Level D· Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studiesNarrative ReviewEurope PMCOpen access

Cell sources and engineering strategies for cultured meat production: a critical comparative review

Domagała D., Partyńska A., Data K., Chmielewski PP., Niebora J., Kulus M.

Narrative Review, published in Front Nutr (2026) — summary generated from the PubMed abstract.

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Level D· Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studiesEvidence level of this study

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

  • Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
  • Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
  • Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
  • Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
  • Emerging · Emerging topic under active research
Read the A–D evidence level guide

This page is generated from the PubMed record. The Thai description is an automated summary of bibliographic fields and the abstract, not a full translation, and is not medical advice.

Study type
Narrative Review
Journal
Front Nutr (2026)
Reported sample size
—
Source database
Europe PMC
PMID
42311952
PMCID
PMC13270931
DOI
10.3389/fnut.2026.1791530

Abstract (original English)

Meat production and ethical concerns related to animal welfare have led to an increase in research into the creation of conventional meat. These technologies rely on the isolation, multiplication, and controlled differentiation of animal cells, which can potentially reduce negative environmental impact while maintaining comparable nutritional and sensory properties. The aim of this study is to comprehensively analyze and compare selected cell types used in the production of cultured meat, such as fibroblasts, satellite cells, adipocytes, and pluripotent cells: embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). It is important to consider the proliferative capacity, differentiation potential, suitability in scalable bioprocessing systems, and their impact on the structure and sensory properties of muscle tissue. This analysis demonstrates that no single cell type can fully replicate the complex structure of native muscle tissue. Satellite cells are responsible for the formation of muscle fibers, fibroblasts provide support through the synthesis of the extracellular matrix, and adipocytes contribute to the flavor and juiciness of the final product. Pluripotent cells differentiate into all of cell lineages, but their use is associated with regulatory and ethical considerations. This work also addresses key aspects of bioprocess engineering, such as scalability

What this study does not prove

  • • This study does not prove SVF is an approved treatment or a replacement for standard care.
  • • This is a narrative review: it collects no new patient data and does not systematically appraise evidence quality.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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