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Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Applications in Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073700. [PMID: 35409059 PMCID: PMC8998711 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is an inherited heart muscle disorder characterized by progressive replacement of cardiomyocytes by fibrofatty tissue, ventricular dilatation, cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death. Interest in molecular biomechanics for these disorders is constantly growing. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a well-established technic to study the mechanobiology of biological samples under physiological and pathological conditions at the cellular scale. However, a review which described all the different data that can be obtained using the AFM (cell elasticity, adhesion behavior, viscoelasticity, beating force, and frequency) is still missing. In this review, we will discuss several techniques that highlight the potential of AFM to be used as a tool for assessing the biomechanics involved in ACM. Indeed, analysis of genetically mutated cells with AFM reveal abnormalities of the cytoskeleton, cell membrane structures, and defects of contractility. The higher the Young’s modulus, the stiffer the cell, and it is well known that abnormal tissue stiffness is symptomatic of a range of diseases. The cell beating force and frequency provide information during the depolarization and repolarization phases, complementary to cell electrophysiology (calcium imaging, MEA, patch clamp). In addition, original data is also presented to emphasize the unique potential of AFM as a tool to assess fibrosis in cardiac tissue.
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2
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Camman M, Joanne P, Agbulut O, Hélary C. 3D models of dilated cardiomyopathy: Shaping the chemical, physical and topographical properties of biomaterials to mimic the cardiac extracellular matrix. Bioact Mater 2022; 7:275-291. [PMID: 34466733 PMCID: PMC8379361 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathophysiology of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), one major cause of heart failure, is characterized by the dilation of the heart but remains poorly understood because of the lack of adequate in vitro models. Current 2D models do not allow for the 3D organotypic organization of cardiomyocytes and do not reproduce the ECM perturbations. In this review, the different strategies to mimic the chemical, physical and topographical properties of the cardiac tissue affected by DCM are presented. The advantages and drawbacks of techniques generating anisotropy required for the cardiomyocytes alignment are discussed. In addition, the different methods creating macroporosity and favoring organotypic organization are compared. Besides, the advances in the induced pluripotent stem cells technology to generate cardiac cells from healthy or DCM patients will be described. Thanks to the biomaterial design, some features of the DCM extracellular matrix such as stiffness, porosity, topography or chemical changes can impact the cardiomyocytes function in vitro and increase their maturation. By mimicking the affected heart, both at the cellular and at the tissue level, 3D models will enable a better understanding of the pathology and favor the discovery of novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Camman
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 7574, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, 4 place Jussieu (case 174), F-75005, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), CNRS UMR 8256, Inserm ERL U1164, Biological Adaptation and Ageing, 7 quai St-Bernard (case 256), F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Joanne
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), CNRS UMR 8256, Inserm ERL U1164, Biological Adaptation and Ageing, 7 quai St-Bernard (case 256), F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Onnik Agbulut
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (IBPS), CNRS UMR 8256, Inserm ERL U1164, Biological Adaptation and Ageing, 7 quai St-Bernard (case 256), F-75005, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Hélary
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, UMR 7574, Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris, 4 place Jussieu (case 174), F-75005, Paris, France
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3
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Swiatlowska P, Iskratsch T. Tools for studying and modulating (cardiac muscle) cell mechanics and mechanosensing across the scales. Biophys Rev 2021; 13:611-623. [PMID: 34765044 PMCID: PMC8553672 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-021-00837-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes generate force for the contraction of the heart to pump blood into the lungs and body. At the same time, they are exquisitely tuned to the mechanical environment and react to e.g. changes in cell and extracellular matrix stiffness or altered stretching due to reduced ejection fraction in heart disease, by adapting their cytoskeleton, force generation and cell mechanics. Both mechanical sensing and cell mechanical adaptations are multiscale processes. Receptor interactions with the extracellular matrix at the nanoscale will lead to clustering of receptors and modification of the cytoskeleton. This in turn alters mechanosensing, force generation, cell and nuclear stiffness and viscoelasticity at the microscale. Further, this affects cell shape, orientation, maturation and tissue integration at the microscale to macroscale. A variety of tools have been developed and adapted to measure cardiomyocyte receptor-ligand interactions and forces or mechanics at the different ranges, resulting in a wealth of new information about cardiomyocyte mechanobiology. Here, we take stock at the different tools for exploring cardiomyocyte mechanosensing and cell mechanics at the different scales from the nanoscale to microscale and macroscale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Swiatlowska
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Thomas Iskratsch
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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4
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Scalzo S, Afonso MQ, da Fonseca NJ, Jesus IC, Alves AP, Mendonça CAF, Teixeira VP, Biagi D, Cruvinel E, Santos AK, Miranda K, Marques FA, Mesquita ON, Kushmerick C, Campagnole-Santos MJ, Agero U, Guatimosim S. Dense optical flow software to quantify cellular contractility. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2021; 1:100044. [PMID: 35475144 PMCID: PMC9017166 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2021.100044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Cell membrane deformation is an important feature that occurs during many physiological processes, and its study has been put to good use to investigate cardiomyocyte function. Several methods have been developed to extract information on cardiomyocyte contractility. However, no existing computational framework has provided, in a single platform, a straightforward approach to acquire, process, and quantify this type of cellular dynamics. For this reason, we develop CONTRACTIONWAVE, high-performance software written in Python programming language that allows the user to process large data image files and obtain contractility parameters by analyzing optical flow from images obtained with videomicroscopy. The software was validated by using neonatal, adult-, and human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived cardiomyocytes, treated or not with drugs known to affect contractility. Results presented indicate that CONTRACTIONWAVE is an excellent tool for examining changes to cardiac cellular contractility in animal models of disease and for pharmacological and toxicology screening during drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sérgio Scalzo
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Q.L. Afonso
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Néli J. da Fonseca
- Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
- Cellular Structure and 3D Bioimaging, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, CB10 1SA Hinxton, UK
| | - Itamar C.G. Jesus
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Alves
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Carolina A.T. F. Mendonça
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Vanessa P. Teixeira
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Diogo Biagi
- PluriCell Biotech, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | | | - Anderson K. Santos
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Kiany Miranda
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Flavio A.M. Marques
