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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
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Fabrication of Myogenic Engineered Tissue Constructs
Published on: May 1, 2009
Postnatal myocardial augmentation with skeletal myoblast-based fetal tissue engineering
Julie R Fuchs1, Boris A Nasseri, Joseph P Vacanti
1Harvard Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Boston, Mass, USA.
Surgery
|July 22, 2006
Summary
Engineered fetal skeletal muscle cells implanted after birth can become heart-like cells, potentially increasing myocardial mass for treating congenital heart defects.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Congenital heart defects, often involving myocardial deficiencies, are common birth defects.
- Limited therapeutic options exist for neonatal structural myocardial repair.
- This study explores engineered fetal muscle constructs for myocardial repair.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if engineered fetal muscle constructs transdifferentiate in response to the cardiac environment after implantation.
- To assess the potential of these constructs to increase or support myocardial mass in neonates.
Main Methods:
- Fetal lamb skeletal myoblasts were isolated, labeled with green fluorescent protein, and seeded onto collagen hydrogels.
- Engineered constructs were implanted as onlay patches onto the myocardium of lambs after birth.
- Implants were analyzed between 4 and 30 weeks post-surgery.
Main Results:
- High fetal (89%) and postnatal (100%) survival rates were observed.
- Labeled donor cells were present in implants up to 30 weeks post-implantation.
- Donor cells expressed cardiomyocyte markers (Troponin I) and lost skeletal muscle markers by 24-30 weeks.
Conclusions:
- Fetal skeletal myoblasts can engraft into native myocardium for at least 30 weeks.
- These cells show evidence of time-dependent transdifferentiation into cardiomyocyte-like cells.
- Further research into fetal skeletal myoblast constructs for congenital myocardial defect repair is recommended.
