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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Model of Ischemic Heart Disease and Video-Based Comparison of Cardiomyocyte Contraction Using hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes
Published on: May 5, 2020
Tracking single hiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte contractile function using CONTRAX an efficient pipeline for traction
Gaspard Pardon1,2,3,4,5, Alison S Vander Roest1,3,6,7, Orlando Chirikian8
1Departments of Mechanical Engineering and of Bioengineering, Stanford University, School of Engineering and School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
Insights
CONTRAX is a new open-access pipeline for tracking human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) contractility. This tool enables high-throughput analysis of cellular function over time, aiding in cardiomyopathy and cardiotoxicity research.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Stem Cell Biology
- Cardiovascular Research
Background:
- Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) are crucial in vitro models for studying heart diseases and drug toxicity.
- High-throughput, time-resolved quantification of hiPSC-CM contractile function is vital for understanding cellular mechanisms impacting heart function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce CONTRAX, an open-access, versatile pipeline for quantitative tracking of single hiPSC-CM contractile dynamics over time.
- To provide a streamlined approach for analyzing large numbers of hiPSC-CMs under various experimental conditions.
Main Methods:
- CONTRAX comprises three software modules for cell identification, automated video acquisition (>200 cells/hour), and contractility measurement using traction force microscopy.
- Analysis of over 4,500 hiPSC-CMs across different culture media, substrate stiffnesses, drug treatments, and in the presence of cardiac mutations.
Main Results:
- Undirected clustering revealed consistent hiPSC-CM maturation patterns.
- Quantifiable drug responses to Mavacamten were observed.
- Significant functional deficiencies were identified in hiPSC-CMs carrying disease mutations.
Conclusions:
- CONTRAX offers a powerful quantitative method for analyzing hiPSC-CM contractility.
- This pipeline can accelerate the development of novel cardiac therapies by providing detailed insights into cellular function and disease mechanisms.
Abstract:
Cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CMs) are powerful in vitro models to study the mechanisms underlying cardiomyopathies and cardiotoxicity. Quantification of the contractile function in single hiPSC-CMs at high-throughput and over time is essential to disentangle how cellular mechanisms affect heart function. Here, we present CONTRAX, an open-access, versatile, and streamlined pipeline for quantitative tracking of the contractile dynamics of single hiPSC-CMs over time. Three software modules enable: parameter-based identification of single hiPSC-CMs; automated video acquisition of >200 cells/hour; and contractility measurements via traction force microscopy. We analyze >4,500 hiPSC-CMs over time in the same cells under orthogonal conditions of culture media and substrate stiffnesses; +/- drug treatment; +/- cardiac mutations. Using undirected clustering, we reveal converging maturation patterns, quantifiable drug response to Mavacamten and significant deficiencies in hiPSC-CMs with disease mutations. CONTRAX empowers researchers with a potent quantitative approach to develop cardiac therapies.
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