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Almeida M, Inácio JM, Vital CM, Rodrigues MR, Araújo BC, Belo JA. Cell Reprogramming, Transdifferentiation, and Dedifferentiation Approaches for Heart Repair. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:3063. [PMID: 40243729 PMCID: PMC11988544 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26073063] [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: 03/01/2025] [Revised: 03/22/2025] [Accepted: 03/24/2025] [Indexed: 04/18/2025] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death globally, with myocardial infarction (MI) being a major contributor. The current therapeutic approaches are limited in effectively regenerating damaged cardiac tissue. Up-to-date strategies for heart regeneration/reconstitution aim at cardiac remodeling through repairing the damaged tissue with an external cell source or by stimulating the existing cells to proliferate and repopulate the compromised area. Cell reprogramming is addressed to this challenge as a promising solution, converting fibroblasts and other cell types into functional cardiomyocytes, either by reverting cells to a pluripotent state or by directly switching cell lineage. Several strategies such as gene editing and the application of miRNA and small molecules have been explored for their potential to enhance cardiac regeneration. Those strategies take advantage of cell plasticity by introducing reprogramming factors that regress cell maturity in vitro, allowing for their later differentiation and thus endorsing cell transplantation, or promote in situ cell proliferation, leveraged by scaffolds embedded with pro-regenerative factors promoting efficient heart restoration. Despite notable advancements, important challenges persist, including low reprogramming efficiency, cell maturation limitations, and safety concerns in clinical applications. Nonetheless, integrating these innovative approaches offers a promising alternative for restoring cardiac function and reducing the dependency on full heart transplants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - José M. Inácio
- Stem Cells and Development Laboratory, iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.A.); (C.M.V.); (M.R.R.); (B.C.A.)
| | | | | | | | - José A. Belo
- Stem Cells and Development Laboratory, iNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.A.); (C.M.V.); (M.R.R.); (B.C.A.)
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Kussauer S, Dilk P, Elleisy M, Michaelis C, Lichtwark S, Rimmbach C, David R, Jung J. Heart rhythm in vitro: measuring stem cell-derived pacemaker cells on microelectrode arrays. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1200786. [PMID: 38450366 PMCID: PMC10915086 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1200786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cardiac arrhythmias have markedly increased in recent decades, highlighting the urgent need for appropriate test systems to evaluate the efficacy and safety of new pharmaceuticals and the potential side effects of established drugs. Methods The Microelectrode Array (MEA) system may be a suitable option, as it provides both real-time and non-invasive monitoring of cellular networks of spontaneously active cells. However, there is currently no commercially available cell source to apply this technology in the context of the cardiac conduction system (CCS). In response to this problem, our group has previously developed a protocol for the generation of pure functional cardiac pacemaker cells from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). In addition, we compared the hanging drop method, which was previously utilized, with spherical plate-derived embryoid bodies (EBs) and the pacemaker cells that are differentiated from these. Results We described the application of these pacemaker cells on the MEA platform, which required a number of crucial optimization steps in terms of coating, dissociation, and cell density. As a result, we were able to generate a monolayer of pure pacemaker cells on an MEA surface that is viable and electromechanically active for weeks. Furthermore, we introduced spherical plates as a convenient and scalable method to be applied for the production of induced sinoatrial bodies. Conclusion We provide a tool to transfer modeling and analysis of cardiac rhythm diseases to the cell culture dish. Our system allows answering CCS-related queries within a cellular network, both under baseline conditions and post-drug exposure in a reliable and affordable manner. Ultimately, our approach may provide valuable guidance not only for cardiac pacemaker cells but also for the generation of an MEA test platform using other sensitive non-proliferating cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Kussauer
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Life, Light, & Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Patrick Dilk
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Life, Light, & Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Moustafa Elleisy
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Life, Light, & Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Claudia Michaelis
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Life, Light, & Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Sarina Lichtwark
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Life, Light, & Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Christian Rimmbach
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Life, Light, & Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Robert David
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Life, Light, & Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Julia Jung
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
- Department of Life, Light, & Matter, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
