Induced pluripotent stem cells (ipscs) as cardiac disease models, new drugs, and therapeutic applications

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) constitute a potential source of autologous patient-specific cardiomyocytes for cardiac repair, providing a major benefit over other sources of cells in terms of immune rejection. However, autologous transplantation has substantial challenges related to manufacturing and regulation. Although major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched allogeneic transplantation is a promising alternative strategy, few immunological studies have been carried out with iPSCs. IPS cells enable differentiate into derivatives of the three germ layers, for example cardiomyocytes. Derivation human cardiomyocytes from iPS cells opens new visions to build in vitro models of cardiac disease, and patient-specific cardiac therapy, and screening for new drugs. Especially, the medical applications of human iPSCs in stem cell therapy and disease modeling have been progressing rapidly. The ability to induce cell destination conversion is attractive not only for these applications, but also for basic research fields, including development, epigenetics, cancer, and aging. In this review, we summarize the development made with human iPSCs as cardiac disease models, new drugs, and therapeutic applications with focus on relevant challenges. iPSCs approach with other advent technology, such as deep sequencing and epigenetic profiling, we anticipate a bright future for iPSCs technology in the clinic and laboratory.

Keywords:

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) , Autologous , Cardiomyocytes