Using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to understand the mechanisms driving cardiomyocyte maturation

Homa Hamledari; Parisa Asghari; Farah Jayousi; Alejandro Aguirre; Yasaman Maaref; Tiffany Barszczewski; Terri Ser; Edwin Moore; Wyeth Wasserman; Ramon Klein Geltink; Sheila Teves; Glen F Tibbits

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2022.967659

Using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to understand the mechanisms driving cardiomyocyte maturation

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022 Aug 12:9:967659. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.967659. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Homa Hamledari^{1

2

3}, Parisa Asghari⁴, Farah Jayousi^{1

2

3}, Alejandro Aguirre^{5

6}, Yasaman Maaref^{1

2

3}, Tiffany Barszczewski^{1

2

3}, Terri Ser^{6

7}, Edwin Moore⁴, Wyeth Wasserman^{5

6}, Ramon Klein Geltink^{6

7}, Sheila Teves⁸, Glen F Tibbits^{1

2

3

9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
² Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
³ Cellular and Regenerative Medicine Centre, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁴ Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁵ Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁶ BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁷ Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁸ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁹ School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality and reduced quality of life globally. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) provide a personalized platform to study inherited heart diseases, drug-induced cardiac toxicity, and cardiac regenerative therapy. However, the immaturity of CMs obtained by current strategies is a major hurdle in utilizing hiPSC-CMs at their fullest potential. Here, the major findings and limitations of current maturation methodologies to enhance the utility of hiPSC-CMs in the battle against a major source of morbidity and mortality are reviewed. The most recent knowledge of the potential signaling pathways involved in the transition of fetal to adult CMs are assimilated. In particular, we take a deeper look on role of nutrient sensing signaling pathways and the potential role of cap-independent translation mediated by the modulation of mTOR pathway in the regulation of cardiac gap junctions and other yet to be identified aspects of CM maturation. Moreover, a relatively unexplored perspective on how our knowledge on the effects of preterm birth on cardiovascular development can be actually utilized to enhance the current understanding of CM maturation is examined. Furthermore, the interaction between the evolving neonatal human heart and brown adipose tissue as the major source of neonatal thermogenesis and its endocrine function on CM development is another discussed topic which is worthy of future investigation. Finally, the current knowledge regarding transcriptional mediators of CM maturation is still limited. The recent studies have produced the groundwork to better understand CM maturation in terms of providing some of the key factors involved in maturation and development of metrics for assessment of maturation which proves essential for future studies on in vitro PSC-CMs maturation.

Keywords: cell signaling; hiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte; mTOR pathway; preterm heart; transcriptional regulation.

Publication types

Systematic Review