Contractility assessment using aligned human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes

• Published in: Journal of pharmacological and toxicological methods 2024-07, Vol.128, p.107530, Article 107530
• Main Authors: Satsuka, Ayano, Ribeiro, Alexandre J.S., Kawagishi, Hiroyuki, Yanagida, Shota, Hirata, Naoya, Yoshinaga, Takashi, Kurokawa, Junko, Sugiyama, Atsushi, Strauss, David G., Kanda, Yasunari
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alignment; Cardiomyocyte; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Cells, Cultured; Contractility; Human iPS cell; Humans; Imaging; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - cytology; Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells - drug effects; Isoproterenol - pharmacology; Motion analysis; Myocardial Contraction - drug effects; Myocardial Contraction - physiology; Myocytes, Cardiac - drug effects; Myocytes, Cardiac - physiology; New approach methodologies; Safety assessment
• ISSN: 1056-8719; 1873-488X; 1873-488X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2024.107530

Cardiac safety assessment, such as lethal arrhythmias and contractility dysfunction, is critical during drug development. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have been shown to be useful in predicting drug-induced proarrhythmic risk through international validation studies. Although cardiac contractility is another key function, fit-for-purpose hiPSC-CMs in evaluating drug-induced contractile dysfunction remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated whether alignment of hiPSC-CMs on nanopatterned culture plates can assess drug-induced contractile changes more efficiently than non-aligned monolayer culture. Aligned hiPSC-CMs were obtained by culturing on 96-well culture plates with a ridge-groove-ridge nanopattern on the bottom surface, while non-aligned hiPSC-CMs were cultured on regular 96-well plates. Next-generation sequencing and qPCR experiments were performed for gene expression analysis. Contractility of the hiPSC-CMs was assessed using an imaging-based motion analysis system. When cultured on nanopatterned plates, hiPSC-CMs exhibited an aligned morphology and enhanced expression of genes encoding proteins that regulate contractility, including myosin heavy chain, calcium channel, and ryanodine receptor. Compared to cultures on regular plates, the aligned hiPSC-CMs also showed both enhanced contraction and relaxation velocity. In addition, the aligned hiPSC-CMs showed a more physiological response to positive and negative inotropic agents, such as isoproterenol and verapamil. Taken together, the aligned hiPSC-CMs exhibited enhanced structural and functional properties, leading to an improved capacity for contractility assessment compared to the non-aligned cells. These findings suggest that the aligned hiPSC-CMs can be used to evaluate drug-induced cardiac contractile changes.