Myogel, a novel, basement membrane-rich, extracellular matrix derived from skeletal muscle, is highly adipogenic in vivo and in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
Biological and synthetic scaffolds play important roles in tissue engineering and are being developed towards human clinical applications. Based on previous work from our laboratory, we propose that extracellular matrices from skeletal muscle could be developed for adipose tissue engineering.


METHODS
Extracellular matrices (Myogels) extracted from skeletal muscle of various species were assessed using biochemical assays including ELISA and Western blotting. Biofunctionality was assessed using an in vitro differentiation assay and a tissue engineering construct model in the rat.


RESULTS
Myogels were successfully extracted from mice, rats, pigs and humans. Myogels contained significant levels of laminin alpha4- and alpha2-subunits and collagen I compared to Matrigel, which contains laminin 1 (alpha1beta1gamma1) and collagen IV. Levels of growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor 2 were significantly higher than Matrigel, vascular endothelial growth factor-A levels were significantly lower and all other growth factors were comparable. Myogels reproducibly stimulated adipogenic differentiation of preadipocytes in vitro and the growth of adipose tissue in the rat.


CONCLUSIONS
We found Myogel induces adipocyte differentiation in vitroand shows strong adipogenic potential in vivo, inducing the growth of well-vascularised adipose tissue. Myogel offers an alternative for current support scaffolds in adipose tissue engineering, allowing the scaling up of animal models towards clinical adipose tissue engineering applications.
Abberton
K M
KM
Bernard O'Brien Institute of Microsurgery, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia. abberton@unimelb.edu.au
Bortolotto
S K
SK
Woods
A A
AA
Findlay
M
M
Morrison
W A
WA
Thompson
E W
EW
Messina
A
A
D050156:Adipogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine; D023822:Tissue Engineering
D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins