Generation and Use of Cultured Human Primary Myotubes

Cell culture is a widely used technique in biomedical research. It permits the analysis of cell specific functions which can relate to changes in certain disease states at the single cell level. A number of cell culture models have been established. These include immortalised cell lines which replicate indefinitely in culture and retain the ability to differentiate and primary cell lines which can be isolated directly from the host tissue and grown in culture. However, primary cell lines have limited replicative potential and become senescent in culture. In the case of muscle cells, cell lines can provide a valuable means of investigating physiology in the absence of confounding factors (such as circulating hormones, adipokines and other bioactive molecules) which arise when dealing with the body as a whole.