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A patterned human primitive heart organoid model generated by pluripotent stem cell self-organization
Brett Volmert1,2, Artem Kiselev1,3,4, Aniwat Juhong5,6
1Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, Division of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Nature Communications
|December 12, 2023
Summary
Human heart organoids mimic embryonic development for advanced cardiac disease modeling. This new method improves physiological and anatomical relevance, offering a powerful tool for research.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Organoids offer in vitro recapitulation of organ development.
- Mimicking in utero conditions may enhance organoid relevance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create human heart organoids with higher physiological and anatomical relevance by simulating in utero gestation.
- To validate the utility of these organoids for cardiac disease modeling.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a self-organization-driven developmental induction strategy.
- Incorporating metabolic and hormonal factors to mimic in utero gestation.
- Comparing organoid transcriptional and morphological profiles to age-matched human embryonic hearts.
Main Results:
- Heart organoids closely resembled age-matched human embryonic hearts transcriptionally and morphologically.
- Organoids recapitulated key cardiac developmental processes, including chamber formation and patterning.
- Demonstrated proof-of-concept for disease modeling using ondansetron exposure.
Conclusions:
- This developmental induction strategy yields highly relevant human heart organoids.
- These organoids represent a significant advancement in synthetic heart development.
- The system provides a powerful platform for modeling cardiac diseases and drug effects.
