Abstract
The phenotype of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes is far from that of adult cardiomyocytes. Specifically, it is characterized by spontaneous contraction, irregular morphology, and differences in sarcomere components and metabolism. Human cardiomyocyte maturation involves a shift in metabolism from glycolysis to fatty acid oxidation. This metabolic shift alters gene expression and inhibits proliferation. These findings indicate that the glucose concentration manipulates cardiomyocyte metabolism and modulates maturation. This review summarizes the main phenotypic differences, focusing on changes in myocardial cell metabolism. We also summarize the effect of the glucose concentration on maturity of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, and how glucose may support a novel maturation strategy.