Mesenchymal stem cells and their regenerative and immunomodulatory potential Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess multidirectional regenerative ability, which, together with their immunomodulatory potential, makes them promising cell type for therapy of wide variety of diseases. Despite ongoing research, which proved MSCs application to be safe, reported effect of MSCs administration on patients is not convincingly beneficial yet. In our work we focused on elucidation of MSCs role in regeneration of vital organs, heart and liver, where a large damage is life threatening for patients and any improvement in therapy would save many lives. Similar situation is in Graft versus host disease (GVHD), where MSCs immunomodulatory properties could be beneficial. Role of MSCs in heart regeneration was examined in vitro. Primary adult swine cardiomyocytes (CMCs) were co-cultured with or without swine MSCs for 3 days and morphological and functional parameters (contractions, current, respiration) of CMCs were measured. MSCs showed supportive effect on CMCs survival, especially at day 3 of the experiment, where in co-culture was significantly higher number of viable CMCs with physiological morphology and maintained function. Effect of MSCs on liver regeneration was observed in swine model of chronic liver...

It was shown almost 50 years ago that hypothermic incubation of chicken embryos results in a reduction in the size of embryos and an increase in the heart weight, presumably by hypertrophy (increase in cell volume). The chicken embryos were incubated in normothermia (37.5 ř C) and hypothermia (33.5 ř C) from the eleventh embryonic day. On the 17th day, the embryos were weighed and then their hearts were weighed. In agreement with the previous results, hypothermic embryos were 29% smaller and their hearts 18% heavier. The heart-to-body weight ratio was 67% higher in the hypothermic group. The measured cell size was very similar in the target areas and it was also between the two groups. The left ventricle width was twofold that the right one and the difference was not significantly higher in the hypothermia model. Purkinje fibers, the terminal part of the conduction system, were smaller than the working cardiomyocytes. Purkinje fibers were slightly enlarged after hypothermic incubation. The proliferation rate was measured by immunohistochemical labeling of anti-phospho histone H3. The experimental group showed much higher proliferation rate; it reached statistical significance in the right ventricle. Thus, hypothermic incubation resulted in increased growth of embryonic heart based on hyperplasia...

Accumulation of osmotically active metabolites, which create an osmotic gradient estimated at ∼60 mOsM, and cell swelling are prominent features of ischemic myocardial cell death. This study tests the hypothesis that reduction of ischemic swelling by enhanced cell volume regulation is a key mechanism in the delay of ischemic myocardial cell death by ischemic preconditioning (IPC). Experimental protocols address whether: (i) IPC triggers a cell volume regulation mechanism that reduces cardiomyocyte swelling during subsequent index ischemia; (ii) this reduction in ischemic cell swelling is sufficient in magnitude to account for the IPC protection; (iii) the molecular mechanism that mediates IPC also mediates cell volume regulation. Two experimental models with rabbit ventricular myocytes were studied: freshly isolated pelleted myocytes and 48-h cultured myocytes. Myocytes were preconditioned either by distinct short simulated ischemia (SI)/simulated reperfusion protocols (IPC), or by subjecting myocytes to a pharmacological preconditioning (PPC) protocol (1 μM calyculin A, or 1 μM N6-2-(4-aminophenyl)ethyladenosine (APNEA), prior to subjecting them to either different durations of long SI or 30 min hypo-osmotic stress. Cell death (percent blue square myocytes) was monitored by trypan blue staining. Cell swelling was determined by either the bromododecane cell flotation assay (qualitative) or video/confocal microscopy (quantitative). Simulated ischemia induced myocyte swelling in both the models. In pelleted myocytes, IPC or PPC with either calyculin A or APNEA produced a marked reduction of ischemic cell swelling as determined by the cell floatation assay. In cultured myocytes, IPC substantially reduced ischemic cell swelling (P < 0.001). This IPC effect on ischemic cell swelling was related to an IPC and PPC (with APNEA) mediated triggering of cell volume regulatory decrease (RVD). IPC and APNEA also significantly (P < 0.001) reduced hypo-osmotic cell swelling. This IPC and APNEA effect was blocked by either adenosine receptor, PKC or Cl- channel inhibition. The osmolar equivalent for IPC protection approximated 50-60 mOsM, an osmotic gradient similar to the estimated ischemic osmotic load for preconditioned and non-preconditioned myocytes. The results suggest that cell volume regulation is a key mechanism that accounts for most of the IPC protection in cardiomyocytes.

