Skeletal muscle as a paradigm for regenerative biology and medicine

Serotonin reuptake inhibitors improve muscle stem cell function and muscle regeneration in male mice

Serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants such as fluoxetine are widely used to treat mood disorders. The mechanisms of action include an increase in extracellular level of serotonin, neurogenesis, and growth of vessels in the brain. We investigated whether fluoxetine could have broader peripheral regenerative properties. Following prolonged administration of fluoxetine in male mice, we showed that fluoxetine increases the number of muscle stem cells and muscle angiogenesis, associated with positive changes in skeletal muscle function. Fluoxetine also improved skeletal muscle regeneration after single and multiples injuries with an increased muscle stem cells pool and vessel density associated with reduced fibrotic lesions and inflammation. Mice devoid of peripheral serotonin treated with fluoxetine did not exhibit beneficial effects during muscle regeneration. Specifically, pharmacological, and genetic inactivation of the 5-HT1B subtype serotonin receptor also abolished the enhanced regenerative process induced by fluoxetine. We highlight here a regenerative property of serotonin on skeletal muscle.

Regenerative inflammation: When immune cells help to re-build tissues

Inflammation is an essential immune response critical for responding to infection, injury and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Upon injury, regenerative inflammation promotes tissue repair by a timed and coordinated infiltration of diverse cell types and the secretion of growth factors, cytokines and lipids mediators. Remarkably, throughout evolution as well as mammalian development, this type of physiological inflammation is highly associated with immunosuppression. For instance, regenerative inflammation is the consequence of an in situ macrophage polarization resulting in a transition from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory/pro-regenerative response. Immune cells are the first responders upon injury, infiltrating the damaged tissue and initiating a pro-inflammatory response depleting cell debris and necrotic cells. After phagocytosis, macrophages undergo multiple coordinated metabolic and transcriptional changes allowing the transition and dictating the initiation of the regenerative phase. Differences between a highly efficient, complete ad integrum tissue repair, such as, acute skeletal muscle injury, and insufficient regenerative inflammation, as the one developing in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), highlight the importance of a coordinated response orchestrated by immune cells. During regenerative inflammation, these cells interact with others and alter the niche, affecting the character of inflammation itself and, therefore, the progression of tissue repair. Comparing acute muscle injury and chronic inflammation in DMD, we review how the same cells and molecules in different numbers, concentration and timing contribute to very different outcomes. Thus, it is important to understand and identify the distinct functions and secreted molecules of macrophages, and potentially other immune cells, during tissue repair, and the contributors to the macrophage switch leveraging this knowledge in treating diseases.

Creating and Transferring an Innervated, Vascularized Muscle Flap Made from an Elastic, Cellularized Tissue Construct Developed In Situ

Reanimating facial structures following paralysis and muscle loss is a surgical objective that would benefit from improved options for harvesting appropriately sized muscle flaps. The objective of this study is to apply electrohydrodynamic processing to generate a cellularized, elastic, biocomposite scaffold that could develop and mature as muscle in a prepared donor site in vivo, and then be transferred as a thin muscle flap with a vascular and neural pedicle. First, an effective extracellular matrix (ECM) gel type is selected for the biocomposite scaffold from three types of ECM combined with poly(ester urethane)urea microfibers and evaluated in rat abdominal wall defects. Next, two types of precursor cells (muscle-derived and adipose-derived) are compared in constructs placed in rat hind limb defects for muscle regeneration capacity. Finally, with a construct made from dermal ECM and muscle-derived stem cells, protoflaps are implanted in one hindlimb for development and then microsurgically transferred as a free flap to the contralateral limb where stimulated muscle function is confirmed. This construct generation and in vivo incubation procedure may allow the generation of small-scale muscle flaps appropriate for transfer to the face, offering a new strategy for facial reanimation.

GDF11 and aging biology - controversies resolved and pending

Since the exogenous administration of GDF11, a TGF-ß superfamily member, was reported to have beneficial effects in some models of human disease, there have been many research studies in GDF11 biology. However, many studies have now confirmed that exogenous administration of GDF11 can improve physiology in disease models, including cardiac fibrosis, experimental stroke, and disordered metabolism. GDF11 is similar to GDF8 (also called Myostatin), differing only by 11 amino acids in their mature signaling domains. These two proteins are now known to be biochemically different both in vitro and in vivo. GDF11 is much more potent than GDF8 and induces more strongly SMAD2 phosphorylation in the myocardium compared to GDF8. GDF8 and GDF11 prodomain are only 52% identical and are cleaved by different Tolloid proteases to liberate the mature signaling domain from inhibition of the prodomain. Here, we review the state of GDF11 biology, highlighting both resolved and remaining controversies.

Long-term longitudinal study on swine VML model

BACKGROUND

Volumetric Muscle Loss (VML), resulting from severe trauma or surgical ablation, is a pathological condition preventing myofibers regeneration, since skeletal muscle owns the remarkable ability to restore tissue damage, but only when limited in size. The current surgical therapies employed in the treatment of this pathology, which particularly affects military personnel, do not yet provide satisfactory results. For this reason, more innovative approaches must be sought, specifically skeletal muscle tissue engineering seems to highlight promising results obtained from preclinical studies in VML mouse model. Despite the great results obtained in rodents, translation into human needs a comparable animal model in terms of size, in order to validate the efficacy of the tissue engineering approach reconstructing larger muscle mass (human-like). In this work we aim to demonstrate the validity of a porcine model, that has underwent a surgical ablation of a large muscle area, as a VML damage model.

RESULTS

For this purpose, morphological, ultrasound, histological and fluorescence analyses were carried out on the scar tissue formed following the surgical ablation of the peroneus tertius muscle of Sus scrofa domesticus commonly called mini-pig. In particular, the replenishment of the damaged area, the macrophage infiltration and the vascularization at different time-points were evaluated up to the harvesting of the scar upon six months.

CONCLUSION

Here we demonstrated that following VML damage, there is an extremely poor regenerative process in the swine muscle tissue, while the formation of fibrotic, scar tissue occurs. The analyses performed up to 180 days after the injury revealed the development of a stable, structured and cellularized tissue, provided with vessels and extracellular matrix acquiring the status of granulation tissue like in human.

Functional substitutions of amino acids that differ between GDF11 and GDF8 impact skeletal development and skeletal muscle

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and GDF8 (MSTN) are closely related TGF-β family proteins that interact with nearly identical signaling receptors and antagonists. However, GDF11 appears to activate SMAD2/3 more potently than GDF8 in vitro and in vivo. The ligands possess divergent structural properties, whereby substituting unique GDF11 amino acids into GDF8 enhanced the activity of the resulting chimeric GDF8. We investigated potentially distinct endogenous activities of GDF11 and GDF8 in vivo by genetically modifying their mature signaling domains. Full recoding of GDF8 to that of GDF11 yielded mice lacking GDF8, with GDF11 levels ∼50-fold higher than normal, and exhibiting modestly decreased muscle mass, with no apparent negative impacts on health or survival. Substitution of two specific amino acids in the fingertip region of GDF11 with the corresponding GDF8 residues resulted in prenatal axial skeletal transformations, consistent with Gdf11-deficient mice, without apparent perturbation of skeletal or cardiac muscle development or homeostasis. These experiments uncover distinctive features between the GDF11 and GDF8 mature domains in vivo and identify a specific requirement for GDF11 in early-stage skeletal development.

Muscle stem cells and fibro-adipogenic progenitors in female pelvic floor muscle regeneration following birth injury

Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) injury during childbirth is a key risk factor for pelvic floor disorders that affect millions of women worldwide. Muscle stem cells (MuSCs), supported by the fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) and immune cells, are indispensable for the regeneration of injured appendicular skeletal muscles. However, almost nothing is known about their role in PFM regeneration following birth injury. To elucidate the role of MuSCs, FAPs, and immune infiltrate in this context, we used radiation to perturb cell function and followed PFM recovery in a validated simulated birth injury (SBI) rat model. Non-irradiated and irradiated rats were euthanized at 3,7,10, and 28 days post-SBI (dpi). Twenty-eight dpi, PFM fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) was significantly lower and the extracellular space occupied by immune infiltrate was larger in irradiated relative to nonirradiated injured animals. Following SBI in non-irradiated animals, MuSCs and FAPs expanded significantly at 7 and 3 dpi, respectively; this expansion did not occur in irradiated animals at the same time points. At 7 and 10 dpi, we observed persistent immune response in PFMs subjected to irradiation compared to non-irradiated injured PFMs. CSA of newly regenerated fibers was also significantly smaller following SBI in irradiated compared to non-irradiated injured PFMs. Our results demonstrate that the loss of function and decreased expansion of MuSCs and FAPs after birth injury lead to impaired PFM recovery. These findings form the basis for further studies focused on the identification of novel therapeutic targets to counteract postpartum PFM dysfunction and the associated pelvic floor disorders.

