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Cardiac circadian rhythms in time and space: The future is in 4D
Nino Chirico1, Linda W Van Laake1, Joost P G Sluijter1
1Regenerative Medicine Center, Circulatory Health Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, University Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Cardiology and Experimental Cardiology Laboratory, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Insights
The body's circadian clock influences daily heart functions and cardiovascular events. Advanced in vitro models can study cardiac circadian rhythms for better heart disease treatments.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Chronobiology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- The body's circadian clock regulates 24-hour cycles, impacting diurnal physiological processes like cardiac function.
- Blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, and cardiovascular event occurrence exhibit diurnal variations.
- Cardiac architecture and its signaling environment are crucial for heart development, homeostasis, and repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore advanced in vitro systems for studying circadian rhythmicity in the heart.
- To investigate the potential of mimicking the native cardiac 3D microenvironment in vitro.
- To leverage insights from in vitro models for improved cardiac modeling and regenerative strategies.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing advanced in vitro systems that replicate the native cardiac 3D microenvironment.
- Employing systems capable of spatiotemporal tuning to mimic dynamic biological conditions.
- Reviewing current methodologies for studying cardiac circadian rhythms in controlled experimental settings.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the feasibility of studying cardiac circadian rhythms using advanced in vitro models.
- Highlighted the importance of spatiotemporal control in mimicking the cardiac microenvironment.
- Identified potential for these models to advance understanding of diurnal cardiovascular variations.
Conclusions:
- Advanced in vitro systems offer powerful tools for investigating cardiac circadian rhythmicity.
- Understanding cardiac circadian biology through these models can enhance cardiac modeling and regenerative medicine.
- This approach holds promise for developing innovative strategies to address diurnal cardiovascular risks.
Abstract:
The circadian clock synchronizes the body into 24-h cycles, thereby anticipating variations in tissue-specific diurnal tasks, such as response to increased cardiac metabolic demand during the active period of the day. As a result, blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, and occurrence of fatal cardiovascular events fluctuate in a diurnal manner. The heart contains different cell types that make up and reside in an environment of biochemical, mechanical, and topographical signaling. Cardiac architecture is essential for proper heart development as well as for maintenance of cell homeostasis and tissue repair. In this review, we describe the possibilities of studying circadian rhythmicity in the heart by using advanced in vitro systems that mimic the native cardiac 3D microenvironment which can be tuned in time and space. Harnessing the knowledge that originates from those in vitro models could significantly improve innovative cardiac modeling and regenerative strategies.