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Naturais, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, MG 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Oscar N. Mesquita
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Christopher Kushmerick
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Maria José Campagnole-Santos
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Ubirajara Agero
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Silvia Guatimosim
- Departamento de Fisiologia e Biofísica, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
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5
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He C, Wei X, Liang T, Liu M, Jiang D, Zhuang L, Wang P. Quantifying the Compressive Force of 3D Cardiac Tissues via Calculating the Volumetric Deformation of Built-In Elastic Gelatin Microspheres. Adv Healthc Mater 2021; 10:e2001716. [PMID: 34197053 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202001716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Quantifying cardiac contractile force is of paramount important in studying mechanical heart failure and screening therapeutic drugs. However, most existing methods can only measure the in-plane component of twitch force of cardiomyocytes, such that mismatching the centripetal compressive stress of heart beating in physiology. Here, a non-destructive method is developed for quantifying the compressive stress and mapping the distribution of the local stress within the 3D cardiac tissues. In detail, elastic gelatin microspheres labeled with fluorescence beads are fabricated by microfluidic chips with high throughput, and they serve as built-in pressure sensors which are wrapped by cardiomyocytes in 3D tissues. The deformation of microspheres and the displacements of fluorescent beads induced by the contraction of cardiomyocytes are demonstrated to characterize the amount and distribution of the centripetal compressive stress. Further, the method shows a potent capability to locally quantify contractile force variation of 3D cardiac tissues, which is induced by agonist (norepinephrine) and inhibitor (blebbistatin). On the whole, the method significantly improves the 3D measurement of mechanical force in vitro and provides a solution for locally quantifying the compressive stress within engineered cardiac tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanjiang He
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering Ministry of Education Department of Biomedical Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310027 China
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 200050 China
| | - Xinwei Wei
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering Ministry of Education Department of Biomedical Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310027 China
| | - Tao Liang
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering Ministry of Education Department of Biomedical Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310027 China
| | - Mengxue Liu
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering Ministry of Education Department of Biomedical Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310027 China
| | - Deming Jiang
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering Ministry of Education Department of Biomedical Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310027 China
| | - Liujing Zhuang
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering Ministry of Education Department of Biomedical Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310027 China
| | - Ping Wang
- Biosensor National Special Laboratory Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering Ministry of Education Department of Biomedical Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310027 China
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 200050 China
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6
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Monitoring Contractile Cardiomyocytes via Impedance Using Multipurpose Thin Film Ruthenium Oxide Electrodes. SENSORS 2021; 21:s21041433. [PMID: 33670743 PMCID: PMC7923073 DOI: 10.3390/s21041433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A ruthenium oxide (RuOx) electrode was used to monitor contractile events of human pluripotent stem cells-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) through electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Using RuOx electrodes presents an advantage over standard thin film Pt electrodes because the RuOx electrodes can also be used as electrochemical sensor for pH, O2, and nitric oxide, providing multisensory functionality with the same electrode. First, the EIS signal was validated in an optically transparent well-plate setup using Pt wire electrodes. This way, visual data could be recorded simultaneously. Frequency analyses of both EIS and the visual data revealed almost identical frequency components. This suggests both the EIS and visual data captured the similar events of the beating of (an area of) hPSC-CMs. Similar EIS measurement was then performed using the RuOx electrode, which yielded comparable signal and periodicity. This mode of operation adds to the versatility of the RuOx electrode's use in in vitro studies.
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7
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Yadav S, Ta HT, Nguyen N. Mechanobiology in cardiology: Micro‐ and nanotechnologies to probe mechanosignaling. VIEW 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/viw.20200080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sharda Yadav
- Queensland Micro‐ and Nanotechnology Centre Griffith University Nathan Queensland Australia
| | - Hang T. Ta
- Queensland Micro‐ and Nanotechnology Centre Griffith University Nathan Queensland Australia
- School of Environment and Science Griffith University Nathan Queensland Australia
| | - Nam‐Trung Nguyen
- Queensland Micro‐ and Nanotechnology Centre Griffith University Nathan Queensland Australia
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8
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Wei X, Zhuang L, Li H, He C, Wan H, Hu N, Wang P. Advances in Multidimensional Cardiac Biosensing Technologies: From Electrophysiology to Mechanical Motion and Contractile Force. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2020; 16:e2005828. [PMID: 33230867 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202005828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is currently a leading killer to human, while drug-induced cardiotoxicity remains the main cause of the withdrawal and attrition of drugs. Taking clinical correlation and throughput into account, cardiomyocyte is perfect as in vitro cardiac model for heart disease modeling, drug discovery, and cardiotoxicity assessment by accurately measuring the physiological multiparameters of cardiomyocytes. Remarkably, cardiomyocytes present both electrophysiological and biomechanical characteristics due to the unique excitation-contraction coupling, which plays a significant role in studying the cardiomyocytes. This review mainly focuses on the recent advances of biosensing technologies for the 2D and 3D cardiac models with three special properties: electrophysiology, mechanical motion, and contractile force. These high-performance multidimensional cardiac models are popular and effective to rebuild and mimic the heart in vitro. To help understand the high-quality and accurate physiologies, related detection techniques are highly demanded, from microtechnology to nanotechnology, from extracellular to intracellular recording, from multiple cells to single cell, and from planar to 3D models. Furthermore, the characteristics, advantages, limitations, and applications of these cardiac biosensing technologies, as well as the future development prospects should contribute to the systematization and expansion of knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwei Wei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
| | - Liujing Zhuang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
| | - Hongbo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Chuanjiang He
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Hao Wan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
| | - Ning Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Biosensor National Special Laboratory, Key Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering of Education Ministry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, China
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9
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Malkovskiy AV, Ignatyeva N, Dai Y, Hasenfuss G, Rajadas J, Ebert A. Integrated Ca 2+ flux and AFM force analysis in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Biol Chem 2020; 402:113-121. [PMID: 33544492 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2020-0212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
