On-chip in vitro cell-network pre-clinical cardiac toxicity using spatiotemporal human cardiomyocyte measurement on a chip

Sci Rep. 2014 Apr 22:4:4670. doi: 10.1038/srep04670.

Abstract

To overcome the limitations and misjudgments of conventional prediction of arrhythmic cardiotoxicity, we have developed an on-chip in vitro predictive cardiotoxicity assay using cardiomyocytes derived from human stem cells employing a constructive spatiotemporal two step measurement of fluctuation (short-term variability; STV) of cell's repolarization and cell-to-cell conduction time, representing two origins of lethal arrhythmia. Temporal STV of field potential duration (FPD) showed a potential to predict the risks of lethal arrhythmia originated from repolarization dispersion for false negative compounds, which was not correctly predicted by conventional measurements using animal cells, even for non-QT prolonging clinical positive compounds. Spatial STV of conduction time delay also unveiled the proarrhythmic risk of asynchronous propagation in cell networks, whose risk cannot be correctly predicted by single-cell-based measurements, indicating the importance of the spatiotemporal fluctuation viewpoint of in vitro cell networks for precise prediction of lethal arrhythmia reaching clinical assessment such as thorough QT assay.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cardiotoxicity*
  • Cell Communication / drug effects
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical*
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
  • Microchip Analytical Procedures*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / drug effects*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism