Development of a drug screening system using three-dimensional cardiac tissues containing multiple cell types

Sci Rep. 2021 Mar 11;11(1):5654. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-85261-y.

Abstract

We hypothesized that an appropriate ratio of cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and extracellular matrix (ECM) factors would be required for the development of three-dimensional cardiac tissues (3D-CTs) as drug screening systems. To verify this hypothesis, ECM-coated human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), ECM-coated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs), and uncoated cardiac endothelial cells (CEs) were mixed in the following ratios: 10:0:0 (10CT), 7:2:1 (7CT), 5:4:1 (5CT), and 2:7:1 (2CT). The expression of cardiac-, fibroblasts-, and endothelial-specific markers was assessed by FACS, qPCR, and immunostaining while that of ECM-, cell adhesion-, and ion channel-related genes was examined by qPCR. Finally, the contractile properties of the tissues were evaluated in the absence or presence of E-4031 and isoproterenol. The expression of ECM- and adhesion-related genes significantly increased, while that of ion channel-related genes significantly decreased with the CF proportion. Notably, 7CT showed the greatest contractility of all 3D-CTs. When exposed to E-4031 (hERG K channel blocker), 7CT and 5CT showed significantly decreased contractility and increased QT prolongation. Moreover, 10CT and 7CT exhibited a stronger response to isoproterenol than did the other 3D-CTs. Finally, 7CT showed the highest drug sensitivity among all 3D-CTs. In conclusion, 3D-CTs with an appropriate amount of fibroblasts/endothelial cells (7CT in this study) are suitable drug screening systems, e.g. for the detection of drug-induced arrhythmia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical*
  • Extracellular Matrix / drug effects
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging*
  • Heart / drug effects
  • Heart Rate / drug effects
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional*
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Ion Channels / genetics
  • Ion Channels / metabolism
  • Isoproterenol / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Myocardial Contraction / physiology
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Pyridines / pharmacology

Substances

  • Ion Channels
  • Piperidines
  • Pyridines
  • E 4031
  • Isoproterenol