ERRγ enhances cardiac maturation with T-tubule formation in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes

Nat Commun. 2021 Jun 21;12(1):3596. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23816-3.

Abstract

One of the earliest maturation steps in cardiomyocytes (CMs) is the sarcomere protein isoform switch between TNNI1 and TNNI3 (fetal and neonatal/adult troponin I). Here, we generate human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) carrying a TNNI1EmGFP and TNNI3mCherry double reporter to monitor and isolate mature sub-populations during cardiac differentiation. Extensive drug screening identifies two compounds, an estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ) agonist and an S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 inhibitor, that enhances cardiac maturation and a significant change to TNNI3 expression. Expression, morphological, functional, and molecular analyses indicate that hiPSC-CMs treated with the ERRγ agonist show a larger cell size, longer sarcomere length, the presence of transverse tubules, and enhanced metabolic function and contractile and electrical properties. Here, we show that ERRγ-treated hiPSC-CMs have a mature cellular property consistent with neonatal CMs and are useful for disease modeling and regenerative medicine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / cytology*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / chemistry
  • Receptors, Estrogen / physiology*
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Sarcolemma / drug effects
  • Sarcolemma / metabolism
  • Sarcomeres / drug effects
  • Sarcomeres / metabolism
  • Transcriptome / drug effects
  • Troponin I / genetics
  • Troponin I / metabolism

Substances

  • ESRRG protein, human
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins
  • TNNI1 protein, human
  • TNNI3 protein, human
  • Troponin I