Efficient Elimination of Residual Undifferentiated Stem Cells and Purification of Cardiomyocytes Derived from Pluripotent Stem Cells from Metabolic Approaches

Abstract

Currently, clinical trials of regenerative medicine using human iPSC-derived retinal pigment epitheliums are about to start in ophthalmic field, and people worldwide are greatly expecting. In cardiac regenerative medicine using human

iPSCs, the hundreds of millions of cardiomyocytes will be needed. Thus, the risk of tumorigenesis due to contamination of residual undifferentiated stem cells cannot be neglected. Because of lethal complications, elimination of residual undifferentiated stem cells must be necessary.

Metabolomics is one of the most powerful tools for characterizing cell-specific metabolism. By understanding the global intracellular metabolism in cardiomyocytes and non-cardiac cells including undifferentiated stem cells, we developed a novel method for purifying the bulk of iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes using original culture media (glucosefree and lactate-rich environment). We believe that our inexpensive and unique technology will resolve the bottleneck and directly facilitate human cardiac regenerative therapies in the future. Recently, other groups have also reported the methods in elimination of undifferentiated stem cells, and I would like to introduce these methods and current situations in cardiac regenerative medicine.