Hydrogels modified with IL4 or SDF1 mimicking peptides serve as a supportive environment for human iPSC-derived myoblasts.
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Cytology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
- 2Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
- 3Department of Internal Diseases and Endocrinology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
- 4Department of Cytology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. [email protected].
- 5Department of Cytology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Developmental Biology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Skeletal muscles are characterised by substantial regenerative potential, which may be insufficient in case of, e.g., extensive muscle damage, changes accompanying muscle diseases or ageing. For this reason, different ideas are being tested to develop efficient and safe approaches to treat such muscles. Among them, strategies based on biomaterials and stem cells or their derivatives play an important role.Methods
In the current study, we tested RADA16-I-based hydrogels, modified with custom-designed IL4 or SDF1 mimicking peptides, as a tool that allows development, maintenance or even an increase of myogenic differentiation potential of human myoblasts derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are considered a source of cells in therapies for skeletal muscles. Since the release of abovementioned peptides from hydrogels requires activity of metalloproteinases (MMPs) we first assessed the expression of MMPs in iPSC-derived myoblasts cultured on hydrogels. Then we determined the influence of hydrogels on proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation of iPSC-derived myoblasts as well as their transcriptome and secretome.Results
We found that the hydrogels designed by us allowed proper proliferation, migration, and myogenic differentiation of hiPSC-derived myoblasts. The latter was even increased in case of hydrogels functionalised with either IL4 or SDF1 peptides. Importantly, none of the hydrogels tested induced neither apoptosis nor unwanted differentiation, i.e. adipogenic, chondrogenic or osteogenic, of hiPSC-derived myoblasts. In response to hydrogel presence, changes in the expression of factors, such as CXCL8, FREM2, ADAMTS16, CDH9, IRS4, FIBIN, or MLIP involved in angiogenesis, inflammatory mediation, cell adhesion, neurogenesis, and regulation of myogenic program were observed.Conclusions
Obtained results indicate that hydrogels functionalised with IL4 or SDF1 peptides serve as a supportive environment for myoblasts derived from hiPSCs and increase features that are beneficial for myogenic/regenerative potential of these cells.
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BibTeX
@article{michalska2026hydrogels,
title = {{Hydrogels modified with IL4 or SDF1 mimicking peptides serve as a supportive environment for human iPSC-derived myoblasts.}},
author = {Zuzanna Michalska and Anna Ostaszewska and Maria Dzierżyńska and Iwona Grabowska and Małgorzata Zimowska and Martyna Fularczyk and Piotr Skorupiński and Wanda Płoska and Aleksandra Romańska and Alicja Pluta and Zbigniew Bartoszewicz and Katarzyna Jańczyk-Ilach and Sylwia Rodziewicz-Motowidło and Maria A Ciemerych and Edyta Brzoska and Karolina Archacka},
journal = {Stem cell research \& therapy},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s13287-026-05192-1},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908013},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Hydrogels modified with IL4 or SDF1 mimicking peptides serve as a supportive environment for human iPSC-derived myoblasts.
AU - Zuzanna Michalska
AU - Anna Ostaszewska
AU - Maria Dzierżyńska
AU - Iwona Grabowska
AU - Małgorzata Zimowska
AU - Martyna Fularczyk
AU - Piotr Skorupiński
AU - Wanda Płoska
AU - Aleksandra Romańska
AU - Alicja Pluta
AU - Zbigniew Bartoszewicz
AU - Katarzyna Jańczyk-Ilach
AU - Sylwia Rodziewicz-Motowidło
AU - Maria A Ciemerych
AU - Edyta Brzoska
AU - Karolina Archacka
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Stem cell research & therapy
DO - 10.1186/s13287-026-05192-1
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908013
AB - Background Skeletal muscles are characterised by substantial regenerative potential, which may be insufficient in case of, e.g., extensive muscle damage, changes accompanying muscle diseases or ageing. For this reason, different ideas are being tested to develop efficient and safe approaches to treat such muscles. Among them, strategies based on biomaterials and stem cells or their derivatives play an important role.Methods In the current study, we tested RADA16-I-based hydrogels, modified with custom-designed IL4 or SDF1 mimicking peptides, as a tool that allows development, maintenance or even an increase of myogenic differentiation potential of human myoblasts derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which are considered a source of cells in therapies for skeletal muscles. Since the release of abovementioned peptides from hydrogels requires activity of metalloproteinases (MMPs) we first assessed the expression of MMPs in iPSC-derived myoblasts cultured on hydrogels. Then we determined the influence of hydrogels on proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation of iPSC-derived myoblasts as well as their transcriptome and secretome.Results We found that the hydrogels designed by us allowed proper proliferation, migration, and myogenic differentiation of hiPSC-derived myoblasts. The latter was even increased in case of hydrogels functionalised with either IL4 or SDF1 peptides. Importantly, none of the hydrogels tested induced neither apoptosis nor unwanted differentiation, i.e. adipogenic, chondrogenic or osteogenic, of hiPSC-derived myoblasts. In response to hydrogel presence, changes in the expression of factors, such as CXCL8, FREM2, ADAMTS16, CDH9, IRS4, FIBIN, or MLIP involved in angiogenesis, inflammatory mediation, cell adhesion, neurogenesis, and regulation of myogenic program were observed.Conclusions Obtained results indicate that hydrogels functionalised with IL4 or SDF1 peptides serve as a supportive environment for myoblasts derived from hiPSCs and increase features that are beneficial for myogenic/regenerative potential of these cells.
SN - 1757-6512
ER -