Human iPSC-derived 3D cardiac models for cardiomyopathies: organoids, spheroids, and engineered heart tissues as...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Stem Cell Biology
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Cardiomyopathies pose a significant global health challenge.
• Developing effective therapies has been hindered by a lack of physiologically relevant human models.
• Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has advanced research but faces limitations in cellular maturation and structural complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advances in iPSC-derived 3D cardiac systems for modeling cardiomyopathies.
• To discuss the application of these models in understanding disease mechanisms and evaluating interventions.
• To highlight challenges and emerging strategies for translational research in cardiovascular disease.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on iPSC-derived 3D cardiac models.
• Synthesis of data on 3D spheroids, engineered heart tissues (EHTs), and cardiac organoids.
• Analysis of applications in modeling hypertrophic, dilated, and amyloid-related cardiomyopathies.

Main Results:

• iPSC-derived 3D cardiac tissues address limitations of earlier models, offering improved physiological relevance.
• These advanced models enhance the ability to study disease phenotypes and drug responses.
• Progress has been made in developing models with better cellular maturation, vascularization, and architectural complexity.

Conclusions:

• iPSC-derived 3D cardiac systems represent a significant leap forward in modeling human cardiac diseases.
• These platforms are crucial for mechanistic studies, drug screening, and advancing precision medicine in cardiovascular disease.
• Addressing challenges in maturation, vascularization, and standardization will further enhance their translational potential.