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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: 0.8] [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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Locatelli P, Belaich MN, López AE, Olea FD, Uranga Vega M, Giménez CS, Simonin JA, Bauzá MDR, Castillo MG, Cuniberti LA, Crottogini A, Cerrudo CS, Ghiringhelli PD. Novel insights into cardiac regeneration based on differential fetal and adult ovine heart transcriptomic analysis. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2020; 318:H994-H1007. [PMID: 32167779 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00610.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The adult mammalian cardiomyocyte has a very limited capacity to reenter the cell cycle and advance into mitosis. Therefore, diseases characterized by lost contractile tissue usually evolve into myocardial remodeling and heart failure. Analyzing the cardiac transcriptome at different developmental stages in a large mammal closer to the human than laboratory rodents may serve to disclose positive and negative cardiomyocyte cell cycle regulators potentially targetable to induce cardiac regeneration in the clinical setting. Thus we aimed at characterizing the transcriptomic profiles of the early fetal, late fetal, and adult sheep heart by employing RNA-seq technique and bioinformatic analysis to detect protein-encoding genes that in some of the stages were turned off, turned on, or differentially expressed. Genes earlier proposed as positive cell cycle regulators such as cyclin A, cdk2, meis2, meis3, and PCNA showed higher expression in fetal hearts and lower in AH, as expected. In contrast, genes previously proposed as cell cycle inhibitors, such as meis1, p16, and sav1, tended to be higher in fetal than in adult hearts, suggesting that these genes are involved in cell processes other than cell cycle regulation. Additionally, we described Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment of different sets of genes. GO analysis revealed that differentially expressed gene sets were mainly associated with metabolic and cellular processes. The cell cycle-related genes fam64a, cdc20, and cdk1, and the metabolism-related genes pitx and adipoq showed strong differential expression between fetal and adult hearts, thus being potent candidates to be targeted in human cardiac regeneration strategies.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We characterized the transcriptomic profiles of the fetal and adult sheep hearts employing RNAseq technique and bioinformatic analyses to provide sets of transcripts whose variation in expression level may link them to a specific role in cell cycle regulation. It is important to remark that this study was performed in a large mammal closer to humans than laboratory rodents. In consequence, the results can be used for further translational studies in cardiac regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Locatelli
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería (IMETTYB), Universidad Favaloro-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariano N Belaich
- Laboratorio de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Celular y Molecular; CONICET, Instituto de Microbiología Básica y Aplicada, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ayelén E López
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería (IMETTYB), Universidad Favaloro-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Fernanda D Olea
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería (IMETTYB), Universidad Favaloro-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín Uranga Vega
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería (IMETTYB), Universidad Favaloro-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos S Giménez
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería (IMETTYB), Universidad Favaloro-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jorge Alejandro Simonin
- Laboratorio de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Celular y Molecular; CONICET, Instituto de Microbiología Básica y Aplicada, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María Del Rosario Bauzá
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería (IMETTYB), Universidad Favaloro-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marta G Castillo
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería (IMETTYB), Universidad Favaloro-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Luis A Cuniberti
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería (IMETTYB), Universidad Favaloro-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alberto Crottogini
- Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería (IMETTYB), Universidad Favaloro-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina S Cerrudo
- Laboratorio de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Celular y Molecular; CONICET, Instituto de Microbiología Básica y Aplicada, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo D Ghiringhelli
- Laboratorio de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Celular y Molecular; CONICET, Instituto de Microbiología Básica y Aplicada, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Fan C, Fast VG, Tang Y, Zhao M, Turner JF, Krishnamurthy P, Rogers JM, Valarmathi MT, Yang J, Zhu W, Zhang J. Cardiomyocytes from CCND2-overexpressing human induced-pluripotent stem cells repopulate the myocardial scar in mice: A 6-month study. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019; 137:25-33. [PMID: 31629738 PMCID: PMC7346870 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cardiomyocytes that have been differentiated from CCND2-overexpressing human induced-pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CCND2OE CMs) can proliferate when transplanted into mouse hearts after myocardial infarction (MI). However, it is unknown whether remuscularization can replace the thin LV scar and if the large muscle graft can electrophysiologically synchronize to the recipient myocardium. Our objectives are to evaluate the structural and functional potential of hiPSC-CCND2OE CMs in replacing the LV thin scar. METHODS NOD/SCID mice were treated with hiPSC-CCND2OE CMs (i.e., the CCND2OE group), hiPSC-CCND2WT CMs (the CCND2WT group), or an equal volume of PBS immediately after experimentally-induced myocardial infarction. The treatments were administered to one site in the infarcted zone (IZ), two sites in the border zone (BZ), and a fourth group of animals underwent Sham surgery. RESULTS Six months later, engrafted cells occupied >50% of the scarred region in CCND2OE animals, and exceeded the number of engrafted cells in CCND2WT animals by ~8-fold. Engrafted cells were also more common in the IZ than in the BZ for both cell-treatment groups. Measurements of cardiac function, infarct size, wall thickness, and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy were significantly improved in CCND2OE animals compared to animals from the CCND2WT or PBS-treatment groups. Measurements in the CCND2WT and PBS groups were similar, and markers for cell cycle activation and proliferation were significantly higher in hiPSC-CCND2OE CMs than in hiPSC-CCND2WT CMs. Optical mapping of action potential propagation indicated that the engrafted hiPSC-CCND2OE CMs were electrically coupled to each other and to the cells of the native myocardium. No evidence of tumor formation was observed in any animals. CONCLUSIONS Six months after the transplantation, CCND2-overexpressing hiPSC-CMs proliferated and replaced >50% of the myocardial scar tissue. The large graft hiPSC-CCND2OE CMs also electrically integrated with the host myocardium, which was accompanied by a significant improvement in LV function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengming Fan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Vladimir G Fast
