Development of a measurement method of contraction forces produced by regenerated myocardial tissues at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H04509
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 90110:Biomedical engineering-related
• Research Institution: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization
• Principal Investigator: Kambe Yusuke 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構, 生物機能利用研究部門, 主任研究員 (30747671)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 収縮力 / 心筋組織 / ゲル / FRET / シルク / コラーゲン / 同期性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we developed a method to measure contraction forces produced by regenerated myocardial tissues at cellular and tissue levels simultaneously. A cantilever-based force measurement system revealed that regenerated myocardial tissues composed of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and collagen type I hydrogel produced a contraction force of about 40 nN/mm2 during their self-beating. In contrast, an imaging-based method showed that the force produced by single cardiomyocytes in the regenerated tissues was approximately 1.3 nN/mm2. This difference indicated that the contraction force at the tissue level was not merely the sum of contraction forces produced by single cardiomyocytes. The force generated by regenerated myocardial tissues might be the result of synergistic effects of various factors such as orientation of cardiomyocytes and synchronization of self-beating.

Free Research Field

バイオマテリアル

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

同一の再生心筋組織サンプルの拍動収縮力を細胞レベルと組織レベルで計測する技術の創出とこれによって得られた知見は、再生心筋組織の階層構造に伴う拍動収縮力の増強機序の存在を示唆した。これを明らかにすることは、ナノ・マイクロスケールの構造体の機能や挙動が、それらの集合体としてのマクロ構造体の機能を生み出す機構の理解に繋がる。また、機能的に成熟した再生心筋組織が構築できるようになり、心臓の再生医療の発展にも結び付く。