We developed a new approach for combined analysis of calcium (Ca2+) handling and beating forces in contractile cardiomyocytes. We employed human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) from dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients carrying an inherited mutation in the sarcomeric protein troponin T (TnT), and isogenic TnT-KO iPSC-CMs generated via CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. In these cells, Ca2+ handling as well as beating forces and -rates using single-cell atomic force microscopy (AFM) were assessed. We report impaired Ca2+ handling and reduced contractile force in DCM iPSC-CMs compared to healthy WT controls. TnT-KO iPSC-CMs display no contractile force or Ca2+ transients but generate Ca2+ sparks. We apply our analysis strategy to Ca2+ traces and AFM deflection recordings to reveal maximum rising rate, decay time, and duration of contraction with a multi-step background correction. Our method provides adaptive computing of signal peaks for different Ca2+ flux or force levels in iPSC-CMs, as well as analysis of Ca2+ sparks. Moreover, we report long-term measurements of contractile force dynamics on human iPSC-CMs. This approach enables deeper and more accurate profiling of disease-specific differences in cardiomyocyte contraction profiles using patient-derived iPSC-CMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey V Malkovskiy
- Carnegie Institute for Science, Department of Plant Biology, 260 Panama Street, Stanford, CA94305, USA
| | - Nadezda Ignatyeva
- Heart Center, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center, Göttingen University, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-37075, Göttingen, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Yuanyuan Dai
- Heart Center, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center, Göttingen University, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-37075, Göttingen, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerd Hasenfuss
- Heart Center, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center, Göttingen University, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-37075, Göttingen, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jayakumar Rajadas
- Biomaterial and Advanced Drug Delivery Laboratory, 1050 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA94304, USA
| | - Antje Ebert
- Heart Center, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center, Göttingen University, Robert-Koch-Strasse 40, D-37075, Göttingen, Germany.,DZHK (German Center for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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10
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Desbiolles BXE, Hannebelle MTM, de Coulon E, Bertsch A, Rohr S, Fantner GE, Renaud P. Volcano-Shaped Scanning Probe Microscopy Probe for Combined Force-Electrogram Recordings from Excitable Cells. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:4520-4529. [PMID: 32426984 PMCID: PMC7291358 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.0c01319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Atomic force microscopy based approaches have led to remarkable advances in the field of mechanobiology. However, linking the mechanical cues to biological responses requires complementary techniques capable of recording these physiological characteristics. In this study, we present an instrument for combined optical, force, and electrical measurements based on a novel type of scanning probe microscopy cantilever composed of a protruding volcano-shaped nanopatterned microelectrode (nanovolcano probe) at the tip of a suspended microcantilever. This probe enables simultaneous force and electrical recordings from single cells. Successful impedance measurements on mechanically stimulated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes in situ were achieved using these nanovolcano probes. Furthermore, proof of concept experiments demonstrated that extracellular field potentials (electrogram) together with contraction displacement curves could simultaneously be recorded. These features render the nanovolcano probe especially suited for mechanobiological studies aiming at linking mechanical stimuli to electrophysiological responses of single cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. X. E. Desbiolles
- Laboratory
of Microsystems LMIS4, Ecole Polytechnique
Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - M. T. M Hannebelle
- Laboratory
of Bio- and Nano- Instrumentation, Ecole
Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - E. de Coulon
- Laboratory
of Cellular Optics II, Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - A. Bertsch
- Laboratory
of Microsystems LMIS4, Ecole Polytechnique
Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - S. Rohr
- Laboratory
of Cellular Optics II, Department of Physiology, University of Bern, Bern 3012, Switzerland
| | - G. E. Fantner
- Laboratory
of Bio- and Nano- Instrumentation, Ecole
Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
| | - P. Renaud
- Laboratory
of Microsystems LMIS4, Ecole Polytechnique
Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne 1015, Switzerland
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11
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Blair CA, Pruitt BL. Mechanobiology Assays with Applications in Cardiomyocyte Biology and Cardiotoxicity. Adv Healthc Mater 2020; 9:e1901656. [PMID: 32270928 PMCID: PMC7480481 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201901656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes are the motor units that drive the contraction and relaxation of the heart. Traditionally, testing of drugs for cardiotoxic effects has relied on primary cardiomyocytes from animal models and focused on short-term, electrophysiological, and arrhythmogenic effects. However, primary cardiomyocytes present challenges arising from their limited viability in culture, and tissue from animal models suffers from a mismatch in their physiology to that of human heart muscle. Human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) can address these challenges. They also offer the potential to study not only electrophysiological effects but also changes in cardiomyocyte contractile and mechanical function in response to cardiotoxic drugs. With growing recognition of the long-term cardiotoxic effects of some drugs on subcellular structure and function, there is increasing interest in using hiPSC-CMs for in vitro cardiotoxicity studies. This review provides a brief overview of techniques that can be used to quantify changes in the active force that cardiomyocytes generate and variations in their inherent stiffness in response to cardiotoxic drugs. It concludes by discussing the application of these tools in understanding how cardiotoxic drugs directly impact the mechanobiology of cardiomyocytes and how cardiomyocytes sense and respond to mechanical load at the cellular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheavar A. Blair
- Department of mechanical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Beth L. Pruitt
- Department of mechanical Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Biomolecular Science and Engineering, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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12
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Altered microtubule structure, hemichannel localization and beating activity in cardiomyocytes expressing pathologic nuclear lamin A/C. Heliyon 2020; 6:e03175. [PMID: 32021920 PMCID: PMC6992992 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Given the clinical effect of laminopathies, understanding lamin mechanical properties will benefit the treatment of heart failure. Here we report a mechano-dynamic study of LMNA mutations in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM) using single cell spectroscopy with Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and measured changes in beating force, frequency and contractile amplitude of selected mutant-expressing cells within cell clusters. Furthermore, since beat-to-beat variations can provide clues on the origin of arrhythmias, we analyzed the beating rate variability using a time-domain method which provides a Poincaré plot. Data were further correlated to cell phenotypes. Immunofluorescence and calcium imaging analysis showed that mutant lamin changed NRVMs beating force and frequency. Additionally, we noted an altered microtubule network organization with shorter filament length, and defective hemichannel membrane localization (Connexin 43). These data highlight the interconnection between nucleoskeleton, cytoskeleton and sarcolemmal structures, and the transcellular consequences of mutant lamin protein in the pathogenesis of the cardiac laminopathies.