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Yawen Tang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Meng Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - James F Turner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Prasanna Krishnamurthy
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Jack M Rogers
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Mani T Valarmathi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
| | - Jinfu Yang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wuqiang Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
| | - Jianyi Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (PSC-CMs) have great potential to treat heart disease, owing to their capacity of engraftment and remuscularization in the host heart after transplantation. In the current review, we provide an overview of PSC-CMs for clinical transplantation. RECENT FINDINGS Studies have shown that PSC-CMs can survive, engraft, and form gap junctions after transplantation, with functional benefit. Engrafted PSC-CMs matured gradually in host hearts. Only in a large animal model, transient ventricular arrhythmias were detected, mainly because of the ectopic pacing from the grafted PSC-CMs. Although intense immunosuppression is unavoidable in xenotransplantation, immunosuppression remains necessary for MHC-matched allogenic non-human primate PSC-CMs transplantation. This review offers insights on how PSC-CMs contribute to functional benefit after transplantation to injured non-human primate hearts. We believe that PSC-CM transplantation represents a potentially novel treatment for ischemic heart diseases, provided that several technological and biological limitations can be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Kadota
- Department of Regenerative Science and Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan
| | - Yuji Shiba
- Department of Regenerative Science and Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Shinshu University, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, 390-8621, Japan.
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Affiliation(s)
- June-Wha Rhee
- From the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute (J.-W.R., J.C.W.), Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine (J.-W.R., J.C.W.), and Department of Radiology (J.C.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA
| | - Joseph C Wu
- From the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute (J.-W.R., J.C.W.), Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine (J.-W.R., J.C.W.), and Department of Radiology (J.C.W.), Stanford University School of Medicine, CA.
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Woo LA, Tkachenko S, Ding M, Plowright AT, Engkvist O, Andersson H, Drowley L, Barrett I, Firth M, Akerblad P, Wolf MJ, Bekiranov S, Brautigan DL, Wang QD, Saucerman JJ. High-content phenotypic assay for proliferation of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes identifies L-type calcium channels as targets. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019; 127:204-214. [PMID: 30597148 PMCID: PMC6524138 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2018.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Over 5 million people in the United States suffer from heart failure, due to the limited ability to regenerate functional cardiac tissue. One potential therapeutic strategy is to enhance proliferation of resident cardiomyocytes. However, phenotypic screening for therapeutic agents is challenged by the limited ability of conventional markers to discriminate between cardiomyocyte proliferation and endoreplication (e.g. polyploidy and multinucleation). Here, we developed a novel assay that combines automated live-cell microscopy and image processing algorithms to discriminate between proliferation and endoreplication by quantifying changes in the number of nuclei, changes in the number of cells, binucleation, and nuclear DNA content. We applied this assay to further prioritize hits from a primary screen for DNA synthesis, identifying 30 compounds that enhance proliferation of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Among the most active compounds from the phenotypic screen are clinically approved L-type calcium channel blockers from multiple chemical classes whose activities were confirmed across different sources of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Identification of compounds that stimulate human cardiomyocyte proliferation may provide new therapeutic strategies for heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Woo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, USA
| | - Svyatoslav Tkachenko
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, USA
| | - Mei Ding
- Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Alleyn T Plowright
- Medicinal Chemistry, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ola Engkvist
- Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Henrik Andersson
- Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lauren Drowley
- Bioscience Heart Failure, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ian Barrett
- Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Cambridge, UK
| | - Mike Firth
- Discovery Sciences, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Cambridge, UK
| | - Peter Akerblad
- Bioscience Heart Failure, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Matthew J Wolf
- Department of Medicine and Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, USA
| | - Stefan Bekiranov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, USA
| | - David L Brautigan
- Center for Cell Signaling, Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, USA
| | - Qing-Dong Wang
- Bioscience Heart Failure, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jeffrey J Saucerman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, USA.
