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Coupling primary and stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in an in vitro model of cardiac cell therapy.

ABSTRACT: The efficacy of cardiac cell therapy depends on the integration of existing and newly formed cardiomyocytes. Here, we developed a minimal in vitro model of this interface by engineering two cell microtissues (?tissues) containing mouse cardiomyocytes, representing spared myocardium after injury, and cardiomyocytes generated from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, to model newly formed cells. We demonstrated that weaker stem cell-derived myocytes coupled with stronger myocytes to support synchronous contraction, but this arrangement required focal adhesion-like structures near the cell-cell junction that degrade force transmission between cells. Moreover, we developed a computational model of ?tissue mechanics to demonstrate that a reduction in isometric tension is sufficient to impair force transmission across the cell-cell boundary. Together, our in vitro and in silico results suggest that mechanotransductive mechanisms may contribute to the modest functional benefits observed in cell-therapy studies by regulating the amount of contractile force effectively transmitted at the junction between newly formed and spared myocytes.

SUBMITTER: Aratyn-Schaus Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4754718 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Coupling primary and stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in an in vitro model of cardiac cell therapy.

Aratyn-Schaus Yvonne Y Pasqualini Francesco S FS Yuan Hongyan H McCain Megan L ML Ye George J C GJ Sheehy Sean P SP Campbell Patrick H PH Parker Kevin Kit KK

The Journal of cell biology 20160208 4

The efficacy of cardiac cell therapy depends on the integration of existing and newly formed cardiomyocytes. Here, we developed a minimal in vitro model of this interface by engineering two cell microtissues (μtissues) containing mouse cardiomyocytes, representing spared myocardium after injury, and cardiomyocytes generated from embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, to model newly formed cells. We demonstrated that weaker stem cell-derived myocytes coupled with stronger myocytes to suppo ...[more]

PMID: 26858266

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Dataset Information

Coupling primary and stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in an in vitro model of cardiac cell therapy.

Publications

Coupling primary and stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in an in vitro model of cardiac cell therapy.

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