Biomimetic cardiac tissue culture model (CTCM) to emulate cardiac physiology and pathophysiology ex vivo

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03919-3
• Publication Date: 2022-09-09T11:24:28Z
• Authors: Jessica M. Miller; Moustafa H. Meki; Ahmed Elnakib; Qinghui Ou; Riham R. E. Aboul...; Xian-Liang Tang; Abou Bakr M. Salama; Ahmad Gebreil; Cindy Lin; Hisham Abdeltawab; Fahmi Khalifa; Bradford G. Hill; Najah Abi-Gerges; Roberto Bolli; Ayman S. El-Baz; Guruprasad A. Gir...; Tamer M. A. Mohamed
• Keywords: Ex vivo; Pathophysiology

Abstract There is need for a reliable in vitro system that can accurately replicate the cardiac physiological environment drug testing. The limited availability of human heart tissue culture systems has led to inaccurate interpretations cardiac-related effects. Here, we developed c ardiac t issue ulture m odel (CTCM) electro-mechanically stimulate slices with stretches systole and diastole during cycle. After 12 days culture, this approach partially improved viability but did not completely maintain their structural integrity. Therefore, following small molecule screening, found incorporation 100 nM tri-iodothyronine (T3) 1 μM dexamethasone (Dex) into our media preserved microscopic structure days. When combined T3/Dex treatment, CTCM maintained transcriptional profile, viability, metabolic activity, integrity at same levels as fresh tissue. Furthermore, overstretching induced hypertrophic signaling which provides proof concept ability emulate stretch-induced conditions. In conclusion, physiology pathophysiology an extended time, thereby enabling screening.