Mesenchymal stem cells and their regenerative and immunomodulatory potential Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess multidirectional regenerative ability, which, together with their immunomodulatory potential, makes them promising cell type for therapy of wide variety of diseases. Despite ongoing research, which proved MSCs application to be safe, reported effect of MSCs administration on patients is not convincingly beneficial yet. In our work we focused on elucidation of MSCs role in regeneration of vital organs, heart and liver, where a large damage is life threatening for patients and any improvement in therapy would save many lives. Similar situation is in Graft versus host disease (GVHD), where MSCs immunomodulatory properties could be beneficial. Role of MSCs in heart regeneration was examined in vitro. Primary adult swine cardiomyocytes (CMCs) were co-cultured with or without swine MSCs for 3 days and morphological and functional parameters (contractions, current, respiration) of CMCs were measured. MSCs showed supportive effect on CMCs survival, especially at day 3 of the experiment, where in co-culture was significantly higher number of viable CMCs with physiological morphology and maintained function. Effect of MSCs on liver regeneration was observed in swine model of chronic liver...

[ES] Cada año, cientos de miles de nuevos casos en todo el mundo son diagnosticados anualmente con fibrilación auricular, estimándose que aproximadamente 33.5 millones de personas viven con esta compleja enfermedad. Sin embargo, se hizo evidente que la fibrilación auricular es una enfermedad multifacética y progresiva. Por lo tanto, se requiere el desarrollo de nuevos modelos experimentales que recapitulen este complejo mecanismo. Por esta razón, esta tesis ha navegado a través del intrincado panorama del remodelado de la fibrilación auricular desde un punto de vista electrofisiológico, estructural e inmunológico, utilizando un modelo in vitro de cardiomiocitos atriales derivados de células madre pluripotentes inducidas humanas (hiPSC-aCM). El modelo demostró ser capaz de recapitular mecanismos de reentrada, así como remodelados genéticos correlacionados con cambios electrofisiológicos, estructurales e inmunológicos similares a los observados en pacientes con fibrilación auricular, demostrando su valor como modelo para estudiar los mecanismos de iniciación de la arritmia. Además, la tesis exploró enfoques optogenéticos innovadores para la perturbación del potencial de acción en hiPSC-aCM, demostrando su posible uso para la terminación de la arritmia. En conclusión, esta tesis de doctorado realiza una contribución significativa al desarrollo y prueba de un nuevo modelo in vitro de fibrilación auricular en atrios humanos, proporcionando una base sólida para futuras mejoras en los objetivos terapéuticos y medicamentos. / [CA] Cada any, centenars de milers de nous casos a tot el món són diagnosticats anualment amb fibrilació auricular, estimantse que aproximadament 33.5 milions de persones viuen amb aquesta complexa malaltia. No obstant això, es va fer evident que la fibril·lació auricular és una malaltia multifacètica i progressiva. Per tant, es requereix el desenvolupament de nous models experimentals que recapitulen aquest complex mecanisme. Per aquesta raó, aquesta tesi ha navegat a través del intrincat panorama del remodelat de la fibrilació auricular des d'un punt de vista electrofisiològic, estructural i immunològic, utilitzant un model in vitro de cardiomiòcits atrials derivats de cèlules mare pluripotents induïdes humanes (hiPSC-aCM). El model va demostrar ser capaç de recapitular mecanismes de reentrada, així com remodelats genètics correlacionats amb canvis electrofisiològics, estructurals i immunològics similars als observats en pacients amb fibril·lació auricular, demostrant el seu valor com a model per estudiar els mecanismes d'iniciació de l'arítmia. A més, la tesi va explorar enfocs optogenètics innovadors per a la pertorbació del potencial d'acció en hiPSC-aCM, demostrant el seu possible ús per a la terminació de l'arítmia. En conclusió, aquesta tesi de doctorat realitza una contribució significativa al desenvolupament i prova d'un nou model in vitro de fibril·lació auricular en atris humans, proporcionant una base sòlida per a futures millores en els objectius terapèutics i medicaments. / [EN] Each year hundreds of thousands of new cases worldwide are annually diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF), estimating that approximately 33.5 million of people worldwide live with this complex