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Tręda C, Włodarczyk A, Rieske P. The hope, hype and obstacles surrounding cell therapy. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18359. [PMID: 38770886 PMCID: PMC11107145 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18359] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell therapy offers hope, but it also presents challenges, most particularly the limited ability of human organs and tissues to regenerate. Since many diseases are associated with irreversible pathophysiological or traumatic changes, stem cells and their derivatives are unable to secure healing. Although regenerative medicine offers chances for improvements in many diseases, such as type one diabetes and Parkinson's disease, it cannot eliminate the primary cause of many of them. While successes can be expected for diseases such as sickle cell disease, this is not the case for hereditary diseases with varied mutation types or for ciliopathies, which start in embryogenesis. In this complicated medical environment, synthetic biology offers some solutions, but their implementation will take many years. Still, positive examples such as CAR-T therapy offer hope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cezary Tręda
- Department of Tumor BiologyMedical University of LodzLodzPoland
| | | | - Piotr Rieske
- Department of Tumor BiologyMedical University of LodzLodzPoland
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Kolahdouzmohammadi M, Pahlavan S, Sotoodehnejadnematalahi F, Tahamtani Y, Totonchi M. Activation of AMPK promotes cardiac differentiation by stimulating the autophagy pathway. J Cell Commun Signal 2023; 17:939-955. [PMID: 37040028 PMCID: PMC10409960 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-023-00744-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy, a critical catabolic process for cell survival against different types of stress, has a role in the differentiation of various cells, such as cardiomyocytes. Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an energy-sensing protein kinase involved in the regulation of autophagy. In addition to its direct role in regulating autophagy, AMPK can also influence other cellular processes by regulating mitochondrial function, posttranslational acetylation, cardiomyocyte metabolism, mitochondrial autophagy, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and apoptosis. As AMPK is involved in the control of various cellular processes, it can influence the health and survival of cardiomyocytes. This study investigated the effects of an AMPK inducer (Metformin) and an autophagy inhibitor (Hydroxychloroquine) on the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs). The results showed that autophagy was upregulated during cardiac differentiation. Furthermore, AMPK activation increased the expression of CM-specific markers in hPSC-CMs. Additionally, autophagy inhibition impaired cardiomyocyte differentiation by targeting autophagosome-lysosome fusion. These results indicate the significance of autophagy in cardiomyocyte differentiation. In conclusion, AMPK might be a promising target for the regulation of cardiomyocyte generation by in vitro differentiation of pluripotent stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Pahlavan
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Yaser Tahamtani
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Reproductive Epidemiology Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Totonchi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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Saleem A, Abbas MK, Wang Y, Lan F. hPSC gene editing for cardiac disease therapy. Pflugers Arch 2022; 474:1123-1132. [PMID: 36163402 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-022-02751-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. However, the lack of human cardiomyocytes with proper genetic backgrounds limits the study of disease mechanisms. Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) have significantly advanced the study of these conditions. Moreover, hPSC-CMs made it easy to study CVDs using genome-editing techniques. This article discusses the applications of these techniques in hPSC for studying CVDs. Recently, several genome-editing systems have been used to modify hPSCs, including zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9). We focused on the recent advancement of genome editing in hPSCs, which dramatically improved the efficiency of the cell-based mechanism study and therapy for cardiac diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Saleem
- Beijing Laboratory for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Medical Engineering for Cardiovascular Diseases, MOE Key Laboratory of Remodeling Related Cardiovascular Disease, Beijing Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disorders, Research Institute Building, Beijinj Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Room 319, 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, Beijing, 100029, China
| | - Muhammad Khawar Abbas
- BHMS Department, University College of Conventional Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Yongming Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, China
- The Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC in SIPPR, Institute of Reproduction & Development in Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Feng Lan
- Beijing Laboratory for Cardiovascular Precision Medicine, MOE Key Laboratory of Medical Engineering for Cardiovascular Diseases, MOE Key Laboratory of Remodeling Related Cardiovascular Disease, Beijing Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disorders, Research Institute Building, Beijinj Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Room 319, 2 Anzhen Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, Beijing, 100029, China.
- Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shenzhen, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Key Laboratory of Pluripotent Stem Cells in Cardiac Repair and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, Beijing, 100029, China.
- National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Regenerative Medicine, Fuwai Central-China Hospital, Central-China Branch of National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhengzhou, Beijing, 100037, China.
