Human iPSCs and Genome Editing Technologies for Precision Cardiovascular Tissue Engineering

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Regenerative Medicine
• Genomic Engineering

Background:

• Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are derived from adult somatic cells via Yamanaka factors, enabling advancements in disease modeling, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine.
• Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 technology revolutionizes genome engineering, facilitating precise genetic modifications for diverse applications.
• Cardiovascular diseases pose a significant global health challenge with incompletely understood cellular and molecular underpinnings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the applications of iPSCs and CRISPR-Cas9, individually and in combination, within cardiovascular tissue engineering (TE).
• To explore the potential of these technologies for investigating cardiovascular disease mechanisms and screening therapeutic drugs.
• To discuss the clinical translatability of iPSC and CRISPR-Cas9 based approaches in cardiovascular TE.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for differentiation into various cardiovascular cell types.
• Employing CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing for precise genetic modifications in cardiovascular cells.
• Integrating iPSCs and CRISPR-Cas9 for advanced cardiovascular tissue engineering strategies.

Main Results:

• The combination of iPSCs and CRISPR-Cas9 enables systematic investigation of cardiovascular disease pathophysiology.
• These technologies facilitate high-throughput drug screening for potential cardiovascular therapeutics.
• iPSC-based platforms combined with CRISPR-Cas9 support the engineering of novel cardiovascular tissues and biomimetic scaffolds.

Conclusions:

• The synergy between iPSCs and CRISPR-Cas9 presents transformative potential for cardiovascular research and regenerative medicine.
• These technologies are crucial for advancing disease modeling, drug development, and personalized therapies for cardiovascular conditions.
• Clinical translation of iPSC and CRISPR-Cas9 applications in cardiovascular TE holds significant promise for future therapeutic interventions.