Cryopreserved Stem Cells Incur Damages Due To Terrestrial Cosmic Rays Impairing Their Integrity Upon Long-Term Storage

Stem cells have the capacity to ensure the renewal of tissues and organs. They could be used in the future for a wide range of therapeutic purposes and are preserved at liquid nitrogen temperature to prevent any chemical or biological activity up to several decades before their use. We show that the cryogenized cells accumulate damages coming from natural radiations, potentially inducing DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Such DNA damage in stem cells could lead to either mortality of the cells upon thawing or a mutation diminishing the therapeutic potential of the treatment. Many studies show how stem cells react to different levels of radiation; the effect of terrestrial cosmic rays being key, it is thus also important to investigate the effect of the natural radiation on the cryopreserved stem cell behavior over time. Our study showed that the cryostored stem cells totally shielded from cosmic rays had less DSBs upon long-term storage. This could have important implications on the long-term cryostorage strategy and quality control of different cell banks.

Hypoxia preconditioned bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells enhance myoblast fusion and skeletal muscle regeneration

Background

The skeletal muscle reconstruction occurs thanks to unipotent stem cells, i.e., satellite cells. The satellite cells remain quiescent and localized between myofiber sarcolemma and basal lamina. They are activated in response to muscle injury, proliferate, differentiate into myoblasts, and recreate myofibers. The stem and progenitor cells support skeletal muscle regeneration, which could be disturbed by extensive damage, sarcopenia, cachexia, or genetic diseases like dystrophy. Many lines of evidence showed that the level of oxygen regulates the course of cell proliferation and differentiation.

Methods

In the present study, we analyzed hypoxia impact on human and pig bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) and mouse myoblast proliferation, differentiation, and fusion. Moreover, the influence of the transplantation of human bone marrow-derived MSCs cultured under hypoxic conditions on skeletal muscle regeneration was studied.

Results

We showed that bone marrow-derived MSCs increased VEGF expression and improved myogenesis under hypoxic conditions in vitro. Transplantation of hypoxia preconditioned bone marrow-derived MSCs into injured muscles resulted in the improved cell engraftment and formation of new vessels.

Conclusions

We suggested that SDF-1 and VEGF secreted by hypoxia preconditioned bone marrow-derived MSCs played an essential role in cell engraftment and angiogenesis. Importantly, hypoxia preconditioned bone marrow-derived MSCs more efficiently engrafted injured muscles; however, they did not undergo myogenic differentiation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-021-02530-3.

Dynamics of myogenic differentiation using a novel Myogenin knock-in reporter mouse

Background

Myogenin is a transcription factor that is expressed during terminal myoblast differentiation in embryonic development and adult muscle regeneration. Investigation of this cell state transition has been hampered by the lack of a sensitive reporter to dynamically track cells during differentiation.

Results

Here, we report a knock-in mouse line expressing the tdTOMATO fluorescent protein from the endogenous Myogenin locus. Expression of tdTOMATO in Myog^ntdTom mice recapitulated endogenous Myogenin expression during embryonic muscle formation and adult regeneration and enabled the isolation of the MYOGENIN⁺ cell population. We also show that tdTOMATO fluorescence allows tracking of differentiating myoblasts in vitro and by intravital imaging in vivo. Lastly, we monitored by live imaging the cell division dynamics of differentiating myoblasts in vitro and showed that a fraction of the MYOGENIN⁺ population can undergo one round of cell division, albeit at a much lower frequency than MYOGENIN⁻ myoblasts.

Conclusions

We expect that this reporter mouse will be a valuable resource for researchers investigating skeletal muscle biology in developmental and adult contexts.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13395-021-00260-x.

NeuroHeal Improves Muscle Regeneration after Injury

Musculoskeletal injuries represent a challenging medical problem. Although the skeletal muscle is able to regenerate and recover after injury, the process engaged with conservative therapy can be inefficient, leading to a high re-injury rate. In addition, the formation of scar tissue implies an alteration of mechanical properties in muscle. There is still a need for new treatments of the injured muscle. NeuroHeal may be one option. Published studies demonstrated that it reduces muscle atrophy due to denervation and disuse. The main objective of the present work was to assess the potential of NeuroHeal to improve muscle regeneration after traumatic injury. Secondary objectives included characterizing the effect of NeuroHeal treatment on satellite cell biology. We used a rat model of sport-induced injury in the gastrocnemius and analyzed the effects of NeuroHeal on functional recovery by means of electrophysiology and tetanic force analysis. These studies were accompanied by immunohistochemistry of the injured muscle to analyze fibrosis, satellite cell state, and fiber type. In addition, we used an in vitro model to determine the effect of NeuroHeal on myoblast biology and partially decipher its mechanism of action. The results showed that NeuroHeal treatment advanced muscle fiber recovery after injury in a preclinical model of muscle injury, and significantly reduced the formation of scar tissue. In vitro, we observed that NeuroHeal accelerated the formation of myotubes. The results pave the way for novel therapeutic avenues for muscle/tendinous disorders.

