Development and validation of dual-cardiotoxicity evaluation method based on analysis of field potential and contractile force of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes / multielectrode assay platform.

A recent in vitro cardiovascular safety pharmacology test uses cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to overcome the limitations of the classical test systems, such as species differences and local channel analysis. The Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) is a new proarrhythmia screening paradigm proposed by a CiPA steering expert group, which essentially requires iPSCs derived cardiomyocyte-based electrophysiological evaluation technology. Moreover, the measurement of the contractile force is also emerging as an important parameter to recapitulate non-proarrhythmic cardiotoxicity. Therefore, we constructed an multielectrode assay (MEA) evaluation method that can measure the electrophysiological changes with 6 reference drugs in hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Subsequently, it was confirmed that the electrophysiological were changed in accordance with the mechanism of action of the drugs. Furthermore, based on the multi-probe impedance, we confirmed the decrease in contractile force due to treatment with drugs, and developed a platform to evaluate cardiotoxicity according to drugs along with field potential changes. Our excitation-contraction coupling cardiotoxicity assessment is considered to be more supportive in cardiac safety studies on pharmacologic sensitivity by complementing each assessment parameter.

Establishment of Neurotoxicity Assessment Using Microelectrode Array (MEA) with hiPSC-Derived Neurons and Evaluation of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS).

Background and Objectives: Currently, safety pharmacological tests for the central nervous system depend on animal behavioral analysis. However, due to the subjectivity of behavioral analysis and differences between species, there is a limit to appropriate nervous system toxicity assessment, therefore a new neurotoxicity assessment that can simulate the human central nervous system is required. Methods and Results: In our study, we developed an in vitro neurotoxicity assessment focusing on neuronal function. To minimize the differences between species and fast screening, hiPSC-derived neurons and a microelectrode array (MEA) that could simultaneously measure the action potentials of the neuronal networks were used. After analyzing the molecular and electrophysiological characters of our neuronal network, we conducted a neurotoxicity assessment on neurotransmitters, neurotoxicants, illicit drugs, and new psychoactive substances (NPS). We found that most substances used in our experiments responded more sensitively to our MEA-based neurotoxicity assessment than to the conventional neurotoxicity assessment. Also, this is the first paper that evaluates various illicit drugs and NPS using MEA-based neurotoxicity assessment using hiPSC-derived neurons. Conclusions: Our study expanded the scope of application of neurotoxicity assessment using hiPSC-derived neurons to NPS, and accumulated evaluation data of various toxic substances for hiPSC-derived neurons.

Generation of human iPSCs derived heart organoids structurally and functionally similar to heart.

Currently, due to the increasing demand for 3D culture, various organoids that mimic organs are being actively studied. Despite active reports, information on heart organoids (HOs), which are the first functional organs, is still insufficient. Parameters for reproducing hearts are: chamber formation, organization with cardiac cells, vascularization, and simulation of electrophysiological signals. In particular, since the heart reflects complex factors, it is necessary to develop HOs that can be simulated in depth. In this study, we have created self-organized HOs using human iPSCs, and validated mimicry of cardiac structures such as chamber and epicardium/myocardium and atrium/ventricle-similar areas. Furthermore, mechanical/electrophysiological features were verified through multiple analyzes after inhibition of ion channels. More importantly, the HOs function, due to the cardiovascular characteristics of HOs, was maintained through vascularization after in vivo transplantation. In conclusion, this study has the advantage of being able to easily and closely recapitulate morphological/functional aspects of the heart.

BAPTA, a calcium chelator, neuroprotects injured neurons in vitro and promotes motor recovery after spinal cord transection in vivo.

AIM: Despite animal evidence of a role of calcium in the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury, several studies conducted in the past found calcium blockade ineffective. However, those studies involved oral or parenteral administration of Ca++ antagonists. We hypothesized that Ca++ blockade might be effective with local/immediate application (LIA) at the time of neural injury. METHODS: In this study, we assessed the effects of LIA of BAPTA (1,2-bis (o-aminophenoxy) ethane-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid), a cell-permeable highly selective Ca++ chelator, after spinal cord transection (SCT) in mice over 4 weeks. Effects of BAPTA were assessed behaviorally and with immunohistochemistry. Concurrently, BAPTA was submitted for the first time to multimodality assessment in an in vitro model of neural damage as a possible spinal neuroprotectant. RESULTS: We demonstrate that BAPTA alleviates neuronal apoptosis caused by physical damage by inhibition of neuronal apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. This translates to enhanced preservation of electrophysiological function and superior behavioral recovery. CONCLUSION: This study shows for the first time that local/immediate application of Ca++ chelator BAPTA is strongly neuroprotective after severe spinal cord injury.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of M-MSCs in DNCB-Induced Atopic Dermatitis Mice.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease caused by an imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cells. AD patients suffer from pruritus, excessive dryness, red or inflamed skin, and complications such as sleep disturbances and depression. Although there are currently many AD treatments available there are insufficient data on their long-term stability and comparative effects. Moreover, they have limitations due to various side effects. Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (M-MSCs) might have potential for next-generation AD therapies. MSCs are capable of immune function regulation and local inflammatory response inhibition. M-MSCs, derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC), additionally have a stable supply. In L507 antibody array, M-MSCs generally showed similar tendencies to bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), although the immunoregulatory function of M-MSCs seemed to be superior to BM-MSCs. Based on the characteristics of M-MSCs on immunoregulatory functions, we tested a M-MSC conditioned media concentrate (MCMC) in mice with AD lesions on their dorsal skin. MCMC significantly decreased RNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines in the mouse dorsal skin. It also suppressed serum IgE levels. In addition, significant histopathologic alleviation was identified. In conclusion, secretions of M-MSCs have the potential to effectively improve AD-related inflammatory lesions. M-MSCs showed potential for use in next-generation AD treatment.

Inhibition of BET selectively eliminates undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells.

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) maintain their cellular identity through the systematic regulation of master transcription factors and chromatin remodeling complexes. Recent work has shown that the unusually large-scale enhancers-namely super-enhancers (SEs), on which BRD4, a member of the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family is highly enriched-could regulate pluripotency-related transcription factors. Moreover, inhibition of BRD4 binding on SEs has been shown to induce the differentiation of ESCs. However, the underlying mechanism of BRD4 inhibition-mediated stem cell differentiation remains elusive. Here we show that both mouse and human ESCs lose their capacity for self-renewal upon treatment with JQ1, a selective inhibitor of BET family including BRD4, with rapid suppression of pluripotency-associated genes. Notably, a high concentration of JQ1 could selectively eliminate ESCs via apoptosis, without affecting the functionality of differentiated somatic cells from ESCs, suggesting that inhibition of BET may have a beneficial effect on the development of pluripotent stem cell-based cell therapy.