discuss some of the challenges that should be considered when human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes will be used as a physiological model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Djemail Ismaili
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart and Vascular Center Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Carl Schulz
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - András Horváth
- Translational Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jussi T. Koivumäki
- BioMediTech, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - Delphine Mika
- Inserm, UMR-S 1180, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Arne Hansen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Eschenhagen
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Torsten Christ
- Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
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13
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Leowattana W, Leowattana T, Leowattana P. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-atrial-specific cardiomyocytes and atrial fibrillation. World J Clin Cases 2022; 10:9588-9601. [PMID: 36186184 PMCID: PMC9516943 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i27.9588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Patient-specific human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-aCMs) may be produced, genome-edited, and differentiated into multiple cell types for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, drug testing, toxicity screening, and three-dimensional tissue fabrication. There is presently no complete model of atrial fibrillation (AF) available for studying human pharmacological responses and evaluating the toxicity of potential medication candidates. It has been demonstrated that hiPSC-aCMs can replicate the electrophysiological disease phenotype and genotype of AF. The hiPSC-aCMs, however, are immature and do not reflect the maturity of aCMs in the native myocardium. Numerous laboratories utilize a variety of methodologies and procedures to improve and promote aCM maturation, including electrical stimulation, culture duration, biophysical signals, and changes in metabolic variables. This review covers the current methods being explored for use in the maturation of patient-specific hiPSC-aCMs and their application towards a personalized approach to the pharmacologic therapy of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wattana Leowattana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
| | - Tawithep Leowattana
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
| | - Pathomthep Leowattana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
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14
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Crespo-García T, Cámara-Checa A, Dago M, Rubio-Alarcón M, Rapún J, Tamargo J, Delpón E, Caballero R. Regulation of cardiac ion channels by transcription factors: Looking for new opportunities of druggable targets for the treatment of arrhythmias. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 204:115206. [PMID: 35963339 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.115206] [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: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac electrical activity is governed by different ion channels that generate action potentials. Acquired or inherited abnormalities in the expression and/or function of ion channels usually result in electrophysiological changes that can cause cardiac arrhythmias. Transcription factors (TFs) control gene transcription by binding to specific DNA sequences adjacent to target genes. Linkage analysis, candidate-gene screening within families, and genome-wide association studies have linked rare and common genetic variants in the genes encoding TFs with genetically-determined cardiac arrhythmias. Besides its critical role in cardiac development, recent data demonstrated that they control cardiac electrical activity through the direct regulation of the expression and function of cardiac ion channels in adult hearts. This narrative review summarizes some studies showing functional data on regulation of the main human atrial and ventricular Na+, Ca2+, and K+ channels by cardiac TFs such as Pitx2c, Tbx20, Tbx5, Zfhx3, among others. The results have improved our understanding of the mechanisms regulating cardiac electrical activity and may open new avenues for therapeutic interventions in cardiac acquired or inherited arrhythmias through the identification of TFs as potential drug targets. Even though TFs have for a long time been considered as 'undruggable' targets, advances in structural biology have led to the identification of unique pockets in TFs amenable to be targeted with small-molecule drugs or peptides that are emerging as novel therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Crespo-García
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - A Cámara-Checa
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - M Dago
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - M Rubio-Alarcón
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - J Rapún
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - J Tamargo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - E Delpón
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - R Caballero
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. School of Medicine. Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón. CIBERCV, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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15
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Ly OT, Chen H, Brown GE, Hong L, Wang X, Han YD, Pavel MA, Sridhar A, Maienschein-Cline M, Chalazan B, Ong SG, Abdelhady K, Massad M, Rizkallah LE, Rehman J, Khetani SR, Darbar D. Mutant ANP induces mitochondrial and ion channel remodeling in a human iPSC-derived atrial fibrillation model. JCI Insight 2022; 7:155640. [PMID: 35393944 PMCID: PMC9057627 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.155640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) can model heritable arrhythmias to personalize therapies for individual patients. Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, current platforms to generate iPSC-atrial (a) CMs are inadequate for modeling AF. We applied a combinatorial engineering approach, which integrated multiple physiological cues, including metabolic conditioning and electrical stimulation, to generate mature iPSC-aCMs. Using the patient’s own atrial tissue as a gold standard benchmark, we assessed the electrophysiological, structural, metabolic, and molecular maturation of iPSC-aCMs. Unbiased transcriptomic analysis and inference from gene regulatory networks identified key gene expression pathways and transcription factors mediating atrial development and maturation. Only mature iPSC-aCMs generated from patients with heritable AF carrying the non-ion channel gene (NPPA) mutation showed enhanced expression and function of a cardiac potassium channel and revealed mitochondrial electron transport chain dysfunction. Collectively, we propose that ion channel remodeling in conjunction with metabolic defects created an electrophysiological substrate for AF. Overall, our electro-metabolic approach generated mature human iPSC-aCMs that unmasked the underlying mechanism of the first non-ion channel gene, NPPA, that causes AF. Our maturation approach will allow for the investigation of the molecular underpinnings of heritable AF and the development of personalized therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia T Ly
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine.,Department of Biomedical Engineering
| | - Hanna Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
| | | | - Liang Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine
| | - Xinge Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine.,Department of Biomedical Engineering
| | | | | | - Arvind Sridhar
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine.,Department of Physiology
| | | | | | - Sang-Ging Ong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine.,Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine; and
| | - Khaled Abdelhady
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Malek Massad
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lona Ernst Rizkallah
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jalees Rehman
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine.,Department of Biomedical Engineering.,Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Dawood Darbar
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine.,Department of Biomedical Engineering.,Department of Physiology.,Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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16
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Conditional immortalization of human atrial myocytes for the generation of in vitro models of atrial fibrillation. Nat Biomed Eng 2022; 6:389-402. [PMID: 34992271 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00827-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The lack of a scalable and robust source of well-differentiated human atrial myocytes constrains the development of in vitro models of atrial fibrillation (AF). Here we show that fully functional atrial myocytes can be generated and expanded one-quadrillion-fold via a conditional cell-immortalization method relying on lentiviral vectors and the doxycycline-controlled expression of a recombinant viral oncogene in human foetal atrial myocytes, and that the immortalized cells can be used to generate in vitro models of AF. The method generated 15 monoclonal cell lines with molecular, cellular and electrophysiological properties resembling those of primary atrial myocytes. Multicellular in vitro models of AF generated using the immortalized atrial myocytes displayed fibrillatory activity (with activation frequencies of 6-8 Hz, consistent with the clinical manifestation of AF), which could be terminated by the administration of clinically approved antiarrhythmic drugs. The conditional cell-immortalization method could be used to generate functional cell lines from other human parenchymal cells, for the development of in vitro models of human disease.
