Primary culture and characterization of human upper limb muscle satellite cells: an experimental study
- Author:
Young-Ju LIM
1
;
Min-Jung MA
;
Wansuk SON
;
Seunghyun KANG
;
Joo-Hee CHOI
;
Bum-Jin SHIM
;
Min-Soo SEO
;
Wook-Tae PARK
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original article
- From: Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science 2026;43(1):39-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:0
-
Abstract:
Background:Human muscle satellite (stem) cells (MuSCs) are essential for investigating muscle physiology, regeneration, and disease mechanisms. Primary cultures derived directly from human tissues offer a more physiologically relevant model than immortalized cell lines. However, the isolation and characterization of MuSCs from human upper limb tissues are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to establish and characterize a primary culture system for MuSCs obtained from human upper limb muscle tissue.
Methods:Human muscle tissues were obtained from upper limb surgical specimens. Muscle samples were mechanically and enzymatically dissociated to isolate muscle-derived cells, which were cultured under standard growth conditions. Cell morphology and proliferation were monitored during the culture period. Myogenic characteristics were assessed by examining the expression of muscle-specific markers including myogenic regulatory factors and structural proteins. Additionally, myogenic differentiation capacity was evaluated by inducing differentiation and analyzing the formation of multinucleated myotubes.
Results:Primary MuSCs were isolated from human upper limb tissues and expanded in vitro. The cultured cells exhibited a typical spindle-shaped morphology and demonstrated significant proliferative capacity. Characterization confirmed the expression of myogenic markers, indicating the presence of muscle-derived precursor cells. Following induction of differentiation, the cells formed multinucleated myotube-like structures and expressed muscle proteins associated with differentiation, highlighting their potential for myogenic differentiation.
Conclusion:This study established a reliable protocol for isolating and culturing MuSCs from human upper limb tissues. Cultured cells displayed typical myogenic characteristics and differentiation capacity, indicating that this model could be a valuable platform for studying human muscle biology and potential therapeutic applications.