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13
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Lee J, Manoharan V, Cheung L, Lee S, Cha BH, Newman P, Farzad R, Mehrotra S, Zhang K, Khan F, Ghaderi M, Lin YD, Aftab S, Mostafalu P, Miscuglio M, Li J, Mandal BB, Hussain MA, Wan KT, Tang XS, Khademhosseini A, Shin SR. Nanoparticle-Based Hybrid Scaffolds for Deciphering the Role of Multimodal Cues in Cardiac Tissue Engineering. ACS NANO 2019; 13:12525-12539. [PMID: 31621284 PMCID: PMC7068777 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b03050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial microenvironment plays a decisive role in guiding the function and fate of cardiomyocytes, and engineering this extracellular niche holds great promise for cardiac tissue regeneration. Platforms utilizing hybrid hydrogels containing various types of conductive nanoparticles have been a critical tool for constructing engineered cardiac tissues with outstanding mechanical integrity and improved electrophysiological properties. However, there has been no attempt to directly compare the efficacy of these hybrid hydrogels and decipher the mechanisms behind how these platforms differentially regulate cardiomyocyte behavior. Here, we employed gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels containing three different types of carbon-based nanoparticles: carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene oxide (GO), and reduced GO (rGO), to investigate the influence of these hybrid scaffolds on the structural organization and functionality of cardiomyocytes. Using immunofluorescent staining for assessing cellular organization and proliferation, we showed that electrically conductive scaffolds (CNT- and rGO-GelMA compared to relatively nonconductive GO-GelMA) played a significant role in promoting desirable morphology of cardiomyocytes and elevated the expression of functional cardiac markers, while maintaining their viability. Electrophysiological analysis revealed that these engineered cardiac tissues showed distinct cardiomyocyte phenotypes and different levels of maturity based on the substrate (CNT-GelMA: ventricular-like, GO-GelMA: atrial-like, and rGO-GelMA: ventricular/atrial mixed phenotypes). Through analysis of gene-expression patterns, we uncovered that the engineered cardiac tissues matured on CNT-GelMA and native cardiac tissues showed comparable expression levels of maturation markers. Furthermore, we demonstrated that engineered cardiac tissues matured on CNT-GelMA have increased functionality through integrin-mediated mechanotransduction (via YAP/TAZ) in contrast to cardiomyocytes cultured on rGO-GelMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junmin Lee
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C-MIT), University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Vijayan Manoharan
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Louis Cheung
- Department of Chemistry & Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Seungkyu Lee
- F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Children’s Hospital Boston, and Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Byung-Hyun Cha
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Division of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Room 4302D, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85724, United States
| | - Peter Newman
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Razieh Farzad
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Shreya Mehrotra
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-781039, Assam, India
| | - Kaizhen Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Fazal Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80203, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Masoumeh Ghaderi
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Yi-Dong Lin
- Divisions of Genetics and Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Saira Aftab
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Pooria Mostafalu
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Mario Miscuglio
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 20052, United States
| | - Joan Li
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Biman B. Mandal
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati-781039, Assam, India
| | - Mohammad Asif Hussain
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21569, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kai-tak Wan
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Xiaowu Shirley Tang
- Department of Chemistry & Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Ali Khademhosseini
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Center for Minimally Invasive Therapeutics (C-MIT), University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
- Department of Radiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, United States
| | - Su Ryon Shin
- Division of Engineering in Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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14
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Sewanan LR, Campbell SG. Modelling sarcomeric cardiomyopathies with human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. J Physiol 2019; 598:2909-2922. [PMID: 30624779 DOI: 10.1113/jp276753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide a unique opportunity to understand the pathophysiological effects of genetic cardiomyopathy mutations. In particular, these cells hold the potential to unmask the effects of mutations on contractile behaviour in vitro, providing new insights into genotype-phenotype relationships. With this goal in mind, several groups have established iPSC lines that contain sarcomeric gene mutations linked to cardiomyopathy in patient populations. Their studies have employed diverse systems and methods for performing mechanical measurements of contractility, ranging from single cell techniques to multicellular tissue-like constructs. Here, we review published results to date within the growing field of iPSC-based sarcomeric cardiomyopathy disease models. We devote special attention to the methods of mechanical characterization selected in each case, and how these relate to the paradigms of classical muscle mechanics. An appreciation of these somewhat subtle paradigms can inform efforts to compare the results of different studies and possibly reconcile discrepancies. Although more work remains to be done to improve and possibly standardize methods for producing, maturing, and mechanically interrogating iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes, the initial results indicate that this approach to modelling cardiomyopathies will continue to provide critical insights into these devastating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo R Sewanan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stuart G Campbell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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15
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Nguyen DT, Nagarajan N, Zorlutuna P. Effect of Substrate Stiffness on Mechanical Coupling and Force Propagation at the Infarct Boundary. Biophys J 2018; 115:1966-1980. [PMID: 30473015 PMCID: PMC6303235 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2018.08.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 07/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneous intercellular coupling plays a significant role in mechanical and electrical signal transmission in the heart. Although many studies have investigated the electrical signal conduction between myocytes and nonmyocytes within the heart muscle tissue, there are not many that have looked into the mechanical counterpart. This study aims to investigate the effect of substrate stiffness and the presence of cardiac myofibroblasts (CMFs) on mechanical force propagation across cardiomyocytes (CMs) and CMFs in healthy and heart-attack-mimicking matrix stiffness conditions. The contractile forces generated by the CMs and their propagation across the CMFs were measured using a bio-nanoindenter integrated with fluorescence microscopy for fast calcium imaging. Our results showed that softer substrates facilitated stronger and further signal transmission. Interestingly, the presence of the CMFs attenuated the signal propagation in a stiffness-dependent manner. Stiffer substrates with CMFs present attenuated the signal ∼24-32% more compared to soft substrates with CMFs, indicating a synergistic detrimental effect of increased matrix stiffness and increased CMF numbers after myocardial infarction on myocardial function. Furthermore, the beating pattern of the CMF movement at the CM-CMF boundary also depended on the substrate stiffness, thereby influencing the waveform of the propagation of CM-generated contractile forces. We performed computer simulations to further understand the occurrence of different force transmission patterns and showed that cell-matrix focal adhesions assembled at the CM-CMF interfaces, which differs depending on the substrates stiffness, play important roles in determining the efficiency and mechanism of signal transmission. In conclusion, in addition to substrate stiffness, the degree and type of cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, affected by the substrate stiffness, influence mechanical signal conduction between myocytes and nonmyocytes in the heart muscle tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dung Trung Nguyen
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
| | - Neerajha Nagarajan
- Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
| | - Pinar Zorlutuna
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana; Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana.