ProNGF/p75NTR Axis Drives Fiber Type Specification by Inducing the Fast-Glycolytic Phenotype in Mouse Skeletal Muscle Cells

Despite its undisputable role in the homeostatic regulation of the nervous system, the nerve growth factor (NGF) also governs the relevant cellular processes in other tissues and organs. In this study, we aimed at assessing the expression and the putative involvement of NGF signaling in skeletal muscle physiology. To reach this objective, we employed satellite cell-derived myoblasts as an in vitro culture model. In vivo experiments were performed on Tibialis anterior from wild-type mice and an mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Targets of interest were mainly assessed by means of morphological, Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis. The results show that proNGF is involved in myogenic differentiation. Importantly, the proNGF/p75NTR pathway orchestrates a slow-to-fast fiber type transition by counteracting the expression of slow myosin heavy chain and that of oxidative markers. Concurrently, proNGF/p75NTR activation facilitates the induction of fast myosin heavy chain and of fast/glycolytic markers. Furthermore, we also provided evidence that the oxidative metabolism is impaired in mdx mice, and that these alterations are paralleled by a prominent buildup of proNGF and p75NTR. These findings underline that the proNGF/p75NTR pathway may play a crucial role in fiber type determination and suggest its prospective modulation as an innovative therapeutic approach to counteract muscle disorders.

C2C12 cell model: its role in understanding of insulin resistance at the molecular level and pharmaceutical development at the preclinical stage

OBJECTIVES

The myoblast cell line, C2C12, has been utilised extensively in vitro as an examination model in understanding metabolic disease progression. Although it is indispensable in both preclinical and pharmaceutical research, a comprehensive review of its use in the investigation of insulin resistance progression and pharmaceutical development is not available.

KEY FINDINGS

C2C12 is a well-documented model, which can facilitate our understanding in glucose metabolism, insulin signalling mechanism, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species and glucose transporters at cellular and molecular levels. With the aid of the C2C12 model, recent studies revealed that insulin resistance has close relationship with various metabolic diseases in terms of disease progression, pathogenesis and therapeutic management. A holistic, safe and effective disease management is highly of interest. Therefore, significant efforts have been paid to explore novel drug compounds and natural herbs that can elicit therapeutic effects in the targeted sites at both cellular (e.g. mitochondria, glucose transporter) and molecular level (e.g. genes, signalling pathway).

SUMMARY

The use of C2C12 myoblast cell line is meaningful in pharmaceutical and biomedical research due to their expression of GLUT-4 and other features that are representative to human skeletal muscle cells. With the use of the C2C12 cell model, the impact of drug delivery systems (nanoparticles and quantum dots) on skeletal muscle, as well as the relationship between exercise, pancreatic β-cells and endothelial cells, was discovered.

Human and mouse skeletal muscle stem and progenitor cells in health and disease

The proper functioning of tissues and organs depends on their ability to self-renew and repair. Some of the tissues, like epithelia, renew almost constantly while in the others this process is induced by injury or diseases. The stem or progenitor cells responsible for tissue homeostasis have been identified in many organs. Some of them, such as hematopoietic or intestinal epithelium stem cells, are multipotent and can differentiate into various cell types. Others are unipotent. The skeletal muscle tissue does not self-renew spontaneously, however, it presents unique ability to regenerate in response to the injury or disease. Its repair almost exclusively relies on unipotent satellite cells. However, multiple lines of evidence document that some progenitor cells present in the muscle can be supportive for skeletal muscle regeneration. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the complicated landscape of stem and progenitor cells that exist in skeletal muscle and support its regeneration. We compare the cells from two model organisms, i.e., mouse and human, documenting their similarities and differences and indicating methods to test their ability to undergo myogenic differentiation.

