Generation of mature epicardium derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells via inhibition of mTOR signaling.

ABSTRACT: Reactivating the human epicardium post-cardiac injury holds promise for cardiac tissue regeneration. Despite successful differentiation protocols yielding pure, self-renewing epicardial cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), these cells maintain an embryonic, proliferative state, impeding adult epicardial reactivation investigation. We introduce an optimized method that employs mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling inhibition in embryonic epicardium, inducing a quiescent state that enhances multi-step epicardial maturation. This yields functionally mature epicardium, valuable for modeling adult epicardial reactivation. Furthermore, we assess cardiac organoids with cardiomyocytes and mature epicardium, probing molecular mechanisms governing epicardial quiescence during

SUBMITTER: Tian Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12216149 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature