Using human iPSCs to Explore the Cardiovascular Impact
of Nicotine Across Diverse Populations

by By Amanda Chase, PhD
December 19, 2024

Nicotine, the addictive component of tobacco, continues to be a threat to global health, with established links to cardiovascular disease. A new study published in the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology shows the potential of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs) as a tool for understanding the effect of nicotine on cardiovascular health. 

Researchers from the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, led by first author Nerea Jimenez-Tellez and co-senior authors Mark Chandy (Western University) and Joseph Wu, looked at the cellular impact of nicotine exposure using iPSC-ECs from 20 donors. Importantly, the donors represented diverse ancestries and sexes. Their analysis showed profound changes in gene expression following exposure to nicotine, impacting critical pathways related to cardiovascular health. While the effects from nicotine were consistent across individuals, ancestry-specific responses suggested a nuanced interplay between genetics and toxin susceptibility. This research could therefore ultimately improve healthcare by identifying individuals susceptible to toxins, providing a more personalized medicine approach.

Overview of diverse panel of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs) used to model nicotine exposure. Blood samples were collected from 20 donors and were made into iPSC-ECs. The cells were exposed to nicotine and gene expression was then evaluated.

This study uses iPSC-ECs as a model system to further show their important potential for evaluating the cellular effects of environmental toxins, in addition to nicotine. This approach offers several advantages over more traditional models, including the ability to integrate human diversity into analysis. This research therefore sets the stage for expanding iPSC models to investigate a broader array of environmental toxins and pollutants and how they can impact diverse populations at a cellular level.

Additional Stanford Cardiovascular Institute researchers who contributed to this study include Damon Williams, Yu Liu, and Mingqiang Wang.

Nerea Jiménez Téllez, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar

Mark Chandy, MD, PhD
Scientist, Roberts Research Institute, Western university

Joseph Wu, MD, PhD
Director, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute