The updated view on induced pluripotent stem cells for cardiovascular precision medicine

Pflugers Arch. 2021 Jul;473(7):1137-1149. doi: 10.1007/s00424-021-02530-5. Epub 2021 Feb 17.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases have consistently been one of the leading causes of mortality, despite investigations by many scientists and clinicians. Animal models are versatile platforms to illustrate various mechanisms of different diseases, but are lacking in accurately portraying cardiovascular disease phenotypes. The advent of human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) has led to much development in the construction of cardiovascular disease models. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the history and utilization of PSCs for cardiovascular precision medicine, including disease modeling, drug screening, and gene editing, and elaborate on the current updated research status of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based disease models for cardiac channelopathies, cardiomyopathies, and other cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, we highlight the development of novel human iPSC-derived engineered heart tissues for cardiovascular disease modeling. Finally, we put forward our own views on the existing advantages and difficulties for moving forward in this field.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Disease model; Pluripotent stem cell; Precision medicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / pathology*
  • Models, Cardiovascular
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / pathology
  • Precision Medicine / methods