Researcher National Institute of Animal Science Wanju, Cholla-bukto, Republic of Korea
Abstract: Chicken embryonic muscle progenitor cells (MPCs) are emerging as a promising alternative protein source, particularly appealing to health-conscious individuals due to their potential as a healthy, protein-rich cellular material. These cells offer advantages such as easy procurement, flexible collection timing, and enhanced proliferative capacity compared to adult cells, making them valuable for cell-cultured agriculture. This study evaluated the proliferative capacity, genetic stability, and safety of embryonic MPCs to assess their suitability for cultured meat production. MPCs were isolated from the thigh muscle of 12-day-old chicken embryos (three male and three female) and cultured in vitro to monitor proliferation and genetic stability. Comprehensive analyses, including transcriptomics, whole-genome sequencing, cell lifespan-related gene expression, and cell cycle dynamics, were performed. Notably, significant SNP and INDEL accumulation on chromosome 3 was detected in male MPCs at passage 7 compared to passage 3. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a decline in muscle-specific traits, particularly in pathways related to myofibrils and calcium ion-binding, beyond passage 5. Additionally, real-time PCR showed increased p21 expression and reduced TERT expression at passage 10, alongside a decreased S-phase proportion in the cell cycle. These findings underscore the need for optimized culture systems and safe gene-editing technologies to enhance MPC proliferation and muscle functionality for cultured meat applications.
Funding Source: This work was supported by the grant number PJ016711.
