Pig Muscle Progenitor Cells Isolated and Characterized Using Simple Explant Culture Technique

Researchers have successfully isolated and characterized muscle-derived progenitor cells (MDPCs) from pig skeletal muscle using a simple explant culture technique. This method enables the long-term maintenance and differentiation of myogenic and adipogenic lineages in vitro, providing a valuable tool for studying porcine muscle biology and potential applications in cultured meat production.

The study, conducted by a team of scientists, demonstrated that MDPCs could be efficiently harvested from pig skeletal muscle and maintained in culture for extended periods. The isolated cells displayed steady levels of lineage-specific markers such as PAX7 and MYOD up to passage 2, indicating their myogenic potential. Notably, the MDPCs readily generated myotubes in culture up to passage 8, showcasing their ability to differentiate into mature muscle cells.

However, the researchers observed a decrease in myogenic capacity during serial passaging, which was accompanied by an increase in the expression of pre-adipocyte markers CD105 and PDGFRA. This shift in marker expression coincided with an enhanced ability of the MDPCs to differentiate into adipocytes, suggesting a potential transition from a myogenic to an adipogenic lineage over time in culture.

Why this matters: The successful isolation and characterization of pig muscle-derived progenitor cells using a simple explant culture technique opens up new avenues for studying porcine muscle biology and has potential applications in the emerging field of cultured meat production. This advancement could contribute to the development of sustainable and ethical alternatives to traditional animal agriculture.

The explant culture method employed in this study offers a simple and efficient approach to harvesting enriched myogenic progenitors from pig skeletal muscle. "This explant culture method provided a simple and efficient way to harvest enriched myogenic progenitors from pig skeletal muscle, which can be useful for studies on porcine muscle biology and applications in cultured meat production," the researchers stated. The ability to maintain and differentiate these cells in vitro provides a valuable platform for further investigations into the mechanisms governing muscle development and regeneration in pigs.

Key Takeaways

• Researchers isolated muscle-derived progenitor cells (MDPCs) from pig skeletal muscle.
• MDPCs can be maintained and differentiated into myogenic and adipogenic lineages in vitro.
• MDPCs exhibit decreased myogenic capacity and increased adipogenic potential over time in culture.
• The explant culture method enables efficient harvesting of myogenic progenitors from pig muscle.
• This advancement has potential applications in cultured meat production and studying muscle biology.