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Chen L, Hassani Nia F, Stauber T. Ion Channels and Transporters in Muscle Cell Differentiation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13615. [PMID: 34948411 PMCID: PMC8703453 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigations on ion channels in muscle tissues have mainly focused on physiological muscle function and related disorders, but emerging evidence supports a critical role of ion channels and transporters in developmental processes, such as controlling the myogenic commitment of stem cells. In this review, we provide an overview of ion channels and transporters that influence skeletal muscle myoblast differentiation, cardiac differentiation from pluripotent stem cells, as well as vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation. We highlight examples of model organisms or patients with mutations in ion channels. Furthermore, a potential underlying molecular mechanism involving hyperpolarization of the resting membrane potential and a series of calcium signaling is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingye Chen
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany;
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Fatemeh Hassani Nia
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, 20457 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Tobias Stauber
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany;
- Institute for Molecular Medicine, MSH Medical School Hamburg, 20457 Hamburg, Germany;
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Abstract
Cardiomyogenesis, the process by which the body generates cardiomyocytes, is poorly understood. We have recently shown that Sfrp2 promotes cardiomyogenesis in vitro. The objective of this study was to determine if Sfrp2 would similarly promote cardiomyogenesis in vivo. To test this hypothesis, we tracked multipotent cKit(+) cells in response to Sfrp2 treatment. In control adult mice, multipotent cKit(+) cells typically differentiated into endothelial cells but not cardiomyocytes. In contrast, Sfrp2 switched the fate of these cells. Following Sfrp2 injection, multipotent cKit(+) cells differentiated solely into cardiomyocytes. Sfrp2-derived cardiomyocytes integrated into the myocardium and exhibited identical physiological properties to preexisting native cardiomyocytes. The ability of Sfrp2 to promote cardiomyogenesis was further supported by tracking EdU-labeled cells. In addition, Sfrp2 did not promote the formation of new cardiomyocytes when the cKit(+) cell population was selectively ablated in vivo using a diphtheria toxin receptor-diphtheria toxin model. Notably, Sfrp2-induced cardiomyogenesis was associated with significant functional improvements in a cardiac injury model. In summary, our study further demonstrates the importance of Sfrp2 in cardiomyogenesis.
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Jalink P, Caiazzo M. Brain Organoids: Filling the Need for a Human Model of Neurological Disorder. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:740. [PMID: 34439972 PMCID: PMC8389592 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neurological disorders are among the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for almost all onsets of dementia in the elderly, and are known to negatively affect motor ability, mental and cognitive performance, as well as overall wellbeing and happiness. Currently, most neurological disorders go untreated due to a lack of viable treatment options. The reason for this lack of options is s poor understanding of the disorders, primarily due to research models that do not translate well into the human in vivo system. Current models for researching neurological disorders, neurodevelopment, and drug interactions in the central nervous system include in vitro monolayer cell cultures, and in vivo animal models. These models have shortcomings when it comes to translating research about disorder pathology, development, and treatment to humans. Brain organoids are three-dimensional (3D) cultures of stem cell-derived neural cells that mimic the development of the in vivo human brain with high degrees of accuracy. Researchers have started developing these miniature brains to model neurodevelopment, and neuropathology. Brain organoids have been used to model a wide range of neurological disorders, including the complex and poorly understood neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we discuss the brain organoid technology, placing special focus on the different brain organoid models that have been developed, discussing their strengths, weaknesses, and uses in neurological disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Jalink
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, CG 3584 Utrecht, The Netherlands;
| | - Massimiliano Caiazzo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, CG 3584 Utrecht, The Netherlands;
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Schmid C, Wohnhaas CT, Hildebrandt T, Baum P, Rast G. Characterization of iCell cardiomyocytes using single-cell RNA-sequencing methods. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2020; 106:106915. [PMID: 32871229 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2020.106915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes are being evaluated for their use in pharmacological and toxicological testing, particularly for electrophysiological side effects. However, little is known about the composition of the commercially available iCell cardiomyocyte (Fuijifilm Cellular Dynamics) cultures and the transcriptomic phenotype of individual cells. METHODS We characterized iCell cardiomyocytes (assumed to be a mixture of nodal-, atrial-, and ventricular-like cardiomyocytes together with potential residual non-myocytes) using bulk RNA-sequencing, followed by investigation of cellular heterogeneity using two different single-cell RNA-sequencing platforms. RESULTS Bulk RNA-sequencing identified key cardiac markers (TNNT2, MYL7) as well as fibroblast associated genes (P4HB, VIM), and cardiac ion channels in the iCell cardiomyocyte culture. High-resolution single cell RNA-sequencing demonstrated that both, cardiac and fibroblast-related genes were co-expressed throughout the cell population. This approach resolved two cell clusters within iCell cardiomyocytes. Interestingly, these clusters could not be associated with known cardiac subtypes. However, transcripts of ion channels potentially useful as functional markers for cardiac subtypes were below the detection limits of the single-cell approaches used. Instead, one cluster (10.8% of the cells) is defined by co-expression of cardiac and cell cycle-related genes (e.g. TOP2A). Incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine further confirmed the capability of iCell cardiomyocytes to enter cell cycle. DISCUSSION The co-expression of cardiac related genes with cell cycle or fibroblast related genes may be interpreted either as aberrant or as an immature feature. However, this excludes the presence of a non-cardiomyocyte sub-population and indicates that some cardiomyocytes themselves enter cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Schmid
- Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach, Germany; Department of Chemistry, Food Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Kaiserslautern, Erwin-Schrödinger-Straße 52, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany.
