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Increased length-dependent activation of human engineered heart tissue after chronic α1A-adrenergic agonist treatment: testing a novel heart failure therapy

ABSTRACT: Chronic stimulation of cardiac a1A-adrenergic receptors (a1A-ARs) improves symptoms in multiple preclinical models of heart failure. However, the translational significance remains unclear. This study tested the effects of chronic a1A-AR stimulation on human engineered heart tissue (EHT). EHTs were created from thin slices of decellularized pig myocardium seeded with human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts. Using a paired experimental design, EHTs were cultured for 3 wk., mechanically tested, cultured again for 2 wk. with a1A-AR agonist A61603 (10 nM) or vehicle control, and retested after drug washout for 24-hr. Separate control experiments determined the effects of EHT age (3-5 wk.) or repeat mechanical testing. We found that chronic A61603 treatment caused a 25% increase of length-dependent activation (LDA) of contraction compared to vehicle treatment (n=7/group, P=0.035). EHT force was not increased after chronic A61603 treatment. However, after vehicle treatment, EHT force was increased 35% relative to baseline testing (n=7/group, P=0.022), suggesting EHT maturation. Control experiments showed increased EHT force resulted from repeat mechanical testing, not from EHT aging. RNA-seq analysis confirmed the a1A-AR is expressed in human EHTs and found chronic A61603 treatment affected gene expression in biological pathways which are known to be activated by a1A-ARs, including the MAP kinase signaling pathway. In conclusion, chronic stimulation of the a1A-AR, a promising preclinical target for treating heart failure, gave mixed results in human EHTs. Chronic a1A-AR stimulation had a positive effect (increased LDA) but potentially, a negative effect (lower EHT force). The translational significance of these findings requires further study.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE216439 | GEO | 2023/01/01

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Background: Cardiomyocytes (CMs) induced from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) by traditional methods are a mix of atrial and ventricular CMs and many other non-cardiomyocytes. Retinoic acid (RA) plays an important role in regulation of the spatiotemporal development of the embryonic heart and high concentrations of RA have been shown to steer differentiation towards atrial CMs, whereas lower concentrations of RA promote a more ventricular-like CM profile. Aim: Create engineered heart tissue (EHT) with left and right ventricular phenotype from hiPSCs by intervening with specific concentrations of retinoic acid (RA) during hiPSC differentiation towards CM. Methods: hiPSC were derived by reprogramming skin fibroblasts. Different concentrations of RA (Control group without RA, LRA group with 0.05 µM and HRA group with 0.1 µM) were administered during third to sixth days of the differentiation process. Engineered heart tissues (EHTs) were generated by assembling CMs derived from hiPSC (hiPSC-CM) at high cell density in a low collagen hydrogel. The maturation and growth of EHTs were induced in a customized biomimetic tissue culture system, that provides continuous electrical stimulation, medium agitation and stretch. The function of CMs and EHTs was analyzed under different conditions. Finally, RNA extraction and tissue fixation were performed on CMs and EHTs for RT-qPRC and immunofluorescence staining analysis. RNA sequencing was conducted on EHTs to examine how RA affects both the function and structure of EHT. Results: In the HRA group, hiPSC-CMs exhibited the first onset of beating and showed the highest expression of maturity genes MYH7 and cTnT. The expression of TBX5, NKX2.5 and CORIN, which are the marker genes for left ventricular CMs, was also the highest in the HRA group. The transcription factor MEF2C associated with RA and ventricular development genes, NPPA and MYH7, were highly expressed in the HRA group, while GATA4 was less expressed in the HRA group. In terms of EHT, the HRA group displayed the highest contraction force, the lowest beating frequency, and the highest sensitivity to hypoxia and isoprenaline, which means it was more functionally similar to the left ventricle. The expression of TBX5 and NKX2.5 was found to be the highest expression in the HRA group of EHT, while expression of TBX20 and ISL1 was found to be the highest expression in control group. When the electrical stimulation frequency of EHT in the HRA group was raised, it correspondingly increased its contractile force. The heightened contractility of EHT within the HRA group can be attributed to the promotion of augmented extracellular matrix strength by RA. Conclusion: By interfering with the differentiation process of hiPSC with a specific concentration of RA at a specific time, we were able to successfully induce CMs and EHT with a phenotype similar to that of the left ventricle or right ventricle. Our research paved the way for future studies on in vitro left ventricular or right ventricular function, personalized drug screening, and precision medicine.

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Increased length-dependent activation of human engineered heart tissue after chronic α1A-adrenergic agonist treatment: testing a novel heart failure therapy

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