Published online May 26, 2021. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i5.331
Peer-review started: February 12, 2021
First decision: March 17, 2021
Revised: March 27, 2021
Accepted: April 14, 2021
Article in press: April 14, 2021
Published online: May 26, 2021
Ethical concerns about stem cell-based research have delayed important advances in many areas of medicine, including cardiology. The introduction of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has supplanted the need to use human stem cells for most purposes, thus eliminating all ethical controversies. Since then, many new avenues have been opened in cardiology research, not only in approaches to tissue replacement but also in the design and testing of antiarrhythmic drugs. This methodology has advanced to the point where induced human cardiomyocyte cell lines can now also be obtained from commercial sources or tissue banks. Initial studies with readily available iPSCs have generally confirmed that their behavioral characteristics accurately predict the behavior of beating cardio
Core Tip: The introduction of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has supplanted the need for human stem cells, thus eliminating most ethical controversies. This methodology has advanced to the point where induced human cardiomyocyte cell lines can also be obtained from commercial sources or tissue banks. iPSCs can predict the behavior of cardiomyocytes in vivo, so that new ways are paved in cardiology research to study arrhythmias and heart disease in general, accelerating the development of new, more effective antiarrhythmic drugs, clinical diagnoses, and personalized medical care.