{Reference Type}: Journal Article {Title}: Effect of cell-extracellular matrix interaction on myogenic characteristics and artificial skeletal muscle tissue. {Author}: Ding R;Horie M;Nagasaka S;Ohsumi S;Shimizu K;Honda H;Nagamori E;Fujita H;Kawamoto T; {Journal}: J Biosci Bioeng {Volume}: 130 {Issue}: 1 {Year}: Jul 2020 {Factor}: 3.185 {DOI}: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2020.02.008 {Abstract}: Although various types of artificial skeletal muscle tissue have been reported, the contractile forces generated by tissue-engineered artificial skeletal muscles remain to be improved for biological model and clinical applications. In this study, we investigated the effects of extracellular matrix (ECM) and supplementation of a small molecule, which has been reported to enhance α7β1 integrin expression (SU9516), on cell migration speed, cell fusion rate, myoblast (mouse C2C12 cells) differentiation and contractile force generation of tissue-engineered artificial skeletal muscles. When cells were cultured on varying ECM coated-surfaces, we observed significant enhancement in the migration speed, while the myotube formation (differentiation ratio) decreased in all except for cells cultured on Matrigel coated-surfaces. In contrast, SU9516 supplementation resulted in an increase in both the myotube width and differentiation ratio. Following combined culture with a Matrigel-coated surface and SU9516 supplementation, myotube width was further increased. Additionally, contractile forces produced by the tissue-engineered artificial skeletal muscles was augmented following combined culture. These findings indicate that regulation of the cell-ECM interaction is a promising approach to improve the function of tissue-engineered artificial skeletal muscles.