A real-time monitoring platform of myogenesis regulators using double fluorescent labeling

PLoS One. 2018 Feb 14;13(2):e0192654. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192654. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Real-time, quantitative measurement of muscle progenitor cell (myoblast) differentiation is an important tool for skeletal muscle research and identification of drugs that support skeletal muscle regeneration. While most quantitative tools rely on sacrificial approach, we developed a double fluorescent tagging approach, which allows for dynamic monitoring of myoblast differentiation through assessment of fusion index and nuclei count. Fluorescent tagging of both the cell cytoplasm and nucleus enables monitoring of cell fusion and the formation of new myotube fibers, similar to immunostaining results. This labeling approach allowed monitoring the effects of Myf5 overexpression, TNFα, and Wnt agonist on myoblast differentiation. It also enabled testing the effects of surface coating on the fusion levels of scaffold-seeded myoblasts. The double fluorescent labeling of myoblasts is a promising technique to visualize even minor changes in myogenesis of myoblasts in order to support applications such as tissue engineering and drug screening.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line
  • Fluorescent Dyes / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Muscle Development*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology
  • Muscle, Skeletal / growth & development
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Myogenic Regulatory Factor 5 / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor alpha / metabolism
  • Wnt Proteins / agonists

Substances

  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Myf5 protein, mouse
  • Myogenic Regulatory Factor 5
  • Transforming Growth Factor alpha
  • Wnt Proteins