Self-organization of vascularized muscle from bovine embryonic stem cells

Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review

Contributors

  • Marina Sanaki-Matsumiya - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona, University of Tsukuba (Author)
  • Yuya Sanaki - , University of Tsukuba (Author)
  • Casandra Villava - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona (Author)
  • Luca Rappez - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona (Author)
  • Nicola Gritti - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona (Author)
  • Fumio Nakaki - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona (Author)
  • James Sharpe - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona (Author)
  • Kristina Haase - , European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona (Author)
  • Jun Wu - , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Author)
  • Miki Ebisuya - , Clusters of Excellence PoL: Physics of Life, Chair of Cell and Tissue Control (PoL), European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Barcelona (Author)

Abstract

Cultured beef offers a promising alternative to traditional meat. While adult stem cells are commonly used as the cell source for cultured beef, their proliferation and differentiation capacities are limited. Current manufacturing processes for cultured beef steaks often require separate preparation of multiple cell types and their intricate assembly. In this study, we propose and report the co-induction of muscle, neural, and endothelial cells from bovine embryonic stem cells (ESCs), accompanied by the formation of tissue-like structures in two- and three-dimensional cultures. Bovine myocytes are induced in a stepwise manner through the induction of presomitic mesoderm (PSM) from bovine ESCs. Muscle fibers with sarcomeres appear within 15 days, displaying calcium oscillations responsive to inputs from co-induced bovine neurons. Bovine endothelial cells are also co-induced via PSM, forming uniform vessel networks inside tissues. Our serum-free, rapid co-induction protocols represent a milestone toward self-organizing beef steaks with integrated vasculature and innervation.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number8975
JournalNature communications
Volume17
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 2 Sept 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 42686746

Keywords

Keywords

  • Cell Culture Techniques/methods, Cells, Cultured, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal/cytology, Muscle, Skeletal/cytology, Neurons/cytology, Endothelial Cells/cytology, In Vitro Meat, Animals, Cattle, Cell Differentiation, Red Meat, Mesoderm/cytology, Embryonic Stem Cells/cytology