disease. However, it became clear that AF is not only a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia but also a multifaceted and progressive one. Thus, the development of new experimental models that recapitulate this complex mechanism is required. For this reason, this thesis has navigated through the intricate landscape of AF remodeling under an electrophysiological, structural and immunological point of view using an in vitro model of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-aCM). The model showed to be able to recapitulate re-entry mechanisms as well as genetic remodeling correlated to electrophysiological, structural and immunological changes similar to those observed in AF patients, demonstrating its value as model for studying initiation arrhythmia mechanisms. Furthermore, the thesis explored innovative optogenetic approaches for action potential perturbation in hiPSC-aCM, demonstrating their possible use for arrhythmia termination. In conclusion, this PhD thesis makes a significant contribution to the development and testing of a new human atrial in vitro model of AF, providing a strong basis for future improvements of therapeutic target and drugs. / Casini, M. (2024). The use of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes for studying arrhythmia mechanisms [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/204142

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La grossesse induit de profonds changements hémodynamiques et métaboliques de l’organisme maternel qui ont des conséquences sur le cœur. L’adaptation du cœur à cette condition physiologique nécessite un remodelage de sa structure et par conséquent des ajustements de sa fonction. Les mécanismes responsables de ces adaptations sont en grande partie inconnus. Cependant, ces connaissances sont essentielles pour la compréhension des complications cardiovasculaires, telle que l’hypertension gestationnelle (HG), qui constituent un risque pour la santé de la mère et du fœtus. Afin de caractériser les adaptations du cœur lors de la grossesse, l’originalité de notre approche expérimentale consistait à étudier le remodelage à l’échelle des cardiomyocytes du ventricule gauche. Ainsi, notre premier objectif était de déterminer les modifications structurales et fonctionnelles des cardiomyocytes chez la rate en vue d’identifier les altérations lors de l’HG. Chez les rates gestantes, le remodelage structural des cardiomyocytes se caractérise par une hypertrophie cellulaire avec une augmentation proportionnelle des dimensions. L’HG a été induite par un supplément sodique (0.9% NaCl) dans la diète. L’inadaptation structurale lors de l’HG se traduit par une diminution du volume cellulaire. L’étude des modifications fonctionnelles a révélé que lors de la gestation le fonctionnement contractile des cellules est dépendant de l’adaptation du métabolisme maternel. En effet, les substrats énergétiques, lactate et pyruvate, induisent une augmentation de la contractilité des cardiomyocytes. Cet effet est plus faible dans les cellules des rates hypertendues, ce qui suggère des anomalies du couplage excitation-contraction, dans lequel les courants calciques de type L (ICa-L) jouent un rôle important. Paradoxalement, le lactate et le pyruvate ont induit une augmentation de la densité des courants ICa-L seulement chez les rates hypertendues. Le récepteur aux minéralocorticoïdes (RM) est connu pour son implication dans le remodelage structuro-fonctionnel du cœur dans les conditions pathologiques mais pas dans celui induit par la grossesse. Notre deuxième objectif était donc de déterminer le rôle du RM dans l’adaptation de la morphologie et de la contractilité des cardiomyocytes. Des rates gestantes ont été traitées avec le canrénoate de potassium (20 mg/kg/jr), un antagoniste des RM. L’inhibition des RM pendant la gestation empêche l’hypertrophie cellulaire. De plus, l’inhibition des RM bloque l’effet du lactate et du pyruvate sur la contractilité. Chez la femme, la grossesse est associée à des changements des propriétés électriques du cœur. Sur l’électrocardiogramme, l’intervalle QTc est plus long, témoignant de la prolongation de la repolarisation. Les mécanismes régulant cette adaptation restent encore inconnus. Ainsi, notre troisième objectif était de déterminer le rôle du RM dans l’adaptation de la repolarisation. Chez la rate gestante, l’intervalle QTc est prolongé ce qui est corroboré par la diminution des courants potassiques Ito et IK1. L’inhibition des RM pendant la gestation empêche la prolongation de l’intervalle QTc et la diminution des courants Ito. Les