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17
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Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell as a Disease Modeling and Drug Development Platform-A Cardiac Perspective. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123483. [PMID: 34943991 PMCID: PMC8699880 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology and cellular responses to drugs in human heart disease is limited by species differences between humans and experimental animals. In addition, isolation of human cardiomyocytes (CMs) is complicated because cells obtained by biopsy do not proliferate to provide sufficient numbers of cells for preclinical studies in vitro. Interestingly, the discovery of human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) has opened up the possibility of generating and studying heart disease in a culture dish. The combination of reprogramming and genome editing technologies to generate a broad spectrum of human heart diseases in vitro offers a great opportunity to elucidate gene function and mechanisms. However, to exploit the potential applications of hiPSC-derived-CMs for drug testing and studying adult-onset cardiac disease, a full functional characterization of maturation and metabolic traits is required. In this review, we focus on methods to reprogram somatic cells into hiPSC and the solutions for overcome immaturity of the hiPSC-derived-CMs to mimic the structure and physiological properties of the adult human CMs to accurately model disease and test drug safety. Finally, we discuss how to improve the culture, differentiation, and purification of CMs to obtain sufficient numbers of desired types of hiPSC-derived-CMs for disease modeling and drug development platform.
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18
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Honda Y, Li J, Hino A, Tsujimoto S, Lee JK. High-Throughput Drug Screening System Based on Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Atrial Myocytes ∼ A Novel Platform to Detect Cardiac Toxicity for Atrial Arrhythmias. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:680618. [PMID: 34413773 PMCID: PMC8369502 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.680618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Evaluation of proarrhythmic properties is critical for drug discovery. In particular, QT prolongation in electrocardiograms has been utilized as a surrogate marker in many evaluation systems to assess the risk of torsade de pointes and lethal ventricular arrhythmia. Recently, new evaluation systems based on human iPS cell-derived cardiomyocytes have been established. On the other hand, in clinical situations, it has been reported that the incidence of atrial arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation has been increasing every year, with the prediction of a persistent increase in the near future. As to the increased incidence of atrial arrhythmias, in addition to the increased population of geriatric patients, a wide variety of drug treatments may be related, as an experimental method to detect drug-induced atrial arrhythmia has not been established so far. In the present study, we characterized the atrial-like cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells and examined their potential for the evaluation of drug-induced atrial arrhythmia. Atrial-like cardiomyocytes were induced by adding retinoic acid (RA) during the process of myocardial differentiation, and their characteristics were compared to those of RA-free cardiomyocytes. Using gene expression and membrane potential analysis, it was confirmed that the cells with or without RA treatment have atrial or ventricular like cardiomyocytes, respectively. Using the ultra-rapid activating delayed rectifier potassium current (IKur) channel inhibitor, which is specific to atrial cardiomyocytes, Pulse width duration (PWD) 30cF prolongation was confirmed only in atrial-like cardiomyocytes. In addition, ventricular like cardiomyocytes exhibited an early after depolarization by treatment with rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr) channel inhibitor, which induces ventricular arrhythmia in clinical situations. Here, we have established a high-throughput drug evaluation system using human iPS cell-derived atrial-like cardiomyocytes. Based on the obtained data, the system might be a valuable platform to detect potential risks for drug-induced atrial arrhythmias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yayoi Honda
- Sumitomo-Dainippon Pharma CO., Ltd., Osaka, Japan.,Bioanalysis Group, Osaka Laboratory, Technical Solution Headquarters, Sumika Chemical Analysis Service, Ltd., Osaka, Japan
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan.,Department of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Aya Hino
- Department of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | | | - Jong-Kook Lee
- Department of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
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19
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Akwaboah AD, Tsevi B, Yamlome P, Treat JA, Brucal-Hallare M, Cordeiro JM, Deo M. An in silico hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocyte Model Built With Genetic Algorithm. Front Physiol 2021; 12:675867. [PMID: 34220540 PMCID: PMC8242263 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.675867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The formulation of in silico biophysical models generally requires optimization strategies for reproducing experimentally observed phenomena. In electrophysiological modeling, robust nonlinear regressive methods are often crucial for guaranteeing high fidelity models. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), though nascent, have proven to be useful in cardiac safety pharmacology, regenerative medicine, and in the implementation of patient-specific test benches for investigating inherited cardiac disorders. This study demonstrates the potency of heuristic techniques at formulating biophysical models, with emphasis on a hiPSC-CM model using a novel genetic algorithm (GA) recipe we proposed. The proposed GA protocol was used to develop a hiPSC-CM biophysical computer model by fitting mathematical formulations to experimental data for five ionic currents recorded in hiPSC-CMs. The maximum conductances of the remaining ionic channels were scaled based on recommendations from literature to accurately reproduce the experimentally observed hiPSC-CM action potential (AP) metrics. Near-optimal parameter fitting was achieved for the GA-fitted ionic currents. The resulting model recapitulated experimental AP parameters such as AP durations (APD50, APD75, and APD90), maximum diastolic potential, and frequency of automaticity. The outcome of this work has implications for validating the biophysics of hiPSC-CMs in their use as viable substitutes for human cardiomyocytes, particularly in cardiac safety pharmacology and in the study of inherited cardiac disorders. This study presents a novel GA protocol useful for formulating robust numerical biophysical models. The proposed protocol is used to develop a hiPSC-CM model with implications for cardiac safety pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akwasi D Akwaboah
- Department of Engineering, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Bright Tsevi
- Department of Engineering, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | - Pascal Yamlome
- Department of Engineering, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, United States
| | | | | | | | - Makarand Deo
- Department of Engineering, Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA, United States
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20
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Hong L, Zhang M, Ly OT, Chen H, Sridhar A, Lambers E, Chalazan B, Youn SW, Maienschein-Cline M, Feferman L, Ong SG, Wu JC, Rehman J, Darbar D. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes carrying an SCN5A mutation identify nitric oxide signaling as a mediator of atrial fibrillation. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:1542-1554. [PMID: 34019817 PMCID: PMC8190590 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in SCN5A, encoding the cardiac sodium channel, are linked with familial atrial fibrillation (AF) but the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms and implications for therapy remain unclear. To characterize the pathogenesis of AF-linked SCN5A mutations, we generated patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (iPSC-aCMs) from two kindreds carrying SCN5A mutations (E428K and N470K) and isogenic controls using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. We showed that mutant AF iPSC-aCMs exhibited spontaneous arrhythmogenic activity with beat-to-beat irregularity, prolonged action potential duration, and triggered-like beats. Single-cell recording revealed enhanced late sodium currents (INa,L) in AF iPSC-aCMs that were absent in a heterologous expression model. Gene expression profiling of AF iPSC-aCMs showed differential expression of the nitric oxide (NO)-mediated signaling pathway underlying enhanced INa,L. We showed that patient-specific AF iPSC-aCMs exhibited striking in vitro electrophysiological phenotype of AF-linked SCN5A mutations, and transcriptomic analyses supported that the NO signaling pathway modulated the INa,L and triggered AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Hong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Meihong Zhang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Olivia Thao Ly
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hanna Chen
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Arvind Sridhar
