Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Engineering Centers Building, 2126, 1550 Engineering Dr, Madison WI 53706, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 330 N Orchard St, Madison, WI 53715, USA.
Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Veterinary Medicine Bldg, 2015 Linden Dr, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
Acta Biomater. 2024 May;180:279-294. doi: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.04.007. Epub 2024 Apr 10.
The myotendinous junction (MTJ) is a vulnerable region at the interface of skeletal muscle and tendon that forms an integrated mechanical unit. This study presents a technique for the spatially restrictive co-culture of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived skeletal myocytes and primary tenocytes for two-dimensional modeling of the MTJ. Micropatterned lanes of extracellular matrix and a 2-well culture chamber define the initial regions of occupation. On day 1, both lines occupy less than 20 % of the initially vacant interstitial zone, referred to henceforth as the junction. Myocyte-tenocyte interdigitations are observed by day 7. Immunocytochemistry reveals enhanced organization and alignment of patterned myocyte and tenocyte features, as well as differential expression of multiple MTJ markers. On day 24, electrically stimulated junction myocytes demonstrate negative contractile strains, while positive tensile strains are exhibited by mechanically passive tenocytes at the junction. Unpatterned tenocytes distal to the junction experience significantly decreased strains in comparison to cells at the interface. Unpatterned myocytes have impaired organization and uncoordinated contractile behavior. These findings suggest that this platform is capable of inducing myocyte-tenocyte junction formation and mechanical coupling similar to the native MTJ, showing transduction of force across the cell-cell interface. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The myotendinous junction (MTJ) is an integrated structure that transduces force across the muscle-tendon boundary, making the region vulnerable to strain injury. Despite the clinical relevance, previous in vitro models of the MTJ lack the structure and mechanical accuracy of the native tissue and have difficulty transmitting force across the cell-cell interface. This study demonstrates an in vitro model of the MTJ, using spatially restrictive cues to inform human myocyte-tenocyte interactions and architecture. The model expressed MTJ markers and developed anisotropic myocyte-tenocyte integrations that resemble the native tissue and allow for force transduction from contracting myocytes to passive tenocyte regions. As such, this study presents a system capable of investigating development, injury, and pathology in the human MTJ.
肌-腱连接(MTJ)是骨骼肌肉和肌腱交界处的一个脆弱区域,形成一个整合的机械单元。本研究提出了一种空间限制的人胚胎干细胞(hESC)衍生的骨骼肌细胞和原代肌腱细胞共培养技术,用于二维模拟 MTJ。细胞外基质的微图案化车道和 2 孔培养室定义了初始占据区域。第 1 天,两条线占据的初始空问间隙不到 20%,此后称为连接。在第 7 天观察到肌细胞-肌腱细胞的相互穿插。免疫细胞化学显示,图案化的肌细胞和肌腱细胞特征的组织和排列得到增强,以及多个 MTJ 标记物的差异表达。在第 24 天,电刺激连接的肌细胞表现出负的收缩应变,而机械被动的肌腱细胞在连接处以正的拉伸应变表现。与界面处的细胞相比,远离连接的无图案化肌腱细胞经历显著降低的应变。无图案化的肌细胞组织受损,收缩行为不协调。这些发现表明,该平台能够诱导肌细胞-肌腱细胞连接形成和类似于天然 MTJ 的机械偶联,显示力在细胞-细胞界面的传递。意义声明:肌-腱连接(MTJ)是一个整合的结构,在肌肉-肌腱边界传递力,使该区域容易受到应变损伤。尽管具有临床相关性,但以前的 MTJ 体外模型缺乏天然组织的结构和机械准确性,并且难以在细胞-细胞界面传递力。本研究使用空间限制的线索来模拟人肌细胞-肌腱细胞的相互作用和结构,证明了 MTJ 的体外模型。该模型表达了 MTJ 标记物,并形成了各向异性的肌细胞-肌腱细胞整合,类似于天然组织,并允许从收缩的肌细胞向被动的肌腱细胞区域传递力。因此,本研究提出了一个能够研究人类 MTJ 的发育、损伤和病理学的系统。
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