The Mutual Interactions between Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Myoblasts in an Autologous Co-Culture Model

PLoS One. 2016 Aug 23;11(8):e0161693. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161693. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Both myoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) take part in the muscle tissue regeneration and have been used as experimental cellular therapy in muscular disorders treatment. It is possible that co-transplantation approach could improve the efficacy of this treatment. However, the relations between those two cell types are not clearly defined. The aim of this study was to determine the reciprocal interactions between myoblasts and MSC in vitro in terms of the features important for the muscle regeneration process. Primary caprine muscle-derived cells (MDC) and bone marrow-derived MSC were analysed in autologous settings. We found that MSC contribute to myotubes formation by fusion with MDC when co-cultured directly, but do not acquire myogenic phenotype if exposed to MDC-derived soluble factors only. Experiments with exposure to hydrogen peroxide showed that MSC are significantly more resistant to oxidative stress than MDC, but a direct co-culture with MSC does not diminish the cytotoxic effect of H2O2 on MDC. Cell migration assay demonstrated that MSC possess significantly greater migration ability than MDC which is further enhanced by MDC-derived soluble factors, whereas the opposite effect was not found. MSC-derived soluble factors significantly enhanced the proliferation of MDC, whereas MDC inhibited the division rate of MSC. To conclude, presented results suggest that myogenic precursors and MSC support each other during muscle regeneration and therefore myoblasts-MSC co-transplantation could be an attractive approach in the treatment of muscular disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Communication*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Fusion
  • Cell Movement
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Female
  • Goats
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / metabolism
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Muscle Development
  • Myoblasts / cytology
  • Myoblasts / metabolism*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Hydrogen Peroxide

Grants and funding

This study was supported within Parent Bridge program of the Foundation for Polish Science, co-financed by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund. The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.