Engineering a 3D in vitro model of human skeletal muscle at the single fiber scale

PLoS One. 2020 May 6;15(5):e0232081. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232081. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The reproduction of reliable in vitro models of human skeletal muscle is made harder by the intrinsic 3D structural complexity of this tissue. Here we coupled engineered hydrogel with 3D structural cues and specific mechanical properties to derive human 3D muscle constructs ("myobundles") at the scale of single fibers, by using primary myoblasts or myoblasts derived from embryonic stem cells. To this aim, cell culture was performed in confined, laminin-coated micrometric channels obtained inside a 3D hydrogel characterized by the optimal stiffness for skeletal muscle myogenesis. Primary myoblasts cultured in our 3D culture system were able to undergo myotube differentiation and maturation, as demonstrated by the proper expression and localization of key components of the sarcomere and sarcolemma. Such approach allowed the generation of human myobundles of ~10 mm in length and ~120 μm in diameter, showing spontaneous contraction 7 days after cell seeding. Transcriptome analyses showed higher similarity between 3D myobundles and skeletal signature, compared to that found between 2D myotubes and skeletal muscle, mainly resulting from expression in 3D myobundles of categories of genes involved in skeletal muscle maturation, including extracellular matrix organization. Moreover, imaging analyses confirmed that structured 3D culture system was conducive to differentiation/maturation also when using myoblasts derived from embryonic stem cells. In conclusion, our structured 3D model is a promising tool for modelling human skeletal muscle in healthy and diseases conditions.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Culture Techniques* / instrumentation
  • Cell Culture Techniques* / methods
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Hydrogels / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Muscle Development
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / cytology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Myoblasts / cytology
  • Myoblasts / physiology
  • Single-Cell Analysis / instrumentation
  • Single-Cell Analysis / methods
  • Tissue Engineering* / instrumentation
  • Tissue Engineering* / methods
  • Tissue Scaffolds / chemistry*

Substances

  • Dimethylpolysiloxanes
  • Hydrogels
  • baysilon

Grants and funding

Funding to NE: 2018 STARS-WiC grant of University of Padova Funding to NE: Progetti di Eccellenza CaRiPaRo Funding to NE: TWINING of University of Padova Funding to NE: Oak Foundation Award (Grant No. W1095/OCAY-14-191) Funding to AU: STARS Starting Grant 2017 (Grant Code: LS3-19613) Funding to LV: University of Padova, Department of Biology 2014 FINA The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.