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Electrophysiological Analysis of human Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Cardiomyocytes hPSC-CMs Using Multi-electrode Arrays MEAs
Published on: May 12, 2017
Comparative analysis of media effects on human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in proarrhythmia
Derek Schocken1, Jayna Stohlman1, Jose Vicente2
1US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Division of Biomedical Physics, 10903 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA.
Introduction:
Cardiotoxicity assessment using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) forms a key component of the Comprehensive in Vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA). A potentially impactful factor on iPSC-CM testing is the presence of serum in the experimental media. Generally, serum-free media is used to most accurately reproduce "free" drug concentration. However, caution is needed; drug solubility and cardiomyocyte electrophysiology could be affected by media formulation, potentially impacting interpretation of drug-induced effects.
Methods:
Effects of 25 drugs on properties of spontaneous field potentials in iPSC-CMs were assayed using a high-throughput microelectrode array (MEA) in two media formulations: serum-containing and serum-free. Comparative analysis was conducted on rate-corrected field potential duration (FPDc) and prevalence of arrhythmic events. Further MEA experiments were conducted, varying percentages of serum as well as carbon substrate components. Comparative LC-MS/MS analysis was done on two compounds to evaluate drug concentrations.
Results:
In serum-free media, 9 drugs prolonged FPDc. In serum-containing, 11 drugs prolonged FPDc. Eighteen drugs induced arrhythmias, 8 of these induced arrhythmias at lower concentrations in serum-containing media. At the highest non-arrhythmic concentrations, 13 of 25 drugs exhibited significant differences in FPDc prolongation/shortening between the media. Increasing fractions of serum in media yielded higher FPDc measurements. LC-MS/MS analysis of moxifloxacin and quinidine showed higher concentrations in serum-containing media.
Discussion:
The present study highlights media formulation as an important consideration for cardiac safety testing with iPSC-CMs. Results described here suggest that media formulation influences both compound availability and baseline electrophysiological properties. Special attention should be paid to media for future iPSC-CM assays.
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