Development of a 3D human skeletal muscle co-culture system to study atrophy and hypertrophy

Tissue engineering of 3D human skeletal muscle offers new perspectives for future regenerative therapies, basic science and drug testing. Currently, we are able to create aligned human muscle fibers in a 3−dimensional structure. In this proposal, we will further investigate the use of co-cultures of myogenic and other cell populations to create blood vessel structures in tissue-engineered human muscle. The influence of these additional cell populations on myofiber morphology and function will be studied over time and under influence of muscle stimulation. Furthermore, we will test this system as a model to study atrophic and hypertrophic responses.

Keywords:tissue engineering, skeletal muscle, 3D, atrophy, hypertrophy

Disciplines:Tissue engineering