SARS-CoV-2 infects human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, impairing electrical and mechanical function

Marchiano S, Hsiang TY, Higashi T, Akshita Khanna A, Hans Reinecke H, Xiulan Yang X,  Pabon L,  Sniadecki NJ,  Bertero A,  Gale Jr M,  Murry CE

Stem Cell Reports, 2021

Summary:

This study demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 readily infects and replicates within human pluripotent stem cell cardiomyoctyes (hPSC-CMs), resulting in rapid cell death. Furthermore, infected hPSC-CMs show a progressive impairment in both electrophysiological and contractile properties.