travaux exposés dans cette thèse apportent une vision plus précise du remodelage cardiaque induit par la grossesse, qui est permise par l’étude à l’échelle cellulaire. Nos résultats montrent que lors de la gestation et de l’HG les cardiomyocytes subissent des remodelages morphologiques contrastés. Notre étude a aussi révélé que lors de la gestation, la fonction contractile est tributaire des adaptations métaboliques et que cette relation est altérée lors de l’HG. Nos travaux montrent que la régulation de ces adaptations gestationnelles fait intervenir le RM au niveau de la morphologie, de la relation métabolisme/fonctionnement contractile et de la repolarisation. En faisant avancer les connaissances sur l’hypertrophie de la grossesse, ces travaux vont permettre d’améliorer la compréhension des complications cardiovasculaires gestationnelles. / Pregnancy is characterized by marked hemodynamic and metabolic changes, which have consequences on the heart. The adaptation of the heart to this physiological situation requires a remodeling of its structure, and consequently functioning adjustments. Mechanisms responsible for these adaptations are largely unknown. However, this knowledge is essential for the understanding of cardiovascular complications, such as gestational hypertension (GH), which represents a risk for the mother and the fœtus. To characterize cardiac adaptations to pregnancy, our experimental approach consisted in studying this remodelling at the level of left ventricle cardiomyocytes. Therefore, our first objective was to determine structural and functional modifications of cardiomyocytes in pregnant rats to be able to identify their variations in GH. In pregnant rats, structural remodelling of cardiomyocytes was characterized by a proportional volume expansion. GH was induced by a high sodium supplement (0.9% NaCl). In hypertensive rats, we observe significant cell volume shrinkage. The study of functional modifications elicited a strong relationship between metabolic adaptations and cell contractility. According to our results, in pregnant rats cardiomyocyte contractility was increased in presence of energy substrates lactate and pyruvate. This effect was weaker in the cells from hypertensive rats. This suggested modifications of the excitation-contraction coupling, in which L-type calcium currents (ICa-L) play an important role. Unexpectedly, lactate and pyruvate induced a significant increase in ICa-L only in hypertensive rats. In pathological conditions, mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) have been shown to mediate structural as well as functional remodelling of the heart. Our study is the first to investigate MR involvement in cardiac remodelling during pregnancy. Thus, our second objective was to determine MR involvement in cardiomyocyte remodelling. For this study, pregnant rats were treated with potassium canrenoate of (20 mg / kg / day), a MR antagonist. Our results revealed that MR inhibition during the pregnancy elicited a significant decrease of cell volume. MR inhibition has also affected metabolism and cellular functioning relationship. Indeed, plasma concentration of lactate was lower, which was in correlation with its blunted effect on cell contractility. In women, pregnancy-induced hypertrophy is associated with changes in electrical properties of the heart. Indeed, repolarisation is prolonged, which is characterised by a longer duration of QTc interval on the electrocardiogram. Regulation mechanisms involved in this adaptation are still largely unknown. Our third objective was therefore to determine the role of MR in the adaptation of repolarisation to pregnancy. Pregnancy induced a prolongation in QTc interval, which correlates with a decrease in potassium currents Ito and IK1. MR inhibition prevented QTc interval prolongation and the lowering of Ito. Our study gives a new insight of pregnancy-induced cardiac hypertrophy, which is provided by investigations at the cellular level. Our results demonstrate that pregnancy and GH are characterised by opposite remodellings. Moreover, in pregnancy the contractile function is dependent on metabolic adaptations. This is all the more glaring in GH as metabolic alterations induced modifications of electric properties to maintain contractile functioning. Furthermore, our work reveals MR involvement in the regulation of morphology, metabolism/contractility relationship, and repolarisation. By improving the knowledge of hypertrophy during pregnancy, this work contributes to improve the understanding of pregnancy-induced cardiac complications.

