Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2025
In Vitro Generation of Heart Field-specific Cardiac Progenitor Cells
Published on: July 3, 2019
Adult Multipotent Cardiac Progenitor-Derived Spheroids: A Reproducible Model of In Vitro Cardiomyocyte Commitment and
Mariangela Scalise1, Fabiola Marino1, Luca Salerno1
1Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Background:
Three-dimensional cell culture systems hold great promise for bridging the gap between in vitro cell-based model systems and small animal models to study tissue biology and disease. Among 3D cell culture systems, stem-cell-derived spheroids have attracted significant interest as a strategy to better mimic in vivo conditions. Cardiac stem cell/progenitor (CSC)-derived spheroids (CSs) provide a relevant platform for cardiac regeneration.
Methods:
We compared three different cell culture scaffold-free systems, (i) ultra-low attachment plates, (ii) hanging drops (both requiring a 2D/3D switch), and (iii) agarose micro-molds (entirely 3D), for CSC-derived CS formation and their cardiomyocyte commitment in vitro.
Results:
The switch from a 2D to a 3D culture microenvironment per se guides cell plasticity and myogenic differentiation within CS and is necessary for robust cardiomyocyte differentiation. On the contrary, 2D monolayer CSC cultures show a significant reduced cardiomyocyte differentiation potential compared to 3D CS culture. Forced aggregation into spheroids using hanging drop improves CS myogenic differentiation when compared to ultra-low attachment plates. Performing CS formation and myogenic differentiation exclusively in 3D culture using agarose micro-molds maximizes the cardiomyocyte yield.
Conclusions:
A 3D culture system instructs CS myogenic differentiation, thus representing a valid model that can be used to study adult cardiac regenerative biology.
