Induced pluripotent stem cell-based therapies for inherited arrhythmias: opportunities and challenges involved (Review).

The identification of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology represents great potential for recapitulating complex physiological phenotypes, probing toxicological testing and screening candidate drugs, demonstrating novel mechanistic insights and, in particular, applying iPSC-based therapeutic strategies for inherited disorders. Inherited arrhythmias are caused by various genetic abnormalities and harbor similar clinical outcomes. Clinically, the poorest outcomes are fatal arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. However, the current therapeutic options for inherited arrhythmias are inadequate and problematic. In this review, we summarize the advances of the iPSC technique in the field of inherited arrhythmias and discuss the possibility of iPSC‑based therapies for inherited arrhythmias. Additionally, we highlight the key challenges faced in the field of iPSC and the emerging strategies used to address these concerns before the novel technique can be used safely and efficiently in clinical practice. It is likely that the iPSC technique will present opportunities and further challenges in the future.