Mathematical modelling of electrotonic interaction between stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts

Human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hES-CMs) represent a promising tool for cell therapy and drug screening. We developed a hES-CM mathematical model based on data acquired with electrophysiological and RT-PCR techniques. Coupling with modelled fibroblasts was assessed too. hES-CM model reproduced satisfactorily most of the action potential (AP) features. Coupling with fibroblasts shows an increment of slope of diastolic depolarization and beating frequency and reduction of the AP peak. These results suggest that our novel mathematical model can serve as a predictive approach to interpret and refine in-vitro experiments on hES-CMs.