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Erin Lambers
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Brandon Chalazan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Seock-Won Youn
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Leonid Feferman
- Research Informatics Core, Research Resources Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sang-Ging Ong
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jalees Rehman
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dawood Darbar
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; Jesse Brown Veterans Administration Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
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21
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Ly OT, Brown GE, Han YD, Darbar D, Khetani SR. Bioengineering approaches to mature induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes to model atrial fibrillation. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:1816-1828. [PMID: 33899540 DOI: 10.1177/15353702211009146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) serve as a robust platform to model several human arrhythmia syndromes including atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the structural, molecular, functional, and electrophysiological parameters of patient-specific iPSC-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (iPSC-aCMs) do not fully recapitulate the mature phenotype of their human adult counterparts. The use of physiologically inspired microenvironmental cues, such as postnatal factors, metabolic conditioning, extracellular matrix (ECM) modulation, electrical and mechanical stimulation, co-culture with non-parenchymal cells, and 3D culture techniques can help mimic natural atrial development and induce a more mature adult phenotype in iPSC-aCMs. Such advances will not only elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of AF, but also identify and assess novel mechanism-based therapies towards supporting a more 'personalized' (i.e. patient-specific) approach to pharmacologic therapy of AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia T Ly
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Grace E Brown
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Yong Duk Han
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Dawood Darbar
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.,Department of Medicine, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Salman R Khetani
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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22
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James EC, Tomaskovic-Crook E, Crook JM. Bioengineering Clinically Relevant Cardiomyocytes and Cardiac Tissues from Pluripotent Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063005. [PMID: 33809429 PMCID: PMC8001925 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The regenerative capacity of cardiomyocytes is insufficient to functionally recover damaged tissue, and as such, ischaemic heart disease forms the largest proportion of cardiovascular associated deaths. Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) have enormous potential for developing patient specific cardiomyocytes for modelling heart disease, patient-based cardiac toxicity testing and potentially replacement therapy. However, traditional protocols for hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes yield mixed populations of atrial, ventricular and nodal-like cells with immature cardiac properties. New insights gleaned from embryonic heart development have progressed the precise production of subtype-specific hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes; however, their physiological immaturity severely limits their utility as model systems and their use for drug screening and cell therapy. The long-entrenched challenges in this field are being addressed by innovative bioengingeering technologies that incorporate biophysical, biochemical and more recently biomimetic electrical cues, with the latter having the potential to be used to both direct hiPSC differentiation and augment maturation and the function of derived cardiomyocytes and cardiac tissues by mimicking endogenous electric fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Claire James
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2500, Australia;
| | - Eva Tomaskovic-Crook
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2500, Australia;
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2500, Australia
- Correspondence: (E.T.-C.); (J.M.C.)
| | - Jeremy Micah Crook
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, AIIM Facility, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2500, Australia;
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2500, Australia
- Department of Surgery, St Vincent’s Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy 3065, Australia
- Correspondence: (E.T.-C.); (J.M.C.)
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23
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Liu T, Zhang S, Huang C, Ma S, Bai R, Li Y, Chang Y, Hang C, Saleem A, Dong T, Guo T, Jiang Y, Lu W, Zhang L, Jianwen L, Jiang H, Lan F. Microscale grooves regulate maturation development of hPSC-CMs by the transient receptor potential channels (TRP channels). J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:3469-3483. [PMID: 33689230 PMCID: PMC8034460 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of human pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC‐CMs) is limited in drug discovery and cardiac disease mechanism studies due to cell immaturity. Micro‐scaled grooves can promote the maturation of cardiomyocytes by aligning them in order, but the mechanism of cardiomyocytes alignment has not been studied. From the level of calcium activity, gene expression and cell morphology, we verified that the W20H5 grooves can effectively promote the maturation of cardiomyocytes. The transient receptor potential channels (TRP channels) also play an important role in the maturation and development of cardiomyocytes. These findings support the engineered hPSC‐CMs as a powerful model to study cardiac disease mechanism and partly mimic the myocardial morphological development. The important role of the TRP channels in the maturation and development of myocardium is first revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taoyan Liu
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Siyao Zhang
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenwu Huang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuhong Ma
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Bai
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanan Li
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yun Chang
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenwen Hang
- Department of Cardiology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Amina Saleem
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Dong
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tianwei Guo
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Youxu Jiang
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjing Lu
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Luo Jianwen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongfeng Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Remodeling-Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Lan
- Beijing Lab for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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24
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Verkerk AO, Wilders R. Dynamic Clamp in Electrophysiological Studies on Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes-Why and How? J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2021; 77:267-279. [PMID: 33229908 DOI: 10.1097/fjc.0000000000000955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) are supposed to be a good human-based model, with virtually unlimited cell source, for studies on mechanisms underlying cardiac development and cardiac diseases, and for identification of drug targets. However, a major drawback of hPSC-CMs as a model system, especially for electrophysiological studies, is their depolarized state and associated spontaneous electrical activity. Various approaches are used to overcome this drawback, including the injection of "synthetic" inward rectifier potassium current (IK1), which is computed in real time, based on the recorded membrane potential ("dynamic clamp"). Such injection of an IK1-like current results in quiescent hPSC-CMs with a nondepolarized resting potential that show "adult-like" action potentials on stimulation, with functional availability of the most important ion channels involved in cardiac electrophysiology. These days, dynamic clamp has become a widely appreciated electrophysiological tool. However, setting up a dynamic clamp system can still be laborious and difficult, both because of the required hardware and the implementation of the dedicated software. In the present review, we first summarize the potential mechanisms underlying the depolarized state of hPSC-CMs and the functional consequences of this depolarized state. Next, we explain how an existing manual patch clamp setup can be extended with dynamic clamp. Finally, we shortly validate the extended setup with atrial-like and ventricular-like hPSC-CMs. We feel that dynamic clamp is a highly valuable tool in the field of cellular electrophysiological studies on hPSC-CMs and hope that our directions for setting up such dynamic clamp system may prove helpful.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arie O Verkerk
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands ; and
- Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald Wilders
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands ; and
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25
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Wang J, Ye Q, Bai S, Chen P, Zhao Y, Ma X, Bai C, Liu Y, Xin M, Zeng C, Liu Q, Zhao C, Yao Y, Ma Y. Inhibiting microRNA-155 attenuates atrial fibrillation by targeting CACNA1C. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2021; 155:58-65. [PMID: 33636223 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2021.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reduction in L-type Ca2+ current (ICa,L) density is a hallmark of the electrical remodeling in atrial fibrillation (AF). The expression of miR-155, whose predicted target gene is the α1c subunit of the calcium channel (CACNA1C), was upregulated in atrial cardiomyocytes (aCMs) from patients with paroxysmal AF.The study is to determine miR-155 could target the gene expression of ICa,L and contribute to electrical remodeling in AF. METHODS The expression of miR-155 and CACNA1C was assessed in aCMs from patients with paroxysmal AF and healthy control. ICa,L properties were observed after miR-155 transfection in human induced pluripotent stem cell derived atrial cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-aCMs). Furthermore, an miR-155 transgene (Tg) and knock-out (KO) mouse model was generated to determine whether miR-155 was involved in ICa,L-related electrical remodeling in AF by targeting CACNA1C. RESULTS The expression level of miR-155 was increased, while the expression level of CACNA1C reduced in the aCMs of patients with AF. miR-155 transfection in hiPSC-aCMs produced changes in ICa,L properties qualitatively similar to those produced by AF. miR-155/Tg mice developed a shortened action potential duration and increased vulnerability to AF, which was associated with decreased ICa,L and attenuated by an miR-155 inhibitor. Finally, the genetic inhibition of miR-155 prevented AF induction in miR-155/KO mice with no changes in ICa,L properties. CONCLUSIONS The increased miR-155 expression in aCMs was sufficient for the reduction in the density of ICa,L and the underlying electronic remodeling. The inhibition of miR-155 prevented ICa,L-related electric remodeling in AF and might constitute a novel anti-AF approach targeting electrical remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangang Wang
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Qing Ye
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuyun Bai
- Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pengfei Chen
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yichen Zhao
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolong Ma
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Bai
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Xin
- Center for Cardiac Intensive Care, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Caiwu Zeng
- Center for Cardiac Intensive Care, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Quan Liu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Benq Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Cheng Zhao
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Yao
- Department of Cardiology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Ma
- Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Research, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Medical School of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, China.
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26
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Chirikian O, Goodyer WR, Dzilic E, Serpooshan V, Buikema JW, McKeithan W, Wu H, Li G, Lee S, Merk M, Galdos F, Beck A, Ribeiro AJS, Paige S, Mercola M, Wu JC, Pruitt BL, Wu SM. CRISPR/Cas9-based targeting of fluorescent reporters to human iPSCs to isolate atrial and ventricular-specific cardiomyocytes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:3026. [PMID: 33542270 PMCID: PMC7862643 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81860-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Generating cardiomyocytes (CMs) from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) has represented a significant advance in our ability to model cardiac disease. Current differentiation protocols, however, have limited use due to their production of heterogenous cell populations, primarily consisting of ventricular-like CMs. Here we describe the creation of two chamber-specific reporter hiPSC lines by site-directed genomic integration using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. In the MYL2-tdTomato reporter, the red fluorescent tdTomato was inserted upstream of the 3′ untranslated region of the Myosin Light Chain 2 (MYL2) gene in order faithfully label hiPSC-derived ventricular-like CMs while avoiding disruption of endogenous gene expression. Similarly, in the SLN-CFP reporter, Cyan Fluorescent Protein (CFP) was integrated downstream of the coding region of the atrial-specific gene, Sarcolipin (SLN). Purification of tdTomato+ and CFP+ CMs using flow cytometry coupled with transcriptional and functional characterization validated these genetic tools for their use in the isolation of bona fide ventricular-like and atrial-like CMs, respectively. Finally, we successfully generated a double reporter system allowing for the isolation of both ventricular and atrial CM subtypes within a single hiPSC line. These tools provide a platform for chamber-specific hiPSC-derived CM purification and analysis in the context of atrial- or ventricular-specific disease and therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando Chirikian
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.,Biotechnology Graduate Program, California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA, USA.,Biomolecular, Science, and Engineering, University California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - William R Goodyer
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Elda Dzilic
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center Munich, Technische Universität München, Lazarettstraße 36, 80636, Munich, Germany.,Insure (Institute for Translational Cardiac Surgery), Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, German Heart Center, Technische Universität München, Lothstraße 11, 80636, Munich, Germany
| | - Vahid Serpooshan
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jan W Buikema
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Cardiology, Utrecht Regenerative Medicine Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wesley McKeithan
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - HaoDi Wu
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Guang Li
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Soah Lee
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Markus Merk
- Biomolecular, Science, and Engineering, University California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Francisco Galdos
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aimee Beck
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.,Biotechnology Graduate Program, California State University Channel Islands, Camarillo, CA, USA
| | - Alexandre J S Ribeiro
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Departments of Bioengineering and of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - Sharon Paige
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mark Mercola
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University , Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.,Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University , Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Beth L Pruitt
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.,Departments of Bioengineering and of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, USA.,Department of Mechanical Engineering, University California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Sean M Wu
- Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University , Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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27
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Zhang JZ, Belbachir N, Zhang T, Liu Y, Shrestha R, Wu JC. Effects of Cryopreservation on Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes for Assessing Drug Safety Response Profiles. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:168-181. [PMID: 33338435 PMCID: PMC7897580 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Burgeoning applications of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) in disease modeling, regenerative medicine, and drug screening have broadened the usage of hiPSC-CMs and entailed their long-term storage. Cryopreservation is the most common approach to store hiPSC-CMs. However, the effects of cryopreservation and recovery on hiPSC-CMs remain poorly understood. Here, we characterized the transcriptome, electro-mechanical function, and drug response of fresh hiPSC-CMs without cryopreservation and recovered hiPSC-CMs from cryopreservation. We found that recovered hiPSC-CMs showed upregulation of cell cycle genes, similar or reduced contractility, Ca2+ transients, and field potential duration. When subjected to treatment of drugs that affect electrophysiological properties, recovered hiPSC-CMs showed an altered drug response and enhanced propensity for drug-induced cardiac arrhythmic events. In conclusion, fresh and recovered hiPSC-CMs do not always show comparable molecular and physiological properties. When cryopreserved hiPSC-CMs are used for assessing drug-induced cardiac liabilities, the altered drug sensitivity needs to be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Z Zhang
