Ricerc@Sapienza

Tissue Engineering represents a valid alternative to cell therapy in skeletal muscle regeneration. Scientific advances in biomaterials and stem cells allowed the opportunity to generate tissues from combinations of engineered extracellular matrices, cells and biologically active molecules. The X-MET is an engineering vascularized skeletal muscle tissue able to recapitulate the complex morphological properties, architecture and function of skeletal muscle. The X-MET is able to contract following both chemical and electrical stimulation and shows biomechanical properties similar to native muscles. Preliminary analysis shows that a depletion of growth factors from the culture medium leads to a pronounced atrophy of myotubes with a consequent alteration in the contractile properties of X-MET. The main goal of this project is to use the X-MET as an in vitro experimental tool to characterize the molecular mechanisms involved in the maintenance of muscle phenotype. In particular, the loss of muscle mass and the alterations in contractile properties associated with conditions mimicking cachexia will be studied. The results of this project will allow us also to define the molecular signature of the pathophysiological changes in skeletal muscle and will provide an experimental tool to test the efficacy of new drugs limiting the use of live animals.