Abstract
The biochemical, mechanical and topographic properties of extracellular matrix are crucially involved in determining skeletal muscle cell morphogenesis, proliferation and differentiation. Human elastin-like polypeptides (HELPs) are recombinant biomimetic proteins designed to mimic some properties of the native matrix protein; when employed as myoblast adhesion substrates, they stimulate in vitro myogenesis. Given the influence that the biophysical properties of extracellular matrix have on skeletal muscle cells, the aim of this work was to investigate the effects of HELP hydrogels on myoblasts’ viability and functions.
We recently synthesized a novel polypeptide, HELPc, by fusing the elastin-like backbone to a 41aa sequence present in the α2 chain of type IV collagen, containing two
By comparing cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation, we revealed several striking differences. Depending on support rigidity, adhesion to HELPc substrates dictated cell morphology, spreading, focal adhesion formation and cytoskeletal organization. Hydrogels greatly stimulated cell proliferation, particularly in low-serum medium, and partially inhibited myogenic differentiation.
On the whole, the results underline the potential of these genetically engineered polypeptides as a tool for dissecting crucial steps in myogenesis.
J Appl Biomater Funct Mater 2017; 15(1): e43 - e53
Article Type: ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
DOI:10.5301/jabfm.5000331
Authors
Paola D’Andrea, Deborah Civita, Michela Cok, Luisa Ulloa Severino, Francesca Vita, Denis Scaini, Loredana Casalis, Paola Lorenzon, Ivan Donati, Antonella BandieraArticle History
- • Accepted on 26/09/2016
- • Available online on 26/10/2016
- • Published online on 26/01/2017
Disclosures
This article is available as full text PDF.
Authors
- D’Andrea, Paola [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 1, * Corresponding Author ([email protected])
- Civita, Deborah [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 1
- Cok, Michela [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 1
- Ulloa Severino, Luisa [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 1, 2
- Vita, Francesca [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 1
- Scaini, Denis [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 1, 2
- Casalis, Loredana [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 2
- Lorenzon, Paola [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 1, 3
- Donati, Ivan [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 1
- Bandiera, Antonella [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 1
Affiliations
-
Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste - Italy -
NanoInnovation Lab at ELETTRA Synchrotron Light Source, Basovizza, Trieste - Italy -
B.R.A.I.N. Centre for Neuroscience, University of Trieste, Trieste - Italy
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