| | - Christian T Wohnhaas
- Computational Biology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach, Germany; Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany.
| | - Tobias Hildebrandt
- Computational Biology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach, Germany
| | - Patrick Baum
- Translational Medicine & Clinical Pharmacology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach, Germany.
| | - Georg Rast
- Drug Discovery Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88397 Biberach, Germany.
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Birla RK, Williams SK. 3D bioprinting and its potential impact on cardiac failure treatment: An industry perspective. APL Bioeng 2020; 4:010903. [PMID: 32095736 PMCID: PMC7028435 DOI: 10.1063/1.5128371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
3D printing technologies are emerging as a disruptive innovation for the treatment of
patients in cardiac failure. The ability to create custom devices, at the point of care,
will affect both the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac diseases. The introduction of
bioinks containing cells and biomaterials and the development of new computer assisted
design and computer assisted manufacturing systems have ushered in a new technology known
as 3D bioprinting. Small scale 3D bioprinting has successfully created cardiac tissue
microphysiological systems. 3D bioprinting provides an opportunity to evaluate the
assembly of specific parts of the heart and most notably heart valves. With the continuous
development of instrumentation and bioinks and a complete understanding of cardiac tissue
development, it is proposed that 3D bioprinting may permit the assembly of a heart
described as a total biofabricated heart.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stuart K Williams
- Bioficial Organs Program, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA
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Inhibition of Histone Methyltransferase, Histone Deacetylase, and β-Catenin Synergistically Enhance the Cardiac Potential of Bone Marrow Cells. Stem Cells Int 2017; 2017:3464953. [PMID: 28791052 PMCID: PMC5534312 DOI: 10.1155/2017/3464953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we reported that treatment with the G9a histone methyltransferase inhibitor BIX01294 causes bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to exhibit a cardiocompetent phenotype, as indicated by the induction of the precardiac markers Mesp1 and brachyury. Here, we report that combining the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA) with BIX01294 synergistically enhances MSC cardiogenesis. Although TSA by itself had no effect on cardiac gene expression, coaddition of TSA to MSC cultures enhanced BIX01294-induced levels of Mesp1 and brachyury expression 5.6- and 7.2-fold. Moreover, MSCs exposed to the cardiogenic stimulus Wnt11 generated 2.6- to 5.6-fold higher levels of the cardiomyocyte markers GATA4, Nkx2.5, and myocardin when pretreated with TSA in addition to BIX01294. MSC cultures also showed a corresponding increase in the prevalence of sarcomeric protein-positive cells when treated with these small molecule inhibitors. These results correlated with data showing synergism between (1) TSA and BIX01294 in promoting acetylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 and (2) BIX01294 and Wnt11 in decreasing β-catenin accumulation in MSCs. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of observations in the early embryo on the importance of β-catenin signaling and histone modifications for cardiomyocyte differentiation and heart development.
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Hulot JS. Get Your Cell K.O. in the First Round. Circ Res 2017; 120:1522-1523. [PMID: 28495980 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.117.310955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Sébastien Hulot
- From the Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, AP-HP, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition, France.
