Figure 1. Generation and applications of patient-specific cardiomyocytes.

From isolated patient-specific source cells such as dermal fibroblasts or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), cardiomyocytes can be generated via iPSC reprogramming and subsequent differentiation to iPSC-CMs, or by transdifferentiation into iCMs. Both strategies employ a set of defined factors that cause drastic modulatory changes in the cellular epigenome. Disease-specific mutations within iPSCs can be corrected via genome editing approaches and can be employed for studying disease mechanisms, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine. While in vivo applications of iCMs are already being evaluated, the suitability of iCMs for other purposes such as disease mechanism and drug development studies remains to be ascertained.