Abstract

Impact of Microgravity on Cardiac Cells Derived From Stem Cells

Chunhui Xu, Associate Professor, Emory University School of Medicine

Cardiac muscle cells derived from stem cells have the potential to be used to repair damaged heart tissue and to model cardiac disease.  Cardiac muscle cells can be derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells using factors that regulate cardiogenesis.  However, practical use of these cells faces challenge in efficient cell production.  We have found that combining tissue engineering and microgravity can improve the quality of cardiac cells derived from stem cells.