Cells on a chip - The use of electric properties for highly sensitive monitoring of blood-derived factors involved in angiotensin II type 1 receptor signalling

Abstract

Background: We developed a highly sensitive cardiomyocyte based screening system for the non-destructive electronic detection of chronotropic drugs and tissue-secreted factors involved in AT 1 receptor-mediated cardiovascular diseases. Methods: For this purpose we cultured spontaneously beating neonatal rat cardiomyocytes on microelectrode arrays (MEAs), and tested the optimised, stable culture parameters for a reproducible real-time recording of alterations in contraction frequency. After the evaluation of culture parameters, computer-based electronic measurement systems were used for counting of contractions by recording of the field potential of cardiomyocytes. Results: Using the biosensor, angiotensin II, the predominant ligand of the AT 1 receptor, was detected at very low concentrations of 10 -11 M via altered contractions of cardiomyocytes. Moreover, we demonstrated that cardiomyocyte coupled microarrays allow the detection of blood-derived low concentrated anti-AT 1 receptor autoimmune antibodies of pregnant women suffering from preeclampsia. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the first well-suited electrophysiological recording of cardiomyocytes on multielectrode arrays as a benefit for functional biomonitoring for the detection of AT 1 receptor/ligand interactions and other marker proteins in sera directed to cardiovascular diseases. Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG.