Protocol to Generate Immunocompetent Human Heart-Macrophage Assembloids for the Study of Immune-Cardiac Interactions.

Authors

Colin O'Hern
Mia Dionise
Sammantha Caywood
Merlinda-Loraine Sewavi
Hussain Basrai
Priyadharshni Muniyandi
Brett Volmert
Aleksandra Kostina
Amanda Huang
Nagib Chalfoun, Corewell Health West

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-5-2026

Publication Title

STAR Protocols

Abstract

Here, we present a protocol to generate fully human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived human heart-macrophage assembloids. We describe steps for differentiating hPSCs into monocytes, generating cardiac organoids, integrating CD14+ monocytes to become cardiac tissue-resident macrophages, and maturing the assembloids with metabolic cues. Furthermore, we provide a use-case example of disease modeling for the study of atrial arrhythmias. The system provides a reproducible, scalable, and efficient platform for studying immune-cardiac interactions, inflammation, and arrhythmogenesis.

Volume

7

Issue

1

First Page

104411

Last Page

104411

Recommended Citation

O'Hern C, Dionise M, Caywood S, Sewavi ML, Basrai H, Muniyandi P, et al [Chalfoun N]. Protocol to generate immunocompetent human heart-macrophage assembloids for the study of immune-cardiac interactions. STAR protoc. 2026;7(1):104411. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2026.104411. PMID: 41790550.

Comments

Frederik Meijer Heart & Vascular Institute

DOI

10.1016/j.xpro.2026.104411

ISSN

2666-1667

PubMed ID

41790550