In vivo tissue engineering of functional skeletal muscle by freshly isolated satellite cells embedded in a photopolymerizable hydrogel

• Published in: The FASEB journal 2011-07, Vol.25 (7), p.2296-2304
• Main Authors: Rossi, Carlo Alberto, Flaibani, Marina, Blaauw, Bert, Pozzobon, Michela, Figallo, Elisa, Reggiani, Carlo, Vitiello, Libero, Elvassore, Nicola, De Coppi, Paolo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; biocompatible scaffold; cell transplantation; Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics; Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism; Hyaluronic Acid - metabolism; Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Transgenic; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Microscopy, Fluorescence; muscle ablation; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - cytology; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle Fibers, Skeletal - transplantation; muscle reconstruction; Muscle, Skeletal - cytology; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Polymerization - radiation effects; Reproducibility of Results; Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle - cytology; Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle - metabolism; Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle - transplantation; Tissue Engineering - methods
• ISSN: 0892-6638; 1530-6860
• DOI: 10.1096/fj.10-174755

ABSTRACT The success of skeletal muscle reconstruction depends on finding the most effective, clinically suitable strategy to engineer myogenic cells and biocompatible scaffolds. Satellite cells (SCs), freshly isolated or transplanted within their niche, are presently considered the best source for muscle regeneration. Here, we designed and developed the delivery of either SCs or muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) via an in situ photo‐cross‐linkable hyaluronan‐based hydrogel, hyaluronic acid‐photoinitiator (HA‐PI) complex. Partially ablated tibialis anterior (TA) of C57BL/6J mice engrafted with freshly isolated satellite cells embedded in hydrogel showed a major improvement in muscle structure and number of new myofibers, compared to muscles receiving hydrogel + MPCs or hydrogel alone. Notably, SCs embedded in HA‐PI also promoted functional recovery, as assessed by contractile force measurements. Tissue reconstruction was associated with the formation of both neural and vascular networks and the reconstitution of a functional SC niche. This innovative approach could overcome previous limitations in skeletal muscle tissue engineering.—Rossi, C. A., Flaibani, M., Blaauw, B., Pozzobon, M., Figallo, E., Reggiani, C., Vitiello, L., Elvassore, N., De Coppi, P. In vivo tissue engineering of functional skeletal muscle by freshly isolated satellite cells embedded in a photopolymerizable hydrogel. FASEB J. 25, 2296‐2304 (2011). www.fasebj.org