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16
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Dinarelli S, Girasole M, Spitalieri P, Talarico RV, Murdocca M, Botta A, Novelli G, Mango R, Sangiuolo F, Longo G. AFM nano-mechanical study of the beating profile of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes beating bodies WT and DM1. J Mol Recognit 2018; 31:e2725. [PMID: 29748973 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2017] [Revised: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic Dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults, characterized by a variety of multisystemic features and associated with cardiac anomalies. Among cardiac phenomena, conduction defects, ventricular arrhythmias, and dilated cardiomyopathy represent the main cause of sudden death in DM1 patients. Patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) represent a powerful in vitro model for molecular, biochemical, and physiological studies of disease in the target cells. Here, we used an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) to measure the beating profiles of a large number of cells, organized in CM clusters (Beating Bodies, BBs), obtained from wild type (WT) and DM1 patients. We monitored the evolution over time of the frequency and intensity of the beating. We determined the variations between different BBs and over various areas of a single BB, caused by morphological and biomechanical variations. We exploited the AFM tip to apply a controlled force over the BBs, to carefully assess the biomechanical reaction of the different cell clusters over time, both in terms of beating frequency and intensity. Our measurements demonstrated differences between the WT and DM1 clusters highlighting, for the DM1 samples, an instability which was not observed in WT cells. We measured differences in the cellular response to the applied mechanical stimulus in terms of beating synchronicity over time and cell tenacity, which are in good agreement with the cellular behavior in vivo. Overall, the combination of hiPSC-CMs with AFM characterization can become a new tool to study the collective movements of cell clusters in different conditions and can be extended to the characterization of the BB response to chemical and pharmacological stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Dinarelli
- Institute for the Structure of Matter, CNR, Rome, Italy
| | - M Girasole
- Institute for the Structure of Matter, CNR, Rome, Italy
| | - P Spitalieri
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - R V Talarico
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - M Murdocca
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - A Botta
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - G Novelli
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - R Mango
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care, Polyclinic Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - F Sangiuolo
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy
| | - G Longo
- Institute for the Structure of Matter, CNR, Rome, Italy
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17
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Novel insights into cardiomyocytes provided by atomic force microscopy. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 73:4-12. [PMID: 28687239 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the number one cause of death globally, therefore interest in studying aetiology, hallmarks, progress and therapies for these disorders is constantly growing. Over the last decades, the introduction and development of atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique allowed the study of biological samples at the micro- and nanoscopic level, hence revealing noteworthy details and paving the way for investigations on physiological and pathological conditions at cellular scale. The present work is aimed to collect and review the literature on cardiomyocytes (CMs) studied by AFM, in order to emphasise the numerous potentialities of this approach and provide a platform for researchers in the field of cardiovascular diseases. Original data are also presented to highlight the application of AFM to characterise the viscoelastic properties of CMs.
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18
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Tailoring cardiac environment in microphysiological systems: an outlook on current and perspective heart-on-chip platforms. Future Sci OA 2017; 3:FSO191. [PMID: 28670478 PMCID: PMC5481859 DOI: 10.4155/fsoa-2017-0024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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19
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Grespan E, Martewicz S, Serena E, Le Houerou V, Rühe J, Elvassore N. Analysis of Calcium Transients and Uniaxial Contraction Force in Single Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes on Microstructured Elastic Substrate with Spatially Controlled Surface Chemistries. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2016; 32:12190-12201. [PMID: 27643958 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b03138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical activity of cardiomyocytes is the result of a process called excitation-contraction coupling (ECC). A membrane depolarization wave induces a transient cytosolic calcium concentration increase that triggers activation of calcium-sensitive contractile proteins, leading to cell contraction and force generation. An experimental setup capable of acquiring simultaneously all ECC features would have an enormous impact on cardiac drug development and disease study. In this work, we develop a microengineered elastomeric substrate with tailor-made surface chemistry to measure simultaneously the uniaxial contraction force and the calcium transients generated by single human cardiomyocytes in vitro. Microreplication followed by photocuring is used to generate an array consisting of elastomeric micropillars. A second photochemical process is employed to spatially control the surface chemistry of the elastomeric pillar. As result, human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hESC-CMs) can be confined in rectangular cell-adhesive areas, which induce cell elongation and promote suspended cell anchoring between two adjacent micropillars. In this end-to-end conformation, confocal fluorescence microscopy allows simultaneous detection of calcium transients and micropillar deflection induced by a single-cell uniaxial contraction force. Computational finite elements modeling (FEM) and 3D reconstruction of the cell-pillar interface allow force quantification. The platform is used to follow calcium dynamics and contraction force evolution in hESC-CMs cultures over the course of several weeks. Our results show how a biomaterial-based platform can be a versatile tool for in vitro assaying of cardiac functional properties of single-cell human cardiomyocytes, with applications in both in vitro developmental studies and drug screening on cardiac cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Grespan
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience , Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35127 Padova, Italy
| | - Sebastian Martewicz
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova , Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine , Via Orus 2, 35129 Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Serena
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova , Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine , Via Orus 2, 35129 Padua, Italy
| | - Vincent Le Houerou
- Institute Charles Sadron, University of Strasbourg , 23 rue du Loess, 84047 Strasbourg, France
| | - Jürgen Rühe
- Department for Microsystems Engineering, University of Freiburg , Georges-Köhler Allee 103, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nicola Elvassore
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova , Via Marzolo 9, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine , Via Orus 2, 35129 Padua, Italy
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20
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Nagarajan N, Vyas V, Huey BD, Zorlutuna P. Modulation of the contractility of micropatterned myocardial cells with nanoscale forces using atomic force microscopy. Nanobiomedicine (Rij) 2016; 3:1849543516675348. [PMID: 29942390 PMCID: PMC5998274 DOI: 10.1177/1849543516675348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to modulate cardiomyocyte contractility is important for bioengineering applications ranging from heart disease treatments to biorobotics. In this study, we examined the changes in contraction frequency of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes upon single-cell-level nanoscale mechanical stimulation using atomic force microscopy. To measure the response of same density of cells, they were micropatterned into micropatches of fixed geometry. To examine the effect of the substrate stiffness on the behavior of cells, they were cultured on a stiffer and a softer surface, glass and poly (dimethylsiloxane), respectively. Upon periodic cyclic stimulation of 300 nN at 5 Hz, a significant reduction in the rate of synchronous contraction of the cell patches on poly(dimethylsiloxane) substrates was observed with respect to their spontaneous beat rate, while the cell patches on glass substrates maintained or increased their contraction rate after the stimulation. On the other hand, single cells mostly maintained their contraction rate and could only withstand a lower magnitude of forces compared to micropatterned cell patches. This study reveals that the contraction behavior of cardiomyocytes can be modulated mechanically through cyclic nanomechanical stimulation, and the degree and mode of this modulation depend on the cell connectivity and substrate mechanical properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neerajha Nagarajan
- Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - Varun Vyas
- Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Bryan D Huey
- Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA.,Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Pinar Zorlutuna
- Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.,Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
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21
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Surface-patterned SU-8 cantilever arrays for preliminary screening of cardiac toxicity. Biosens Bioelectron 2016; 80:456-462. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2016.01.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2016] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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22
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Yue T, Park KH, Reese BE, Zhu H, Lyon S, Ma J, Mohler PJ, Zhang M. Quantifying Drug-Induced Nanomechanics and Mechanical Effects to Single Cardiomyocytes for Optimal Drug Administration To Minimize Cardiotoxicity. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2016; 32:1909-19. [PMID: 26738425 PMCID: PMC6083215 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b04314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Contrary to the well-studied dynamics and mechanics at organ and tissue levels, there is still a lack of good understanding for single cell dynamics and mechanics. Single cell dynamics and mechanics may act as an interface to provide unique information reflecting activities at the organ and tissue levels. This research was aimed at quantifying doxorubicin- and dexrazoxane-induced nanomechanics and mechanical effects to single cardiomyocytes, to reveal the therapeutic effectiveness of drugs at the single cell level and to optimize drug administration for reducing cardiotoxicity. This work employed a nanoinstrumentation platform, including a digital holographic microscope combined with an atomic force microscope, which can characterize cell stiffness and beating dynamics in response to drug exposures in real time and obtain time-dose-dependent effects of cardiotoxicity and protection. Through this research, an acute increase and a delayed decrease of surface beating force induced by doxorubicin was characterized. Dexrazoxane treated cells maintained better beating force and mechanical functions than cells without any treatment, which demonstrated cardioprotective effects of dexrazoxane. In addition, combined drug effects were quantitatively evaluated following various drug administration protocols. Preadministration of dexrazoxane was demonstrated to have protective effects against doxorubicin, which could lead to better strategies for cardiotoxicity prevention and anticancer drug administration. This study concluded that quantification of nanomechanics and mechanical effects at the single cell level could offer unique insights of molecular mechanisms involved in cellular activities influencing organ and tissue level responses to drug exposure, providing a new opportunity for the development of effective and time-dose-dependent strategies of drug administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Yue
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Ki Ho Park
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Benjamin E. Reese
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Hua Zhu
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Seth Lyon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Jianjie Ma
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Peter J. Mohler
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Mingjun Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Interdisciplinary Biophysics Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
- Corresponding Author:
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23
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Palankar R, Glaubitz M, Martens U, Medvedev N, von der Ehe M, Felix SB, Münzenberg M, Delcea M. 3D Micropillars Guide the Mechanobiology of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes. Adv Healthc Mater 2016; 5:335-41. [PMID: 26676091 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.201500740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
3D micropillars generated by photolithography are used as a platform to probe by atomic force microscopy the mechanodynamics of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. 3D micropillars guide subcellular cytoskeletal modifications of cardiomyocytes and lead to biochemical changes altering beating rate, stiffness, and calcium dynamics of the cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavendra Palankar
- ZIK HIKE - Centre for Innovation Competence (Humoral Immune Reactions in Cardiovascular Diseases); Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University; 17489 Greifswald Germany
| | - Michael Glaubitz
- ZIK HIKE - Centre for Innovation Competence (Humoral Immune Reactions in Cardiovascular Diseases); Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University; 17489 Greifswald Germany