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nadjet Belbachir
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Tiejun Zhang
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Yu Liu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Rajani Shrestha
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford, Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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28
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Jackson AO, Rahman GA, Yin K, Long S. Enhancing Matured Stem-Cardiac Cell Generation and Transplantation: A Novel Strategy for Heart Failure Therapy. J Cardiovasc Transl Res 2020; 14:556-572. [PMID: 33258081 DOI: 10.1007/s12265-020-10085-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Heart failure (HF) remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Recent studies have shown that stem cells (SCs) including bone marrow mesenchymal stem (BMSC), embryonic bodies (EB), embryonic stem (ESC), human induced pluripotent stem (hiPSC)-derived cardiac cells generation, and transplantation treated myocardial infarction (MI) in vivo and in human. However, the immature phenotypes compromise their clinical application requiring immediate intervention to improve stem-derived cardiac cell (S-CCs) maturation. Recently, an unbiased multi-omic analysis involving genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, proteomics, and metabolomics identified specific strategies for the generation of matured S-CCs that may enhance patients' recovery processes upon transplantation. However, these strategies still remain undisclosed. Here, we summarize the recently discovered strategies for the matured S-CC generation. In addition, cardiac patch formation and transplantation that accelerated HF recuperation in clinical trials are discussed. A better understanding of this work may lead to efficient generation of matured S-CCs for regenerative medicine. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ampadu O Jackson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, China.,International College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, China.,Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Department of Surgery, School of Medical Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Ganiyu A Rahman
- Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Department of Surgery, School of Medical Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Kai Yin
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Diabetic Systems Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin, China
| | - Shiyin Long
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan Province, China.
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29
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Paik DT, Chandy M, Wu JC. Patient and Disease-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells for Discovery of Personalized Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapeutics. Pharmacol Rev 2020; 72:320-342. [PMID: 31871214 PMCID: PMC6934989 DOI: 10.1124/pr.116.013003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have emerged as an effective platform for regenerative therapy, disease modeling, and drug discovery. iPSCs allow for the production of limitless supply of patient-specific somatic cells that enable advancement in cardiovascular precision medicine. Over the past decade, researchers have developed protocols to differentiate iPSCs to multiple cardiovascular lineages, as well as to enhance the maturity and functionality of these cells. Despite significant advances, drug therapy and discovery for cardiovascular disease have lagged behind other fields such as oncology. We speculate that this paucity of drug discovery is due to a previous lack of efficient, reproducible, and translational model systems. Notably, existing drug discovery and testing platforms rely on animal studies and clinical trials, but investigations in animal models have inherent limitations due to interspecies differences. Moreover, clinical trials are inherently flawed by assuming that all individuals with a disease will respond identically to a therapy, ignoring the genetic and epigenomic variations that define our individuality. With ever-improving differentiation and phenotyping methods, patient-specific iPSC-derived cardiovascular cells allow unprecedented opportunities to discover new drug targets and screen compounds for cardiovascular disease. Imbued with the genetic information of an individual, iPSCs will vastly improve our ability to test drugs efficiently, as well as tailor and titrate drug therapy for each patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T Paik
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Mark Chandy
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, California
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30
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Gunawan MG, Sangha SS, Shafaattalab S, Lin E, Heims-Waldron DA, Bezzerides VJ, Laksman Z, Tibbits GF. Drug screening platform using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes and optical mapping. Stem Cells Transl Med 2020; 10:68-82. [PMID: 32927497 PMCID: PMC7780813 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.19-0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Current drug development efforts for the treatment of atrial fibrillation are hampered by the fact that many preclinical models have been unsuccessful in reproducing human cardiac physiology and its response to medications. In this study, we demonstrated an approach using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-aCMs and hiPSC-vCMs, respectively) coupled with a sophisticated optical mapping system for drug screening of atrial-selective compounds in vitro. We optimized differentiation of hiPSC-aCMs by modulating the WNT and retinoid signaling pathways. Characterization of the transcriptome and proteome revealed that retinoic acid pushes the differentiation process into the atrial lineage and generated hiPSC-aCMs. Functional characterization using optical mapping showed that hiPSC-aCMs have shorter action potential durations and faster Ca2+ handling dynamics compared with hiPSC-vCMs. Furthermore, pharmacological investigation of hiPSC-aCMs captured atrial-selective effects by displaying greater sensitivity to atrial-selective compounds 4-aminopyridine, AVE0118, UCL1684, and vernakalant when compared with hiPSC-vCMs. These results established that a model system incorporating hiPSC-aCMs combined with optical mapping is well-suited for preclinical drug screening of novel and targeted atrial selective compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marvin G Gunawan
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Departments of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.,Tibbits Research Team, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarabjit S Sangha
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Departments of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.,Tibbits Research Team, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sanam Shafaattalab
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Departments of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.,Tibbits Research Team, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eric Lin
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Departments of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | - Zachary Laksman
- Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Heart and Lung Innovation, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Glen F Tibbits
- Molecular Cardiac Physiology Group, Departments of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology and Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.,Tibbits Research Team, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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31
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Bektik E, Cowan DB, Wang DZ. Long Non-Coding RNAs in Atrial Fibrillation: Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes as a Model System. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155424. [PMID: 32751460 PMCID: PMC7432754 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of sustained arrhythmia in humans often characterized by devastating alterations to the cardiac conduction system as well as the structure of the atria. AF can lead to decreased cardiac function, heart failure, and other complications. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to play important roles in the cardiovascular system, including AF; however, a large group of lncRNAs is not conserved between mouse and human. Furthermore, AF has complex networks showing variations in mechanisms in different species, making it challenging to utilize conventional animal models to investigate the functional roles and potential therapeutic benefits of lncRNAs for AF. Fortunately, pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) offer a reliable platform to study lncRNA functions in AF because of certain electrophysiological and molecular similarities with native human CMs. In this review, we first summarize the broad aspects of lncRNAs in various heart disease settings, then focus on their potential roles in AF development and pathophysiology. We also discuss current uses of PSCs in AF research and describe how these studies could be developed into novel therapeutics for AF and other cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emre Bektik
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (E.B.); (D.B.C.)
| | - Douglas B. Cowan
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (E.B.); (D.B.C.)
| | - Da-Zhi Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (E.B.); (D.B.C.)
