Systematic analysis of different pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiac myocytes as potential testing model for cardiocytoprotection

Introduction: Stem cell-derived cardiac myocytes are potential sources for testing cardiocytoprotective molecules against ischemia/reperfusion injury in vitro. Materials and methods: Here we performed a systematic analysis of two different induced pluripotent stem cell lines (iPSC 3.4 and 4.1) and an embryonic stem cell (ESC) line-derived cardiac myocytes at two different developmental stages. Cell viability in simulated ischemia/reperfusion (SI/R)-induced injury and a known cardiocytoprotective NO-donor, S-nitroso-n-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) was tested. Results: After analysis of full embryoid bodies (EBs) and cardiac marker (VCAM and cardiac troponin I) positive cells of three lines at 6 conditions (32 different conditions altogether), we found significant SI/R injury-induced cell death in both full EBs and VCAM+ cardiac cells at later stage of their differentiation. Moreover, full EBs of the iPS 4.1 cell line after oxidative stress induction by SNAP was protected at day-8 samples. Conclusion: We have shown that 4.1 iPS-derived cardiomyocyte line could serve as a testing platform for cardiocytoprotection.