| | - Ulrike Martens
- Institute for Physics; University of Greifswald; 17489 Greifswald Germany
| | - Nikolay Medvedev
- ZIK HIKE - Centre for Innovation Competence (Humoral Immune Reactions in Cardiovascular Diseases); Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University; 17489 Greifswald Germany
| | - Marvin von der Ehe
- Institute for Physics; University of Greifswald; 17489 Greifswald Germany
| | - Stephan B. Felix
- Clinic for Internal Medicine B (Cardiology); University of Greifswald Sauebruchstrasse; 17475 Greifswald Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) partner site; Greifswald Germany
| | - Markus Münzenberg
- Institute for Physics; University of Greifswald; 17489 Greifswald Germany
| | - Mihaela Delcea
- ZIK HIKE - Centre for Innovation Competence (Humoral Immune Reactions in Cardiovascular Diseases); Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University; 17489 Greifswald Germany
- DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) partner site; Greifswald Germany
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24
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Beussman KM, Rodriguez ML, Leonard A, Taparia N, Thompson CR, Sniadecki NJ. Micropost arrays for measuring stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte contractility. Methods 2016; 94:43-50. [PMID: 26344757 PMCID: PMC4761463 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2015.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Revised: 08/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes have the potential to be used to study heart disease and maturation, screen drug treatments, and restore heart function. Here, we discuss the procedures involved in using micropost arrays to measure the contractile forces generated by stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocyte contractility is needed for the heart to pump blood, so measuring the contractile forces of cardiomyocytes is a straightforward way to assess their function. Microfabrication and soft lithography techniques are utilized to create identical arrays of flexible, silicone microposts from a common master. Micropost arrays are functionalized with extracellular matrix protein to allow cardiomyocytes to adhere to the tips of the microposts. Live imaging is used to capture videos of the deflection of microposts caused by the contraction of the cardiomyocytes. Image analysis code provides an accurate means to quantify these deflections. The contractile forces produced by a beating cardiomyocyte are calculated by modeling the microposts as cantilever beams. We have used this assay to assess techniques for improving the maturation and contractile function of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Beussman
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Marita L Rodriguez
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrea Leonard
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nikita Taparia
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Curtis R Thompson
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nathan J Sniadecki
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Laurila E, Ahola A, Hyttinen J, Aalto-Setälä K. Methods for in vitro functional analysis of iPSC derived cardiomyocytes - Special focus on analyzing the mechanical beating behavior. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2015; 1863:1864-72. [PMID: 26707468 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2015.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A rapidly increasing number of papers describing novel iPSC models for cardiac diseases are being published. To be able to understand the disease mechanisms in more detail, we should also take the full advantage of the various methods for analyzing these cell models. The traditionally and commonly used electrophysiological analysis methods have been recently accompanied by novel approaches for analyzing the mechanical beatingbehavior of the cardiomyocytes. In this review, we provide first a concise overview on the methodology for cardiomyocyte functional analysis and then concentrate on the video microscopy, which provides a promise for a new faster yet reliable method for cardiomyocyte functional analysis. We also show how analysis conditions may affect the results. Development of the methodology not only serves the basic research on the disease models, but could also provide the much needed efficient early phase screening method for cardiac safety toxicology. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Cardiomyocyte Biology: Integration of Developmental and Environmental Cues in the Heart edited by Marcus Schaub and Hughes Abriel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eeva Laurila
- University of Tampere, BioMediTech and School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland.
| | - Antti Ahola
- Tampere University of Technology, Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering, BioMediTech, Tampere, Finland
| | - Jari Hyttinen
- Tampere University of Technology, Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering, BioMediTech, Tampere, Finland
| | - Katriina Aalto-Setälä
- University of Tampere, BioMediTech and School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland; Heart Hospital, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
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26
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Contractility of single cardiomyocytes differentiated from pluripotent stem cells depends on physiological shape and substrate stiffness. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:12705-10. [PMID: 26417073 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1508073112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 330] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Single cardiomyocytes contain myofibrils that harbor the sarcomere-based contractile machinery of the myocardium. Cardiomyocytes differentiated from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC-CMs) have potential as an in vitro model of heart activity. However, their fetal-like misalignment of myofibrils limits their usefulness for modeling contractile activity. We analyzed the effects of cell shape and substrate stiffness on the shortening and movement of labeled sarcomeres and the translation of sarcomere activity to mechanical output (contractility) in live engineered hPSC-CMs. Single hPSC-CMs were cultured on polyacrylamide substrates of physiological stiffness (10 kPa), and Matrigel micropatterns were used to generate physiological shapes (2,000-µm(2) rectangles with length:width aspect ratios of 5:1-7:1) and a mature alignment of myofibrils. Translation of sarcomere shortening to mechanical output was highest in 7:1 hPSC-CMs. Increased substrate stiffness and applied overstretch induced myofibril defects in 7:1 hPSC-CMs and decreased mechanical output. Inhibitors of nonmuscle myosin activity repressed the assembly of myofibrils, showing that subcellular tension drives the improved contractile activity in these engineered hPSC-CMs. Other factors associated with improved contractility were axially directed calcium flow, systematic mitochondrial distribution, more mature electrophysiology, and evidence of transverse-tubule formation. These findings support the potential of these engineered hPSC-CMs as powerful models for studying myocardial contractility at the cellular level.
