@inproceedings{01HQR1TT2MPJJ7JCYHWAC0KJDD,
  abstract     = {{Problem: Several challenges account for the slow progress of cultured meat production. Primary bovine muscle stem cells have limited cell expansion potential, lose their myogenic differentiation capacity to myotubes after prolonged expansion and the resulting myotubes are immature. The finite pool of myoblasts and the absence of well-structured myofibers hinder the efficient and scalable production of cultured meat.
Objective: To enhance the myogenic differentiation of primary-derived myosatellite cells, we explore the effect of stimulation on cultured bovine myoblasts during cell expansion and myotube formation.
Methodology: We evaluate the effect of two different stimulation techniques: pulsed-electromagnetic field stimulation and mechanical stimulation on bovine myoblasts during proliferation as well as differentiation. We investigate the impact of stimulation on the cell number, fusion capacity, cell alignment, myotube diameter, polynucleation, metabolic activity and sarcomere component expression during myogenesis in 2D as well as 3D. In addition, for 3D, mechanical characterization is performed.
Results: Continuous and intermitted pulsed electromagnetic field stimulation is applied to high- and low-fusion performing bovine myoblasts in 2D. The results demonstrate that the stimulated myoblasts have an increased fusion capacity compared to statically cultured cells, with enhanced myotube formation in low-fusion myoblasts due to the stimulation. Moreover, an increased metabolic activity (7 ± 3%) is observed in the 2D cultured myoblasts after stimulation, indicating a positive impact on cellular function. Mechanical stimulation is tested during the differentiation of 3D muscle constructs of myoblast donors with low-fusion characteristics. The stimulation results in a decrease in Young’s modulus (43 ± 4% kPa), indicating that the stimulated tissues are less stiff. Additionally, the stimulation induces an increase in metabolic activity (75 ± 10%) and an elevated fusion capacity, collectively suggesting improved myoblast myogenesis.
Conclusion: This research highlights the potential of stimulating bovine myoblasts to enhance myogenesis, thereby increasing or partially restoring the myogenic fusion capacity. These findings contribute toward overcoming the challenges of immature bovine myoblasts, paving the way for the development of muscle constructs with application to cultured meat production.}},
  author       = {{Deelkens, Chloë and Olenic, Maria and Devriendt, Bert and Fassina, Lorenzo and Thorrez, Lieven}},
  booktitle    = {{TERMIS World Congress, 7th, Abstracts}},
  keywords     = {{Technologies,cultivated meat,tissue engineering}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  location     = {{Seattle, Washington, USA}},
  title        = {{Pulsed-electromagnetic field stimulation and mechanical stimulation for enhancing bovine myoblast myogenesis}},
  url          = {{https://wc2024.termis.org/}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}