Generation of multitissue cell-cultivated meat via multidirectional differentiation of stable porcine epiblast stem cells

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Authors: Yixuan Yao, Gaoxiang Zhu, Minglei Zhi, Runbo Li, Lun Qin, Yu Huan Zhang, Yachun Chen, Xinze Chen, Tong Wang, Linzi Li, Yingjie Wang, Shunxin Wang
+5 more He Zhang, Xianchao Feng, Aijin Ma, Suying Cao, Jianyong Han
Cited by: 7
References: 49

Abstract

Cell-cultivated meat has emerged as an alternative approach for sustainable protein production, but replicating the texture and complex composition of conventional meat remains a critical challenge. Here, we developed an efficient approach to produce multitissue engineered meat by leveraging a serum- and animal-component-free differentiation system to direct porcine pregastrulation epiblast stem cells toward muscle, adipose, and endothelium with synergistic functions. These three types of cell progenitors demonstrated autonomous intercellular recognition and coculture compatibility in a scaffold-free 3D suspension system, enabling the spontaneous formation of tissue-mimetic spheroids with enhanced cellular multiplication efficiency. The products of multitissue cultivated meat recapitulated the textural properties of conventional pork and allowed for nutritional modulation. This platform overcomes key limitations in currently employed cultured meat technologies by integrating scalable 3D suspension culture with serum-free, species-specific stem cell multidirectional differentiation, providing an avenue for the development of multitissue cell-cultivated meat.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact Pluripotent Stem Cells Research 3D Printing in Biomedical Research

Publication details

Journal / source
Nature Communications
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
17
Issue
1
Publication date
2 March 2026
Language
EN