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27
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Wong YR. Micro- and nano-force evaluation of bioengineered muscle cells: a non-contact two-dimensional biosensing using surface acoustic wave devices. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 26:312501. [PMID: 26183643 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/26/31/312501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A high degree of cell-generated force measurement is required to evaluate the biomechanical performance of bioengineered muscle tissues. However, the conventional cantilever types of direct force measurement methods have limitations in developing a non-contact two-dimensional force sensing device for a single muscle cell. In this paper, a method is proposed and discussed by using focused surface acoustic wave and magneto-optic Kerr measurements. To depict the capability of the proposed method, a conceptual design of such a sensory device is demonstrated for non-contact two-dimensional force measurement of a single muscle cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoke-Rung Wong
- Biomechanics Laboratory Singapore General Hospital, 20 College Road, Academia, Level 1, 169856 Singapore
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28
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Ossola D, Amarouch MY, Behr P, Vörös J, Abriel H, Zambelli T. Force-controlled patch clamp of beating cardiac cells. NANO LETTERS 2015; 15:1743-50. [PMID: 25639960 DOI: 10.1021/nl504438z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
From its invention in the 1970s, the patch clamp technique is the gold standard in electrophysiology research and drug screening because it is the only tool enabling accurate investigation of voltage-gated ion channels, which are responsible for action potentials. Because of its key role in drug screening, innovation efforts are being made to reduce its complexity toward more automated systems. While some of these new approaches are being adopted in pharmaceutical companies, conventional patch-clamp remains unmatched in fundamental research due to its versatility. Here, we merged the patch clamp and atomic force microscope (AFM) techniques, thus equipping the patch-clamp with the sensitive AFM force control. This was possible using the FluidFM, a force-controlled nanopipette based on microchanneled AFM cantilevers. First, the compatibility of the system with patch-clamp electronics and its ability to record the activity of voltage-gated ion channels in whole-cell configuration was demonstrated with sodium (NaV1.5) channels. Second, we showed the feasibility of simultaneous recording of membrane current and force development during contraction of isolated cardiomyocytes. Force feedback allowed for a gentle and stable contact between AFM tip and cell membrane enabling serial patch clamping and injection without apparent cell damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Ossola
- Laboratory of Biosensors and Bioelectronics, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, ETH Zurich , Zurich, Switzerland
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29
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Gaitas A, Malhotra R, Li T, Herron T, Jalife J. A device for rapid and quantitative measurement of cardiac myocyte contractility. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2015; 86:034302. [PMID: 25832250 PMCID: PMC4376763 DOI: 10.1063/1.4915500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Cardiac contractility is the hallmark of cardiac function and is a predictor of healthy or diseased cardiac muscle. Despite advancements over the last two decades, the techniques and tools available to cardiovascular scientists are limited in their utility to accurately and reliably measure the amplitude and frequency of cardiomyocyte contractions. Isometric force measurements in the past have entailed cumbersome attachment of isolated and permeabilized cardiomyocytes to a force transducer followed by measurements of sarcomere lengths under conditions of submaximal and maximal Ca(2+) activation. These techniques have the inherent disadvantages of being labor intensive and costly. We have engineered a micro-machined cantilever sensor with an embedded deflection-sensing element that, in preliminary experiments, has demonstrated to reliably measure cardiac cell contractions in real-time. Here, we describe this new bioengineering tool with applicability in the cardiovascular research field to effectively and reliably measure cardiac cell contractility in a quantitative manner. We measured contractility in both primary neonatal rat heart cardiomyocyte monolayers that demonstrated a beat frequency of 3 Hz as well as human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes with a contractile frequency of about 1 Hz. We also employed the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (100 nmol l(-1)) and observed that our cantilever demonstrated high sensitivity in detecting subtle changes in both chronotropic and inotropic responses of monolayers. This report describes the utility of our micro-device in both basic cardiovascular research as well as in small molecule drug discovery to monitor cardiac cell contractions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Gaitas
- Kytaro, Inc., 11200 SW 8th Street, MARC 430, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
| | - Ricky Malhotra
- Kytaro, Inc., 11200 SW 8th Street, MARC 430, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
| | - Tao Li
- Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, 1301 Beal Ave., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Todd Herron
- Center for Arrhythmia Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - José Jalife
- Center for Arrhythmia Research, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
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Rodriguez ML, Graham BT, Pabon LM, Han SJ, Murry CE, Sniadecki NJ. Measuring the contractile forces of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes with arrays of microposts. J Biomech Eng 2015; 136:051005. [PMID: 24615475 DOI: 10.1115/1.4027145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes hold promise for heart repair, disease modeling, drug screening, and for studies of developmental biology. All of these applications can be improved by assessing the contractility of cardiomyocytes at the single cell level. We have developed an in vitro platform for assessing the contractile performance of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes that is compatible with other common endpoints such as microscopy and molecular biology. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) were seeded onto elastomeric micropost arrays in order to characterize the contractile force, velocity, and power produced by these cells. We assessed contractile function by tracking the deflection of microposts beneath an individual hiPSC-CM with optical microscopy. Immunofluorescent staining of these cells was employed to assess their spread area, nucleation, and sarcomeric structure on the microposts. Following seeding of hiPSC-CMs onto microposts coated with fibronectin, laminin, and collagen IV, we found that hiPSC-CMs on laminin coatings demonstrated higher attachment, spread area, and contractile velocity than those seeded on fibronectin or collagen IV coatings. Under optimized conditions, hiPSC-CMs spread to an area of approximately 420 μm2, generated systolic forces of approximately 15 nN/cell, showed contraction and relaxation rates of 1.74 μm/s and 1.46 μm/s, respectively, and had a peak contraction power of 29 fW. Thus, elastomeric micropost arrays can be used to study the contractile strength and kinetics of hiPSC-CMs. This system should facilitate studies of hiPSC-CM maturation, disease modeling, and drug screens as well as fundamental studies of human cardiac contraction.
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Lai YC, Chang WT, Lin KY, Liau I. Optical assessment of the cardiac rhythm of contracting cardiomyocytes in vitro and a pulsating heart in vivo for pharmacological screening. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2014; 5:1616-1625. [PMID: 24877019 PMCID: PMC4026895 DOI: 10.1364/boe.5.001616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Our quest in the pathogenesis and therapies targeting human heart diseases requires assessment of the contractile dynamics of cardiac models of varied complexity, such as isolated cardiomyocytes and the heart of a model animal. It is hence beneficial to have an integral means that can interrogate both cardiomyocytes in vitro and a heart in vivo. Herein we report an application of dual-beam optical reflectometry to determine noninvasively the rhythm of two representative cardiac models-chick embryonic cardiomyocytes and the heart of zebrafish. We probed self-beating cardiomyocytes and revealed the temporally varying contractile frequency with a short-time Fourier transform. Our unique dual-beam setup uniquely records the atrial and ventricular pulsations of zebrafish simultaneously. To minimize the cross talk between signals associated with atrial and ventricular chambers, we particularly modulated the two probe beams at distinct frequencies and extracted the signals specific to individual cardiac chambers with phase-sensitive detection. With this setup, we determined the atrio-ventricular interval, a parameter that is manifested by the electrical conduction from the atrium to the ventricle. To demonstrate pharmacological applications, we characterized zebrafish treated with various cardioactive and cardiotoxic drugs, and identified abnormal cardiac rhythms and atrioventricular (AV) blocks of varied degree. In light of its potential capability to assess cardiac models both in vitro and in vivo and to screen drugs with cardioactivity or toxicity, we expect this approach to have broad applications ranging from cardiopharmacology to developmental biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Cheng Lai
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
- Equal contribution
| | - Wei-Tien Chang
- National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei 100, Taiwan
- Equal contribution
| | - Kuen-You Lin
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
| | - Ian Liau
- Department of Applied Chemistry and Institute of Molecular Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
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