Development and evaluation of next-generation cardiotoxicity assay based on embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes

BMB Rep. 2020 Aug;53(8):437-441. doi: 10.5483/BMBRep.2020.53.8.022.

Abstract

In accordance with requirements of the ICH S7B safety pharmacology guidelines, numerous next-generation cardiotoxicity studies using human stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) are being conducted globally. Although several stem cell-derived CMs are being developed for commercialization, there is insufficient research to verify if these CMs can replace animal experiments. In this study, in vitro high-efficiency CMs derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC-CMs) were compared with Sprague-Dawley rats as in vivo experimental animals, and primary cultured in vitro rat-CMs for cardiotoxicity tests. In vivo rats were administrated with two consecutive injections of 100 mg/kg isoproterenol, 15 mg/kg doxorubicin, or 100 mg/kg nifedipine, while in vitro rat-CMs and hESC-CMs were treated with 5 μM isoproterenol, 5 μM doxorubicin, and 50 μM nifedipine. We have verified the equivalence of hESC-CMs assessments over various molecular biological markers, morphological analysis. Also, we have identified the advantages of hESC-CMs, which can distinguish between species variability, over electrophysiological analysis of ion channels against cardiac damage. Our findings demonstrate the possibility and advantage of high-efficiency hESC-CMs as next-generation cardiotoxicity assessment. [BMB Reports 2020; 53(8): 437-441].

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cardiotoxicity / drug therapy
  • Cardiotoxicity / metabolism*
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Doxorubicin / toxicity
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
  • Isoproterenol / pharmacology
  • Isoproterenol / toxicity
  • Male
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / physiology*
  • Nifedipine / pharmacology
  • Nifedipine / toxicity
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Doxorubicin
  • Nifedipine
  • Isoproterenol