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Locatelli P, Giménez CS, Vega MU, Crottogini A, Belaich MN. Targeting the Cardiomyocyte Cell Cycle for Heart Regeneration. Curr Drug Targets 2018; 20:241-254. [DOI: 10.2174/1389450119666180801122551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Adult mammalian cardiomyocytes (CMs) exhibit limited proliferative capacity, as cell cycle
activity leads to an increase in DNA content, but mitosis and cytokinesis are infrequent. This
makes the heart highly inefficient in replacing with neoformed cardiomyocytes lost contractile cells as
occurs in diseases such as myocardial infarction and dilated cardiomyopathy. Regenerative therapies
based on the implant of stem cells of diverse origin do not warrant engraftment and electromechanical
connection of the new cells with the resident ones, a fundamental condition to restore the physiology
of the cardiac syncytium. Consequently, there is a growing interest in identifying factors playing relevant
roles in the regulation of the CM cell cycle to be targeted in order to induce the resident cardiomyocytes
to divide into daughter cells and thus achieve myocardial regeneration with preservation of
physiologic syncytial performance.
Despite the scientific progress achieved over the last decades, many questions remain unanswered, including
how cardiomyocyte proliferation is regulated during heart development in gestation and neonatal
life. This can reveal unknown cell cycle regulation mechanisms and molecules that may be manipulated
to achieve cardiac self-regeneration.
We hereby revise updated data on CM cell cycle regulation, participating molecules and pathways recently
linked with the cell cycle, as well as experimental therapies involving them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Locatelli
- Laboratorio de Regeneracion Cardiovascular, Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingenieria (IMETTYB), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Favaloro, Solis 453, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carlos Sebastián Giménez
- Laboratorio de Regeneracion Cardiovascular, Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingenieria (IMETTYB), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Favaloro, Solis 453, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martín Uranga Vega
- Laboratorio de Regeneracion Cardiovascular, Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingenieria (IMETTYB), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Favaloro, Solis 453, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alberto Crottogini
- Laboratorio de Regeneracion Cardiovascular, Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingenieria (IMETTYB), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Favaloro, Solis 453, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariano Nicolás Belaich
- Laboratorio de Ingenieria Genetica y Biologia Celular y Molecular, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnicas (CONICET) - Universidad Nacional de Quilmes (UNQ), Roque Saenz Pena 352, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Stage-specific Effects of Bioactive Lipids on Human iPSC Cardiac Differentiation and Cardiomyocyte Proliferation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:6618. [PMID: 29700394 PMCID: PMC5920079 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24954-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioactive lipids such as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) regulate diverse processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. However, their roles in cardiac differentiation and cardiomyocyte proliferation have not been explored. Using a 96-well differentiation platform for generating human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) we found that S1P and LPA can independently enhance cardiomyocyte generation when administered at an early stage of differentiation. We showed that the combined S1P and LPA treatment of undifferentiated hiPSCs resulted in increased nuclear accumulation of β-catenin, the canonical Wnt signaling pathway mediator, and synergized with CHIR99021, a glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta inhibitor, to enhance mesodermal induction and subsequent cardiac differentiation. At later stages of cardiac differentiation, the addition of S1P and LPA resulted in cell cycle initiation in hiPSC-CMs, an effect mediated through increased ERK signaling. Although the addition of S1P and LPA alone was insufficient to induce cell division, it was able to enhance β-catenin-mediated hiPSC-CM proliferation. In summary, we demonstrated a developmental stage-specific effect of bioactive lipids to enhance hiPSC-CM differentiation and proliferation via modulating the effect of canonical Wnt/β-catenin and ERK signaling. These findings may improve hiPSC-CM generation for cardiac disease modeling, precision medicine, and regenerative therapies.
