Schwann Cells Promote Myogenic Differentiation of Myoblasts and Adipogenic Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on Poly-ɛ-Caprolactone-Collagen I-Nanofibers
Aijia Cai,
Zeng-Ming Zheng,
Marcus Himmler,
Dirk W. Schubert,
Thomas A. Fuchsluger,
Volker Weisbach,
Raymund E. Horch,
Andreas Arkudas
Affiliations
Aijia Cai
Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Zeng-Ming Zheng
Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Marcus Himmler
Institute of Polymer Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Martensstrasse 7, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
Dirk W. Schubert
Institute of Polymer Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Martensstrasse 7, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
Thomas A. Fuchsluger
Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Rostock, Doberaner Str. 140, 18057 Rostock, Germany
Volker Weisbach
Department of Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Raymund E. Horch
Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Andreas Arkudas
Laboratory for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, University Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
For the purpose of skeletal muscle tissue engineering, different cell types have been investigated regarding their myogenic differentiation potential, including co-cultured myoblasts and adipogenic mesenchymal stromal cells (Mb/ADSC). As neural cells enhance synaptic junction formation, the aim of this study was to co-culture Schwann cells (SCs) with Mb/ADSC on biocompatible electrospun aligned poly-ε-polycaprolacton (PCL)-collagen I-nanofibers. It was hypothesized that SCs, as part of the peripheral nervous system, promote the myogenic differentiation of Mb/ADSC co-cultures. Mb/ADSC were compared to Mb/ADSC/SC regarding their capacity for myogenic differentiation via immunofluorescent staining and gene expression of myogenic markers. Mb/ADSC/SC showed more myotubes after 28 days of differentiation (p ≤ 0.05). After 28 days of differentiation on electrospun aligned PCL-collagen I-nanofibers, gene expression of myosin heavy chains (MYH2) and myogenin (MYOG) was upregulated in Mb/ADSC/SC compared to Mb/ADSC (p ≤ 0.01 and p ≤ 0.05, respectively). Immunofluorescent staining for MHC showed highly aligned multinucleated cells as possible myotube formation in Mb/ADSC/SC. In conclusion, SCs promote myogenic differentiation of Mb/ADSC. The co-culture of primary Mb/ADSC/SC on PCL-collagen I-nanofibers serves as a physiological model for skeletal muscle tissue engineering, applicable to future clinical applications.
