Functional cardiomyocytes from human embryonic stem cells
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsJames A. Thomson, Timothy J. Kamp, Yue Ma, Jia-Qiang He
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells form embryoid bodies in culture which contain differentiated human cells. Some of the human cells in embryoid bodies differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Here the biological and electrical characteristics of those cardiomyocytes are described with reference to the use of cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells in drug screening protocols for mechanisms of cardiac toxicity.
Claims15
A method for testing agents for effect on human cardiac cells comprising the steps of
- culturing cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells;
- measuring the transmembrane action potential of at least one cardiomyocyte;
- exposing the cardiomyocyte to the agent;
- and
- observing whether the action potential of the cardiomyocyte changes after the exposure.
A method for testing agents for their effect on human cardiac cells comprising the steps of
- culturing human embryonic stem cells to form embryoid bodies;
- identifying an embryoid body from the culture which physically contracts;
- measuring a physical characteristic of the contraction of the embryoid body;
- exposing the embryoid body to the agent;
- and
- observing any change in the characteristic of the contraction of the embryoid body.
A method for testing agents for their effect on the electrical properties of the HERG channel in human cardiac cells comprising the steps of
- culturing cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells;
- inserting an electrode into at least one cardiomyocyte in culture;
- measuring the duration of the transmembrane action potential of the cardiomyocyte;
- exposing the cardiomyocyte to the agent;
- and
- observing whether the action potential duration is changed by the agent, as would be the case if the HERG channel is altered.
A method for testing agents for their likelihood of triggering delayed after polarization events in human cardiac cells comprising the steps of
- culturing cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells;
- obtaining a chart of the transmembrane action potential of the cardiomyocyte over time;
- exposing the cardiomyocyte to the agent;
- and
- observing whether a delayed after polarization event is triggered by the agent.
A method for testing agents for their likelihood of triggering long QT syndrome in human cardiac cells comprising the steps of
- culturing cardiomyocytes derived from human embryonic stem cells;
- obtaining a chart of the transmembrane action potential of a plurality of the cardiomyocyte over time;
- exposing the cardiomyocyte to the agent;
- and
- observing whether a long QT syndrome is triggered by the agent in any of the cardiomyocytes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.