Functional microvascularization of human myocardium in vitro

Cell Rep Methods. 2022 Aug 29;2(9):100280. doi: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2022.100280. eCollection 2022 Sep 19.

Abstract

In this study, we report static and perfused models of human myocardial-microvascular interaction. In static culture, we observe distinct regulation of electrophysiology of human induced pluripotent stem cell derived-cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) in co-culture with human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (hCMVECs) and human left ventricular fibroblasts (hLVFBs), including modification of beating rate, action potential, calcium handling, and pro-arrhythmic substrate. Within a heart-on-a-chip model, we subject this three-dimensional (3D) co-culture to microfluidic perfusion and vasculogenic growth factors to induce spontaneous assembly of perfusable myocardial microvasculature. Live imaging of red blood cells within myocardial microvasculature reveals pulsatile flow generated by beating hiPSC-CMs. This study therefore demonstrates a functionally vascularized in vitro model of human myocardium with widespread potential applications in basic and translational research.

Keywords: E-C coupling; cardiac physiology; cardiomyocyte; electrophysiology; endothelial cell; microphysiological systems; microvasculature; organ-on-chip; stem cell-derived models; tissue engineering.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Coculture Techniques
  • Endothelial Cells*
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells*
  • Myocardium
  • Myocytes, Cardiac