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Nanotechnology-Based Cardiac Targeting and Direct Cardiac Reprogramming: The Betrothed. Stem Cells Int 2017; 2017:4940397. [PMID: 29375623 PMCID: PMC5742458 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4940397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases represent the first cause of morbidity in Western countries, and chronic heart failure features a significant health care burden in developed countries. Efforts in the attempt of finding new possible strategies for the treatment of CHF yielded several approaches based on the use of stem cells. The discovery of direct cardiac reprogramming has unveiled a new approach to heart regeneration, allowing, at least in principle, the conversion of one differentiated cell type into another without proceeding through a pluripotent intermediate. First developed for cancer treatment, nanotechnology-based approaches have opened new perspectives in many fields of medical research, including cardiovascular research. Nanotechnology could allow the delivery of molecules with specific biological activity at a sustained and controlled rate in heart tissue, in a cell-specific manner. Potentially, all the mediators and structural molecules involved in the fibrotic process could be selectively targeted by nanocarriers, but to date, only few experiences have been made in cardiac research. This review highlights the most prominent concepts that characterize both the field of cardiac reprogramming and a nanomedicine-based approach to cardiovascular diseases, hypothesizing a possible synergy between these two very promising fields of research in the treatment of heart failure.
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Skelton RJP, Kamp TJ, Elliott DA, Ardehali R. Biomarkers of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiac Lineages. Trends Mol Med 2017; 23:651-668. [PMID: 28576602 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Revised: 04/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) offer a practical source for the de novo generation of cardiac tissues and a unique opportunity to investigate cardiovascular lineage commitment. Numerous strategies have focused on the in vitro production of cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle, and endothelium from hPSCs. However, these differentiation protocols often yield undesired cell types. Thus, establishing a set of stage-specific markers for pure cardiac subpopulations will assist in defining the hierarchy of cardiac differentiation, aid in the development of cellular therapy, and facilitate drug screening and disease modeling. The recent characterization of many such markers is enabling the isolation of major cardiac lineages and subpopulations from differentiating hPSCs. We provide here a comprehensive review detailing the suite of biomarkers used to differentiate cardiac lineages from mixed hPSC-derived populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhys J P Skelton
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Timothy J Kamp
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - David A Elliott
- Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Reza Ardehali
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Abstract
OPINION STATEMENT Direct cardiac cellular reprogramming of endogenous cardiac fibroblasts directly into induced cardiomyocytes is a highly feasible, promising therapeutic option for patients with advanced heart failure. The most successful cardiac reprogramming strategy will likely be a multimodal approach involving an optimal combination of cardio-differentiating factors, suppression of fibroblast gene expression, and induction of angiogenic factors.
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Induction of Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocyte Proliferation Revealed by Combinatorial Screening in High Density Microbioreactor Arrays. Sci Rep 2016; 6:24637. [PMID: 27097795 PMCID: PMC4838928 DOI: 10.1038/srep24637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Inducing cardiomyocyte proliferation in post-mitotic adult heart tissue is attracting significant attention as a therapeutic strategy to regenerate the heart after injury. Model animal screens have identified several candidate signalling pathways, however, it remains unclear as to what extent these pathways can be exploited, either individually or in combination, in the human system. The advent of human cardiac cells from directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) now provides the ability to interrogate human cardiac biology in vitro, but it remains difficult with existing culture formats to simply and rapidly elucidate signalling pathway penetrance and interplay. To facilitate high-throughput combinatorial screening of candidate biologicals or factors driving relevant molecular pathways, we developed a high-density microbioreactor array (HDMA) – a microfluidic cell culture array containing 8100 culture chambers. We used HDMAs to combinatorially screen Wnt, Hedgehog, IGF and FGF pathway agonists. The Wnt activator CHIR99021 was identified as the most potent molecular inducer of human cardiomyocyte proliferation, inducing cell cycle activity marked by Ki67, and an increase in cardiomyocyte numbers compared to controls. The combination of human cardiomyocytes with the HDMA provides a versatile and rapid tool for stratifying combinations of factors for heart regeneration.
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