Construction of cultured cardiomyocyte models with autonomic nervous systems

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K19414
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 47:Pharmaceutical sciences and related fields
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: kida yasuyuki 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 生命工学領域, 研究グループ長 (20396526)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-06-29 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 自律神経

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we aimed to construct cultured cardiomyocyte models which incorporated autonomic nervous systems (ANS). To do this, we co-cultured human iPS-derived cardiomyocytes and ANS neurons, and then confirmed their functional connections. We succeeded in controlling cardiomyocyte beating with the ANS signals, which were evoked by nicotine application or photostimulation to ChR2 (channelrhodopsin 2)-expressing ANS neurons. The usefulness of this co-culture system as a novel assay system for cardiotoxicity was also tested and suggested.

Free Research Field

幹細胞工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では、我々の独自技術であるヒト自律神経の作製技術を基に、ヒト心筋とヒト自律神経の機能的結合に世界で初めて成功している。また、神経由来の心毒性についてもこの共培養系を用いることで評価できる可能性が示唆されている。本研究の成果を基に、神経支配を再現した多臓器培養モデルへと発展させることで、疾患状態を含め様々な生体状態を再現することが可能となり、医薬品スクリーニングの汎用性を高めることが期待される。