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Doetschman T, Georgieva T. Gene Editing With CRISPR/Cas9 RNA-Directed Nuclease. Circ Res 2017; 120:876-894. [DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.116.309727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Revised: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Genetic engineering of model organisms and cultured cells has for decades provided important insights into the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular development and disease. In the past few years the development of several nuclease systems has broadened the range of model/cell systems that can be engineered. Of these, the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats)/Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) system has become the favorite for its ease of application. Here we will review this RNA-guided nuclease system for gene editing with respect to its usefulness for cardiovascular studies and with an eye toward potential therapy. Studies on its off-target activity, along with approaches to minimize this activity will be given. The advantages of gene editing versus gene targeting in embryonic stem cells, including the breadth of species and cell types to which it is applicable, will be discussed. We will also cover its use in iPSC for research and possible therapeutic purposes; and we will review its use in muscular dystrophy studies where considerable progress has been made toward dystrophin correction in mice. The CRISPR/Ca9s system is also being used for high-throughput screening of genes, gene regulatory regions, and long noncoding RNAs. In addition, the CRISPR system is being used for nongene-editing purposes such as activation and inhibition of gene expression, as well as for fluorescence tagging of chromosomal regions and individual mRNAs to track their cellular location. Finally, an approach to circumvent the inability of post-mitotic cells to support homologous recombination-based gene editing will be presented. In conclusion, applications of the CRISPR/Cas system are expanding at a breath-taking pace and are revolutionizing approaches to gain a better understanding of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Doetschman
- From the BIO5 Institute (T.D., T.G.) and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (T.D.), University of Arizona, Tucson
| | - Teodora Georgieva
- From the BIO5 Institute (T.D., T.G.) and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine (T.D.), University of Arizona, Tucson
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Kerscher P, Kaczmarek JA, Head SE, Ellis ME, Seeto WJ, Kim J, Bhattacharya S, Suppiramaniam V, Lipke EA. Direct Production of Human Cardiac Tissues by Pluripotent Stem Cell Encapsulation in Gelatin Methacryloyl. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2016; 3:1499-1509. [PMID: 33429637 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.6b00226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Direct stem cell encapsulation and cardiac differentiation within supporting biomaterial scaffolds are critical for reproducible and scalable production of the functional human tissues needed in regenerative medicine and drug-testing applications. Producing cardiac tissues directly from pluripotent stem cells rather than assembling tissues using pre-differentiated cells can eliminate multiple cell-handling steps that otherwise limit the potential for process automation and production scale-up. Here we asked whether our process for forming 3D developing human engineered cardiac tissues using poly(ethylene glycol)-fibrinogen hydrogels can be extended to widely used and printable gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels. We demonstrate that low-density GelMA hydrogels can be formed rapidly using visible light (<1 min) and successfully employed to encapsulate human induced pluripotent stem cells while maintaining high cell viability. Resulting constructs had an initial stiffness of approximately 220 Pa, supported tissue growth and dynamic remodeling, and facilitated high-efficiency cardiac differentiation (>70%) to produce spontaneously contracting GelMA human engineered cardiac tissues (GEhECTs). GEhECTs initiated spontaneous contractions on day 8 of differentiation, with synchronicity, frequency, and velocity of contraction increasing over time, and displayed developmentally appropriate temporal changes in cardiac gene expression. GEhECT-dissociated cardiomyocytes displayed well-defined and aligned sarcomeres spaced at 1.85 ± 0.1 μm and responded appropriately to drug treatments, including the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol and antagonist propranolol, as well as to outside pacing up to 3.0 Hz. Overall results demonstrate that GelMA is a suitable biomaterial for the production of developing cardiac tissues and has the potential to be employed in scale-up production and bioprinting of GEhECTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Kerscher
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Jennifer A Kaczmarek
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Sara E Head
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Morgan E Ellis
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Wen J Seeto
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
| | - Joonyul Kim
- Proximity Biosciences LLC, Auburn, Alabama 36832, United States
| | - Subhrajit Bhattacharya
- Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, 2316 Walker Building, Auburn, Alabama 36829, United States
| | - Vishnu Suppiramaniam
- Drug Discovery and Development, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, 2316 Walker Building, Auburn, Alabama 36829, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Lipke
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, 212 Ross Hall, Auburn, Alabama 36849, United States
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