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
- Correspondence:
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32
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Hilderink S, Devalla HD, Bosch L, Wilders R, Verkerk AO. Ultrarapid Delayed Rectifier K + Channelopathies in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:536. [PMID: 32850774 PMCID: PMC7399090 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. About 5-15% of AF patients have a mutation in a cardiac gene, including mutations in KCNA5, encoding the Kv1.5 α-subunit of the ion channel carrying the atrial-specific ultrarapid delayed rectifier K+ current (IKur). Both loss-of-function and gain-of-function AF-related mutations in KCNA5 are known, but their effects on action potentials (APs) of human cardiomyocytes have been poorly studied. Here, we assessed the effects of wild-type and mutant IKur on APs of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). We found that atrial-like hiPSC-CMs, generated by a retinoic acid-based differentiation protocol, have APs with faster repolarization compared to ventricular-like hiPSC-CMs, resulting in shorter APs with a lower AP plateau. Native IKur, measured as current sensitive to 50 μM 4-aminopyridine, was 1.88 ± 0.49 (mean ± SEM, n = 17) and 0.26 ± 0.26 pA/pF (n = 17) in atrial- and ventricular-like hiPSC-CMs, respectively. In both atrial- and ventricular-like hiPSC-CMs, IKur blockade had minimal effects on AP parameters. Next, we used dynamic clamp to inject various amounts of a virtual IKur, with characteristics as in freshly isolated human atrial myocytes, into 11 atrial-like and 10 ventricular-like hiPSC-CMs, in which native IKur was blocked. Injection of IKur with 100% density shortened the APs, with its effect being strongest on the AP duration at 20% repolarization (APD20) of atrial-like hiPSC-CMs. At IKur densities < 100% (compared to 100%), simulating loss-of-function mutations, significant AP prolongation and raise of plateau were observed. At IKur densities > 100%, simulating gain-of-function mutations, APD20 was decreased in both atrial- and ventricular-like hiPSC-CMs, but only upon a strong increase in IKur. In ventricular-like hiPSC-CMs, lowering of the plateau resulted in AP shortening. We conclude that a decrease in IKur, mimicking loss-of-function mutations, has a stronger effect on the AP of hiPSC-CMs than an increase, mimicking gain-of-function mutations, whereas in ventricular-like hiPSC-CMs such increase results in AP shortening, causing their AP morphology to become more atrial-like. Effects of native IKur modulation on atrial-like hiPSC-CMs are less pronounced than effects of virtual IKur injection because IKur density of atrial-like hiPSC-CMs is substantially smaller than that of freshly isolated human atrial myocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hilderink
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Harsha D Devalla
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Leontien Bosch
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ronald Wilders
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Arie O Verkerk
- Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Cardiology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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33
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Human Cardiac Fibroblast Number and Activation State Modulate Electromechanical Function of hiPSC-Cardiomyocytes in Engineered Myocardium. Stem Cells Int 2020; 2020:9363809. [PMID: 32724316 PMCID: PMC7381987 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9363809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac tissue engineering using hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes is a promising avenue for cardiovascular regeneration, pharmaceutical drug development, cardiotoxicity evaluation, and disease modeling. Limitations to these applications still exist due in part to the need for more robust structural support, organization, and electromechanical function of engineered cardiac tissues. It is well accepted that heterotypic cellular interactions impact the phenotype of cardiomyocytes. The current study evaluates the functional effects of coculturing adult human cardiac fibroblasts (hCFs) in 3D engineered tissues on excitation and contraction with the goal of recapitulating healthy, nonarrhythmogenic myocardium in vitro. A small population (5% of total cell number) of hCFs in tissues improves tissue formation, material properties, and contractile function. However, two perturbations to the hCF population create disease-like phenotypes in engineered cardiac tissues. First, increasing the percentage of hCFs to 15% resulted in tissues with increased ectopic activity and spontaneous excitation rate. Second, hCFs undergo myofibroblast activation in traditional two-dimensional culture, and this altered phenotype ablated the functional benefits of hCFs when incorporated into engineered cardiac tissues. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that human cardiac fibroblast number and activation state modulate electromechanical function of hiPSC-cardiomyocytes and that a low percentage of quiescent hCFs are a valuable cell source to advance a healthy electromechanical response of engineered cardiac tissue for regenerative medicine applications.
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34
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Parrotta EI, Lucchino V, Scaramuzzino L, Scalise S, Cuda G. Modeling Cardiac Disease Mechanisms Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes: Progress, Promises and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4354. [PMID: 32575374 PMCID: PMC7352327 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a class of disorders affecting the heart or blood vessels. Despite progress in clinical research and therapy, CVDs still represent the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The hallmarks of cardiac diseases include heart dysfunction and cardiomyocyte death, inflammation, fibrosis, scar tissue, hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and abnormal ventricular remodeling. The loss of cardiomyocytes is an irreversible process that leads to fibrosis and scar formation, which, in turn, induce heart failure with progressive and dramatic consequences. Both genetic and environmental factors pathologically contribute to the development of CVDs, but the precise causes that trigger cardiac diseases and their progression are still largely unknown. The lack of reliable human model systems for such diseases has hampered the unraveling of the underlying molecular mechanisms and cellular processes involved in heart diseases at their initial stage and during their progression. Over the past decade, significant scientific advances in the field of stem cell biology have literally revolutionized the study of human disease in vitro. Remarkably, the possibility to generate disease-relevant cell types from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has developed into an unprecedented and powerful opportunity to achieve the long-standing ambition to investigate human diseases at a cellular level, uncovering their molecular mechanisms, and finally to translate bench discoveries into potential new therapeutic strategies. This review provides an update on previous and current research in the field of iPSC-driven cardiovascular disease modeling, with the aim of underlining the potential of stem-cell biology-based approaches in the elucidation of the pathophysiology of these life-threatening diseases.
