Background:
The results of surgical repair of tissue defects are still less than ideal leaving
patients with residual cosmetic and functional impairments. Therefore, tissue engineering
attempts to grow functional neo-tissue to support defect closure. The goal to form
functional skeletal muscle using clinically feasible stimuli has not yet been reached
to a sufficient extent. This study investigated the differentiation potential of static
magnetic fields (SMF), using co-cultures of human satellite cells and human mesenchymal
stem cells (MSC) which have been found to be promising in animal trials.
Material and Methods:
Tests were performed on co-cultures with and without SMF exposure, using growth (high
growth factor concentrations [GM]) and differentiation medium (low growth factors
concentrations [DM]) over 12 days. The SMF was produced by a neodymiummagnet (4 ×
4 cm) with a strength of 80 ± 5 mT placed beneath the cultures. The proliferation
analysis was measured by an alamarBlue® assay.
Semi-quantitative gene expression measurements of the following marker genes showed
the degree of differentiation: myogenic factor 5 (MYF5), myogenic differentiation
antigen 1 (MYOD1), myogenin, adult myosin heavy chain (MYH1), and skeletal muscle
α1 actin (ACTA1).
Results:
Although an upregulation of MYOD1, Myogenin and ACTA1 could be found in DM, neither
in GM nor in DM a significant increase in marker gene expression could be detected
which was confirmed by a missing immunhistochemical antibody staining.
Conclusion:
SMF exposure did not enhance myogenic maturation as no rise in differentiation markers
was observed and did not result in the desired increase in myogenic differentiation.
Further studies are needed to identify a suitable stimulus for skeletal muscle tissue
engineering.
