Myogenic Potential of Extracellular Matrix Derived from Decellularized Bovine Pericardium

Skeletal muscles represent 40% of body mass and its native regenerative capacity can be permanently lost after a traumatic injury, congenital diseases, or tumor ablation. The absence of physiological regeneration can hinder muscle repair preventing normal muscle tissue functions. To date, tissue engineering (TE) represents one promising option for treating muscle injuries and wasting. In particular, hydrogels derived from the decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) are widely investigated in tissue engineering applications thanks to their essential role in guiding muscle regeneration. In this work, the myogenic potential of dECM substrate, obtained from decellularized bovine pericardium (Tissuegraft Srl), was evaluated in vitro using C2C12 murine muscle cells. To assess myotubes formation, the width, length, and fusion indexes were measured during the differentiation time course. Additionally, the ability of dECM to support myogenesis was assessed by measuring the expression of specific myogenic markers: α-smooth muscle actin (α-sma), myogenin, and myosin heavy chain (MHC). The results obtained suggest that the dECM niche was able to support and enhance the myogenic potential of C2C12 cells in comparison of those grown on a plastic standard surface. Thus, the use of extracellular matrix proteins, as biomaterial supports, could represent a promising therapeutic strategy for skeletal muscle tissue engineering.