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35
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Abstract
Susceptibility to atrial fibrillation (AF) is determined by well-recognized risk factors such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension, emerging risk factors such as sleep apnea or inflammation, and increasingly well-defined genetic variants. As discussed in detail in a companion article in this series, studies in families and in large populations have identified multiple genetic loci, specific genes, and specific variants increasing susceptibility to AF. Since it is becoming increasingly inexpensive to obtain genotype data and indeed whole genome sequence data, the question then becomes to define whether using emerging new genetics knowledge can improve care for patients both before and after development of AF. Examples of improvements in care could include identifying patients at increased risk for AF (and thus deploying increased surveillance or even low-risk preventive therapies should these be available), identifying patient subsets in whom specific therapies are likely to be effective or ineffective or in whom the driving biology could motivate the development of new mechanism-based therapies or identifying an underlying susceptibility to comorbid cardiovascular disease. While current guidelines for the care of patients with AF do not recommend routine genetic testing, this rapidly increasing knowledge base suggests that testing may now or soon have a place in the management of select patients. The opportunity is to generate, validate, and deploy clinical predictors (including family history) of AF risk, to assess the utility of incorporating genomic variants into those predictors, and to identify and validate interventions such as wearable or implantable device-based monitoring ultimately to intervene in patients with AF before they present with catastrophic complications like heart failure or stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Benjamin Shoemaker
- Department of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Rajan L. Shah
- Department of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine), Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA
| | - Dan M. Roden
- Departments of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology), Pharmacology, and Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Marco V. Perez
- Stanford Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA
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36
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Lodrini AM, Barile L, Rocchetti M, Altomare C. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Derived from a Cardiac Somatic Source: Insights for an In-Vitro Cardiomyocyte Platform. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21020507. [PMID: 31941149 PMCID: PMC7013592 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21020507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Reprogramming of adult somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has revolutionized the complex scientific field of disease modelling and personalized therapy. Cardiac differentiation of human iPSCs into cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) has been used in a wide range of healthy and disease models by deriving CMs from different somatic cells. Unfortunately, hiPSC-CMs have to be improved because existing protocols are not completely able to obtain mature CMs recapitulating physiological properties of human adult cardiac cells. Therefore, improvements and advances able to standardize differentiation conditions are needed. Lately, evidences of an epigenetic memory retained by the somatic cells used for deriving hiPSC-CMs has led to evaluation of different somatic sources in order to obtain more mature hiPSC-derived CMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Maria Lodrini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milano 20126, Italy; (A.M.L.); (M.R.)
| | - Lucio Barile
- Fondazione Cardiocentro Ticino, Lugano 6900, Switzerland;
- Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Università della Svizzera Italiana, Lugano 6900, Switzerland
| | - Marcella Rocchetti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Milano 20126, Italy; (A.M.L.); (M.R.)
| | - Claudia Altomare
- Fondazione Cardiocentro Ticino, Lugano 6900, Switzerland;
- Correspondence:
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37
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Garg P, Garg V, Shrestha R, Sanguinetti MC, Kamp TJ, Wu JC. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes as Models for Cardiac Channelopathies: A Primer for Non-Electrophysiologists. Circ Res 2019; 123:224-243. [PMID: 29976690 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.118.311209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Life threatening ventricular arrhythmias leading to sudden cardiac death are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. In the absence of structural heart disease, these arrhythmias, especially in the younger population, are often an outcome of genetic defects in specialized membrane proteins called ion channels. In the heart, exceptionally well-orchestrated activity of a diversity of ion channels mediates the cardiac action potential. Alterations in either the function or expression of these channels can disrupt the configuration of the action potential, leading to abnormal electrical activity of the heart that can sometimes initiate an arrhythmia. Understanding the pathophysiology of inherited arrhythmias can be challenging because of the complexity of the disorder and lack of appropriate cellular and in vivo models. Recent advances in human induced pluripotent stem cell technology have provided remarkable progress in comprehending the underlying mechanisms of ion channel disorders or channelopathies by modeling these complex arrhythmia syndromes in vitro in a dish. To fully realize the potential of induced pluripotent stem cells in elucidating the mechanistic basis and complex pathophysiology of channelopathies, it is crucial to have a basic knowledge of cardiac myocyte electrophysiology. In this review, we will discuss the role of the various ion channels in cardiac electrophysiology and the molecular and cellular mechanisms of arrhythmias, highlighting the promise of human induced pluripotent stem cell-cardiomyocytes as a model for investigating inherited arrhythmia syndromes and testing antiarrhythmic strategies. Overall, this review aims to provide a basic understanding of the electrical activity of the heart and related channelopathies, especially to clinicians or research scientists in the cardiovascular field with limited electrophysiology background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Garg
- From the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute (P.G., R.S., J.C.W.).,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology (P.G., R.S., J.C.W.).,Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (P.G., R.S., J.C.W.)
| | - Vivek Garg
- Stanford University School of Medicine, CA; Department of Physiology, University of California San Francisco (V.G.)
| | - Rajani Shrestha
- From the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute (P.G., R.S., J.C.W.).,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology (P.G., R.S., J.C.W.).,Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (P.G., R.S., J.C.W.)
| | | | - Timothy J Kamp
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison (T.J.K.)
| | - Joseph C Wu
- From the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute (P.G., R.S., J.C.W.) .,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology (P.G., R.S., J.C.W.).,Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (P.G., R.S., J.C.W.)
