Simulated microgravity attenuates myogenesis and contractile function of 3D engineered skeletal muscle tissues

Zhanping Ren, Eun Hyun Ahn, Minjae Do, Devin B. Mair, Amir Monemianesfahani, Peter H.U. Lee, Deok Ho Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

While the effects of microgravity on inducing skeletal muscle atrophy have been extensively studied, the impacts of microgravity on myogenesis and its mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we developed a microphysiological system of engineered muscle tissue (EMT) fabricated using a collagen / Matrigel composite hydrogel and murine skeletal myoblasts. This 3D EMT model allows non-invasive quantitative assessment of contractile function. After applying a 7-day differentiation protocol to induce myotube formation, the EMTs clearly exhibited sarcomerogenesis, myofilament formation, and synchronous twitch and tetanic contractions with electrical stimuli. Using this 3D EMT system, we investigated the effects of simulated microgravity at 10−3G on myogenesis and contractile function utilizing a random positioning machine. EMTs cultured for 5 days in simulated microgravity exhibited significantly reduced contractile forces, myofiber size, and differential expression of muscle contractile, myogenesis regulatory, and mitochondrial biogenesis-related proteins. These results indicate simulated microgravity attenuates myogenesis, resulting in impaired muscle function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number18
Journalnpj Microgravity
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2024

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Materials Science (miscellaneous)
  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (miscellaneous)
  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
  • Space and Planetary Science

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