Immunological Niche Regulation of Cardiomyocyte Dedifferentiation and Maturation

Cardiac healing in adults is limited because cardiomyocytes (CMs) are unable to dedifferentiate, proliferate, and subsequently redifferentiate following injury. Improved cardiac function—such as that achieved through LVAD therapy—can restore CM renewal, indicating untapped regenerative potential.

We have identified immune cell-derived ligands that trigger the dedifferentiation of cardiomyocytes and have thereby described a novel CM-immune niche. Using patient-specific, iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and immune cells, we aim to understand how immune signals regulate the plasticity and maturation of cardiomyocytes.

Our goal is to characterize the immunological niche regulation of cardiomyocytes using advanced spatial transcriptomics and to leverage these interactions for therapeutic developments—with the overarching goal of deepening our understanding of cardiac maturation in patients with heart failure.