O presente estudo avaliou o papel do receptor AT1 de Angiotensina II no desenvolvimento da hipertrofia dos cardiomiócitos promovida pelo T3, bem como a participação dos mecanismos intracelulares deflagrados pelo receptor AT1 neste modelo de hipertrofia cardíaca. O silenciamento do receptor AT1 com RNA de interferência preveniu totalmente o desenvolvimento da hipertrofia dos cardiomiócitos induzida pelo T3. Os cardiomiócitos tratados com T3 demonstraram uma rápida ativação da via da Akt/GSK-3/mTOR, a qual foi atenuada ou prevenida pelo silenciamento do receptor AT1. Ainda, a expressão de Angiotensina I/II no lisado celular e a expressão do receptor AT1 foram rapidamente aumentados pelo T3. Esses dados demonstram pela primeira vez que o receptor AT1 é um mediador crítico da hipertrofia dos cardiomiócitos induzida pelo T3, bem como para a ativação da via da Akt, sugerindo que a via Ang I/II-AT1-Akt/GSK-3/mTOR corresponde a um potencial mediador dos efeitos tróficos exercidos pelo T3 nessas células. / The present study investigated the role of Angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) in T3-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, as well as the participation of the intracellular mechanisms mediated by AT1R in this cardiac hypertrophy model. The AT1R silencing using small interfering RNA totally prevented the development of T3-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. The cardiomyocytes treated with T3 demonstrated a rapid activation of Akt/GSK-3/mTOR signaling pathway, which was attenuated or prevented by the AT1R silencing. In addition, local Angiotensin I/II (Ang I/II) levels and the AT1R expression were rapidly increased by T3 treatment. These data demonstrate for the first time that the AT1R is a critical mediator to the T3-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, as well as to the activation of the Akt signaling, suggesting that the Ang I/II-AT1R-Akt/GSK-3/mTOR pathway corresponds to a potential mediator of the trophic effect exerted by T3 in cardiomyocytes.

As doenças cardiovasculares são a principal causa de morte no mundo, sendo a cardiomiopatia isquêmica a mais prevalente. Independente da sua etiologia, a via final comum da maioria das doenças cardiovasculares é a insuficiência cardíaca. Nos últimos anos, tem sido reportado que o acúmulo de proteínas mal enoveladas no retículo endoplasmático (estresse do RE) pode contribuir para redução da função cardíaca e instalação da insuficiência cardíaca. Apesar do mecanismo responsável pela disfunção contrátil induzida pelo estresse do RE ainda não ser conhecido, evidências sugerem que a inibição da via de sinalização PI3K/AKT pela proteína JNK pode estar envolvida nessa resposta. Na primeira parte desta tese, verificamos que a indução do estresse do RE em cardiomiócitos isolados ativou a JNK, mas não inibiu a via de sinalização PI3K/AKT. A inativação de JNK reverteu a disfunção contrátil e a redução da amplitude do transiente de Ca+2 de cardiomiócitos causados pelo estresse do RE. Pelo fato da via sinalização PI3K/AKT não estar envolvida na disfunção contrátil causada pelo estresse do RE, analisamos outro alvo de JNK, a proteína BNIP3, proteína pró-apoptótica e envolvida no controle de qualidade mitocondrial promovendo mitofagia quando ativada. O estresse do RE aumentou a expressão de BNIP3, a qual foi atenuada pela inibição de JNK. A depleção de BNIP3 impediu a disfunção contrátil dos cardiomiócitos e a redução da amplitude do transiente de Ca+2 induzidos pelo estresse do RE. Na segunda parte da tese, o objetivo foi avaliar se os efeitos observados em cardiomiócitos submetidos a estresse do RE poderiam ser observados em modelo experimental de doença cardiovascular. Nesse sentido, observamos que a disfunção cardíaca provocada pelo infarto do miocárdio em ratos foi acompanhada pelo quadro de estresse do RE e pela ativação da via de sinalização JNK/BNIP3. Entretanto, o treinamento físico aeróbico (TFA), uma das principais