(F1182) SELF-ORGANIZATION OF CHAMBERED AND VASCULARIZED HUMAN CARDIAC ORGANOIDS

Abstract: Cardiac organoids are three-dimensional, self-organized structures that spontaneously adopt the shape and function of heart tissue. They contain key cardiac cell types. Recent advancements in self-organizing cardiac organoids have provided a powerful tool for uncovering human cardiac development, studying cardiovascular diseases, testing drugs, and facilitating transplantation. In our study, we established a protocol to generate cardiac organoids from human iPSCs. Our system enables the high-throughput development of chambered and vascularized cardiac organoids in cell culture dishes, allowing for spontaneous self-organization. These organoids exhibit consistent size and features, demonstrating characteristics similar to normal heart tissue. Single-cell RNA-seq analysis revealed that the induced cardiac organoids include various cardiac cell types, such as cardiomyocytes, cardiac fibroblasts, epicardial cells, and endothelial cells. We believe these cardiac organoids hold significant potential for assessing the safety and efficacy of drugs. We also plan to enhance the differentiation system to improve both the quality and quantity of the cardiac organoids. Additionally, we aim to decipher the underlying regulatory mechanisms that govern the self-organization of these organoids and further explore their potential applications.

Funding Source: This work was supported by A-Smart Donation, NSFC/RGC JRS (N_CUHK428/22) and NSFC-Young Scientists Fund (82200314).

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