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38
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Biendarra-Tiegs SM, Li X, Ye D, Brandt EB, Ackerman MJ, Nelson TJ. Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing and Optical Electrophysiology of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes Reveal Discordance Between Cardiac Subtype-Associated Gene Expression Patterns and Electrophysiological Phenotypes. Stem Cells Dev 2019; 28:659-673. [PMID: 30892143 PMCID: PMC6534093 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2019.0030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to accurately phenotype cells differentiated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) is essential for their application in modeling developmental and disease processes, yet also poses a particular challenge without the context of anatomical location. Our specific objective was to determine if single-cell gene expression was sufficient to predict the electrophysiology of iPSC-derived cardiac lineages, to evaluate the concordance between molecular and functional surrogate markers. To this end, we used the genetically encoded voltage indicator ArcLight to profile hundreds of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), thus identifying patterns of electrophysiological maturation and increased prevalence of cells with atrial-like action potentials (APs) between days 11 and 42 of differentiation. To profile expression patterns of cardiomyocyte subtype-associated genes, single-cell RNA-seq was performed at days 12 and 40 after the populations were fully characterized with the high-throughput ArcLight platform. Although we could detect global gene expression changes supporting progressive differentiation, individual cellular expression patterns alone were not able to delineate the individual cardiomyocytes into atrial, ventricular, or nodal subtypes as functionally documented by electrophysiology measurements. Furthermore, our efforts to understand the distinct electrophysiological properties associated with day 12 versus day 40 hiPSC-CMs revealed that ion channel regulators SLMAP, FGF12, and FHL1 were the most significantly increased genes at day 40, categorized by electrophysiology-related gene functions. Notably, FHL1 knockdown during differentiation was sufficient to significantly modulate APs toward ventricular-like electrophysiology. Thus, our results establish the inability of subtype-associated gene expression patterns to specifically categorize hiPSC-derived cells according to their functional electrophysiology, and yet, altered FHL1 expression is able to redirect electrophysiological maturation of these developing cells. Therefore, noncanonical gene expression patterns of cardiac maturation may be sufficient to direct functional maturation of cardiomyocytes, with canonical gene expression patterns being insufficient to temporally define cardiac subtypes of in vitro differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherri M Biendarra-Tiegs
- 1 Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Xing Li
- 2 Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,3 Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Dan Ye
- 4 Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Emma B Brandt
- 1 Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Michael J Ackerman
- 4 Windland Smith Rice Sudden Death Genomics Laboratory, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,5 Division of Heart Rhythm Services, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,6 Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Timothy J Nelson
- 1 Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,2 Center for Regenerative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,5 Division of Heart Rhythm Services, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,6 Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.,7 Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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Huang NF, Serpooshan V, Morris VB, Sayed N, Pardon G, Abilez OJ, Nakayama KH, Pruitt BL, Wu SM, Yoon YS, Zhang J, Wu JC. Big bottlenecks in cardiovascular tissue engineering. Commun Biol 2018; 1:199. [PMID: 30480100 PMCID: PMC6249300 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0202-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although tissue engineering using human-induced pluripotent stem cells is a promising approach for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, some limiting factors include the survival, electrical integration, maturity, scalability, and immune response of three-dimensional (3D) engineered tissues. Here we discuss these important roadblocks facing the tissue engineering field and suggest potential approaches to overcome these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngan F Huang
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA.
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA.
- Veteran Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, 94304, CA, USA.
| | - Vahid Serpooshan
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 30332, GA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, 30307, GA, USA
| | - Viola B Morris
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 30332, GA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, 30307, GA, USA
| | - Nazish Sayed
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
| | - Gaspard Pardon
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
| | - Oscar J Abilez
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
| | - Karina H Nakayama
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Veteran Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, 94304, CA, USA
| | - Beth L Pruitt
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Departments of Mechanical Engineering; BioMolecular Science and Engineering; and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, 93106, CA, USA
| | - Sean M Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
| | - Young-Sup Yoon
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 30332, GA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University, Atlanta, 30307, GA, USA
| | - Jianyi Zhang
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, 35294, AL, USA
| | - Joseph C Wu
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, CA, USA
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Many Cells Make Life Work-Multicellularity in Stem Cell-Based Cardiac Disease Modelling. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113361. [PMID: 30373227 PMCID: PMC6274721 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiac disease causes 33% of deaths worldwide but our knowledge of disease progression is still very limited. In vitro models utilising and combining multiple, differentiated cell types have been used to recapitulate the range of myocardial microenvironments in an effort to delineate the mechanical, humoral, and electrical interactions that modulate the cardiac contractile function in health and the pathogenesis of human disease. However, due to limitations in isolating these cell types and changes in their structure and function in vitro, the field is now focused on the development and use of stem cell-derived cell types, most notably, human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs (hiPSC-CMs), in modelling the CM function in health and patient-specific diseases, allowing us to build on the findings from studies using animal and adult human CMs. It is becoming increasingly appreciated that communications between cardiomyocytes (CMs), the contractile cell of the heart, and the non-myocyte components of the heart not only regulate cardiac development and maintenance of health and adult CM functions, including the contractile state, but they also regulate remodelling in diseases, which may cause the chronic impairment of the contractile function of the myocardium, ultimately leading to heart failure. Within the myocardium, each CM is surrounded by an intricate network of cell types including endothelial cells, fibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, sympathetic neurons, and resident macrophages, and the extracellular matrix (ECM), forming complex interactions, and models utilizing hiPSC-derived cell types offer a great opportunity to investigate these interactions further. In this review, we outline the historical and current state of disease modelling, focusing on the major milestones in the development of stem cell-derived cell types, and how this technology has contributed to our knowledge about the interactions between CMs and key non-myocyte components of the heart in health and disease, in particular, heart failure. Understanding where we stand in the field will be critical for stem cell-based applications, including the modelling of diseases that have complex multicellular dysfunctions.
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Contractile deficits in engineered cardiac microtissues as a result of MYBPC3 deficiency and mechanical overload. Nat Biomed Eng 2018; 2:955-967. [PMID: 31015724 PMCID: PMC6482859 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-018-0280-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The integration of in vitro cardiac tissue models, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and genome-editing tools allows for the enhanced interrogation of physiological phenotypes and the recapitulation of disease pathologies. Here, in a cardiac tissue model consisting of filamentous 3D matrices populated with cardiomyocytes (CMs) derived from healthy wild-type hiPSCs (WT hiPSC-CMs) or from isogenic hiPSCs deficient in the sarcomere protein cardiac myosin binding protein C (MYBPC3−/− hiPSC-CMs), we show that the WT microtissues adapted to the mechanical environment with increased contraction force commensurate to matrix stiffness, whereas the MYBPC3−/− microtissues exhibited impaired force-development kinetics regardless of matrix stiffness and deficient contraction force only when grown on matrices with high fiber stiffness. Under mechanical overload, the MYBPC3−/− microtissues had a higher degree of calcium transient abnormalities, and exhibited an accelerated decay of calcium dynamics as well as calcium desensitization, which accelerated when contracting against stiffer fibers. Our findings suggest that MYBPC3 deficiency and the presence of environmental stresses synergistically lead to contractile deficits in the cardiac tissues.
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