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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
In Vitro Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Functional Cardiomyocyte-like Cells
Published on: August 9, 2017
Sex-Based Mechanisms of Cardiac Development and Function: Applications for Induced-Pluripotent Stem Cell
Yinhan Luo1, Sina Safabakhsh2, Alessia Palumbo3
1Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
Insights
Sex chromosomes and hormones drive heart differences between males and females. Advanced stem cell models and multi-omic studies are key to understanding these sex-specific cardiac variations in health and disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Males and females have inherent differences in heart structure and function.
- Cardiovascular disease prevalence and severity differ between sexes, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
- Sex chromosomes and hormones are primary drivers of cardiac sex dimorphism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the roles of sex chromosomes and hormones in cardiac development.
- To explore sex hormone signaling pathways in the heart.
- To discuss how stem cell models and multi-omic approaches advance the understanding of cardiac sex differences.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on sex-based cardiac dimorphism.
- Analysis of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac models.
- Application of multi-omic approaches, including single-cell RNA sequencing.
Main Results:
- Sex chromosomes and hormones significantly influence cardiac physiology and pathophysiology.
- Stem cell-derived cardiac models offer insights into sex-specific cellular and molecular mechanisms.
- Multi-omic data reveal novel sex-specific gene expression patterns in the heart.
Conclusions:
- Understanding cardiac sex differences is crucial for personalized cardiovascular medicine.
- Stem cell-based models and advanced sequencing technologies are powerful tools for investigating sex-specific heart development and disease.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex interplay of genetic and hormonal factors in cardiac dimorphism.
Abstract:
Males and females exhibit intrinsic differences in the structure and function of the heart, while the prevalence and severity of cardiovascular disease vary in the two sexes. However, the mechanisms of this sex-based dimorphism are yet to be elucidated. Sex chromosomes and sex hormones are the main contributors to sex-based differences in cardiac physiology and pathophysiology. In recent years, the advances in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac models and multi-omic approaches have enabled a more comprehensive understanding of the sex-specific differences in the human heart. Here, we provide an overview of the roles of these two factors throughout cardiac development and explore the sex hormone signaling pathways involved. We will also discuss how the employment of stem cell-based cardiac models and single-cell RNA sequencing help us further investigate sex differences in healthy and diseased hearts.