terapias não farmacológicas mais eficazes das doenças cardiovasculares, foi capaz de atenuar o estresse RE, a ativação da via de sinalização JNK/BNIP3 e a disfunção cardíaca de ratos infartados. Na terceira parte da tese, verificamos que o TFA aumentou a expressão proteica de DERLIN-1, uma proteína que atua retro-translocando proteínas mal enoveladas para o citosol, no miocárdio de ratos saudáveis. O aumento dos níveis proteicos de DERLIN-1 observado em ratos infartados foi atenuado pelo TFA. Apesar do aumento da proteína DERLIN-1, observamos que nos animais infartados as proteínas mal enoveladas acumulavam na forma de oligômeros e que o TFA atenuou essa resposta. Em conjunto, os resultados da presente tese sugerem que a ativação da via de sinalização JNK/BNIP3 pelo estresse do RE causa disfunção contrátil de cardiomiócitos e que o TFA é capaz de atenuar essa resposta no coração de ratos infartados, melhorando o controle de qualidade de proteína no músculo cardíaco / Cardiovascular diseases are currently the main cause of death worldwide, with the ischemic cardiomyopathy as the most prevalent ethiology. This is of particular interest, since ischemic cardiomyopathy advances to heart failure, a common endpoint of the most cardiovascular disease. In the last years, it has been showed that accumulation of unfolded protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER stress) may cause cardiac dysfunction and heart failure development. Despite the mechanisms behind this cardiac deterioration is still unknown, evidences suggest that ER stress-induced cardiomyocytes contractile dysfunction results from PI3K/AKT signaling pathway inhibition, which would be caused by JNK activation. In the first part of this thesis, we found that the ER stress activated JNK, but different from our hypothesis it was not accompanied by an inactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The inhibition of JNK mitigated the reduction in cardiomyocytes shortening and amplitude of Ca+2 transient caused by ER stress. Once the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was not involved in the ER stress-induced cardiomyocytes contractile dysfunction, we have analyzed protein expression of BNIP3, another JNK target involved in apoptosis and mitochondria quality control. We observed that the elevation in BNIP3 proteins levels after ER stress induction was prevented by inhibition of JNK. BNIP3 depletion attenuated the reduction in cardiomyocytes contractility and amplitude of Ca+2 transient induced by ER stress. In the second part of the thesis, we found that myocardial infarction-induced cardiac dysfunction in rats was accompanied by ER stress and activation of JNK/BNIP3 signaling pathway. However, the AET mitigated ER stress, activation of JNK/BNIP3 signaling pathway and cardiac dysfunction in infarcted rats. In third part of the thesis, we have identified that AET increased the protein expression of DERLIN-1 an ER membrane protein that retro-translocates unfolded proteins to cytosol in the myocardial of healthy rats. We observed that the increased DERLIN-1 protein levels in infarcted rats were mitigated by AET. Despite increased DERLIN-1 protein expression, we found high levels of oligomers in the myocardium of infarcted rat, which was reduced by AET. It suggests that unfolded protein degradation was reduced in infarcted hearts. Taken together, these results suggest that ER stress causes cardiomyocytes contractile dysfunction through JNK/BNIP3 signaling pathway activation and that AET mitigates the myocardial infarction-induced ER stress and activation of JNK/BNIP3 signaling pathway by restoring of ER-associated protein quality control in the cardiac muscle

