Free standardised batches of myoblasts and lines of immortalised myoblasts available for AFM-supported research teams

The AFM has decided to place free standardised batches of myoblasts and lines of immortalised myoblasts at the disposal of the research teams it supports.

Making advances in muscle knowledge and in the understanding of the biological mechanisms of the transfer or repair of genes and cell transplants is vital for the improvement of existing treatments for neuromuscular diseases and to the development of innovative therapies.

The use of biological resources that have been standardised and validated as well as the traceability of products are essential to carrying out research projects under the best possible conditions.

The AFM’s approach has not changed – undertaking research into new solutions, then developing them alone or in partnership. For this reason the Association has decided to set up a network of standardised myoblast batches involving MYOBANK [Tissue Bank for Research (TBR)] of the Institute of Myology and the biotechnology company MYOSIX, which produces myoblast batches using its own innovative technology. With this technique, which has proved its effectiveness in several clinical trials and scientific research projects, a high degree of myoblast purity can be obtained without physical selection.
Moreover, the Institute of Myology’s human cell culture platform – also supported by the AFM – proposes services complementary to those of MYOSIX: stems of adult human myoblasts with a determined number of potential divisions and lines of immortalised normal and pathological human myoblasts (see Zhu et al 2007). Isolated within the framework of already-published research projects, these stems and lines are already being used by many national and international laboratories (contact: mouly@ext.jussieu.fr).

If you are leading a fundamental or preclinical research project based on the use of myoblasts and supported by the AFM, do not hesitate to make your request for standardised myoblast batches by contacting : myoblastes@afm.genethon.fr.
For further information you can go to the Institute of Myology (http://www.institut-myologie.org/) (Research/TBR rubric) or the Myosix site (http://www.myosix.com/). You can also contact Bruno Dalle at Myosix (bd@myosix.com) or Vincent Mouly at the Institute of Myology (mouly@ext.jussieu.fr).