Este estudo apresenta o desenvolvimento e validação de uma nova abordagem para a avaliação do cálcio intracelular em culturas de cardiomiócitos derivados de células-tronco pluripotentes induzidas humanas (hiPSC-CM - do inglês human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes) que pode ser aplicada para avaliar o efeito de drogas no acoplamento excitação-contração. O método consiste na estimulação elétrica e medição conjunta da fluorescência de forma automatizada e foi viabilizado a partir da inclusão de um sistema de estimulação elétrica em um leitor de ELISA (do inglês Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Um estimulador eletrônico compacto foi projetado para operar junto a um leitor de placas gerando pulsos quadrados monofásicos com duração de 5 ms e campo elétrico de 8 Vcm-1 aplicados por microeletrodos metálicos de platina-irídio em células em cultura. Uma placa de cultura normalmente utilizada em leitor de placas foi modificada para permitir a colocação do estimulador e dos eletrodos. A intensidade de fluorescência do cálcio intracelular foi avaliada utilizando um leitor de ELISA durante a estimulação elétrica em culturas de células marcadas com o indicador de Ca2+ Fluo-4 AM. A estimulação elétrica das células resultou em contrações regulares nas frequências de 0,1 Hz; 0,2 Hz; 0,3 Hz e 0,5 Hz induzidas pelo estimulador. Parâmetros dos transientes de cálcio foram estudados após a exposição de culturas de células ao Verapamil (0,05; 0,5 e 5,0 µM), a amplitude e a inclinação máxima da fase de subida foram progressivamente reduzidas com doses crescentes da droga. Os dados obtidos demonstraram que o método apresentado permite a avaliação automatizada de transientes de cálcio durante a estimulação elétrica de culturas de hiPSC-CM utilizando o sistema de estimulação em um leitor de ELISA. Esses resultados validaram a aplicabilidade do sistema ao estudo das alterações da dinâmica do cálcio intracelular induzidas por drogas em células sob estimulação elétrica. O sistema de avaliação automatizada desenvolvido pode ser ampliado para realizar a triagem de alto rendimento em bibliotecas de compostos que tem como alvo o acoplamento excitação-contração em células cardíacas humanas in vitro. / This study presents the development and validation of a new approach for the evaluation of intracellular calcium in cultures of cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CM), which can be applied to evaluate the effect of drugs on excitation-contraction coupling. The method consists of electrical stimulation and joint measurement of fluorescence in an automated manner and was made possible by the inclusion of an electrical stimulation system in an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). A compact electronic stimulator was designed to operate inside a plate reader generating monophasic square pulses with duration of 5 ms and electric field of 8 Vcm-1 applied by platinum-iridium metal microelectrodes to cells in culture. A culture plate used in a plate reader was modified to allow placement of the stimulator and electrodes. Fluorescence intensity of intracellular calcium was measured during electrical stimulation of cell cultures loaded with Ca2+ Fluo-4 AM indicator using a plate reader. The electrical stimulation of the cells generated regularly spaced contractions following the pace of the stimulator at the frequencies of 0.1 Hz, 0.2 Hz, 0.3 Hz and 0.5 Hz. Transient profile parameters were studied after treating cell cultures with Verapamil (0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 µM) the amplitude and the maximum slope of rising phase were progressively reduced with increasing verapamil doses. The data obtained demonstrated that the method presented allows the automated evaluation of calcium transients during the electrical stimulation of hiPSC-CM cultures using the stimulation system in an ELISA reader. These results demonstrated the applicability of the system to the study of changes in the intracellular calcium dynamics induced by drugs in electrically stimulated cells. The system developed is amenable to scaling thus allowing high content automated drug library screening for compounds that target the excitationcontraction coupling in human heart cells in vitro.