The Microenvironment Is a Critical Regulator of Muscle Stem Cell Activation and Proliferation

Skeletal muscle has a remarkable capacity to regenerate following injury, a property conferred by a resident population of muscle stem cells (MuSCs). In response to injury, MuSCs must double their cellular content to divide, a process requiring significant new biomass in the form of nucleotides, phospholipids, and amino acids. This new biomass is derived from a series of intracellular metabolic cycles and alternative routing of carbon. In this review, we examine the link between metabolism and skeletal muscle regeneration with particular emphasis on the role of the cellular microenvironment in supporting the production of new biomass and MuSC proliferation.

Wnt4 from the Niche Controls the Mechano-Properties and Quiescent State of Muscle Stem Cells

Satellite cells (SCs) reside in a dormant state during tissue homeostasis. The specific paracrine agents and niche cells that maintain SC quiescence remain unknown. We find that Wnt4 produced by the muscle fiber maintains SC quiescence through RhoA. Using cell-specific inducible genetics, we find that a Wnt4-Rho signaling axis constrains SC numbers and activation during tissue homeostasis in adult mice. Wnt4 activates Rho in quiescent SCs to maintain mechanical strain, restrict movement in the niche, and repress YAP. The induction of YAP upon disruption of RhoA is essential for SC activation under homeostasis. In the context of injury, the loss of Wnt4 from the niche accelerates SC activation and muscle repair, whereas overexpression of Wnt4 transitions SCs into a deeper state of quiescence and delays muscle repair. In conclusion, the SC pool undergoes dynamic transitions during early activation with changes in mechano-properties and cytoskeleton signaling preceding cell-cycle entry.

Systemic and Local Phenotypes of Barium Chloride Induced Skeletal Muscle Injury in Mice

Skeletal muscle regeneration in mice has traditionally been studied using local freeze burn or snake venom injection models. More recently, a barium chloride (BaCl2)-induced muscle injury model has been established and is gaining popularity due to the relatively simple procedure and accessibility to required reagents. Here we sought to characterize the local and systemic effects of BaCl2-induced muscle injury. For this study, a 1.2% BaCl2 solution was locally administered to the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle and local and systemic phenotypes were analyzed at different timepoints. When 50 μL of the solution was injected unilaterally in the TA muscle, no mortality was observed. However, when 100 μL of the solution was injected, 50% of the mice died within 24 h. Serum analysis of the mice injected with 50 μL of BaCl2 solution at days 1 and 7 revealed changes resembling rhabdomyolysis. At day 1 post-injection of 50 μL of the BaCl2 solution, acute suppurative inflammation was observed in gross examination of the TA muscle, while extensive hemorrhagic necrosis was revealed on histological examination. At day 7, regenerated myofibers with centralized nuclei appeared with the resolution of acute inflammatory infiltration and the muscle tissue displayed molecular signatures consistent with myofiber differentiation. The overall muscle injury and regeneration phenotypes in the BaCl2-induced muscle injury model were similar to those of the well-established freeze burn or snake venom injection models. Taken together, the BaCl2-induced muscle injury model is comparable to conventional muscle injury and regeneration models, with considerations for possible systemic effects.

Denervated muscle extract promotes recovery of muscle atrophy through activation of satellite cells. An experimental study

PURPOSE

The objective of the present study was to determine whether a denervated muscle extract (DmEx) could stimulate satellite cell response in denervated muscle.

METHODS

Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: normal rats, normal rats treated with DmEx, denervated rats, and denervated rats treated with DmEx. The soleus muscles were examined using immunohistochemical techniques for proliferating cell nuclear antigen, desmin, and myogenic differentiation antigen (MyoD), and electron microscopy was used for analysis of the satellite cells.

RESULTS

The results indicate that while denervation causes activation of satellite cells, DmEx also induces myogenic differentiation of cells localized in the interstitial space and the formation of new muscle fibers. Although DmEx had a similar effect in nature on innervated and denervated muscles, this response was of greater magnitude in denervated vs. intact muscles.

CONCLUSION

Our study shows that treatment of denervated rats with DmEx potentiates the myogenic response in atrophic denervated muscles.

Small-RNA sequencing identifies dynamic microRNA deregulation during skeletal muscle lineage progression

Skeletal muscle satellite cells are quiescent adult resident stem cells that activate, proliferate and differentiate to generate myofibres following injury. They harbour a robust proliferation potential and self-renewing capacity enabling lifelong muscle regeneration. Although several classes of microRNAs were shown to regulate adult myogenesis, systematic examination of stage-specific microRNAs during lineage progression from the quiescent state is lacking. Here we provide a genome-wide assessment of the expression of small RNAs during the quiescence/activation transition and differentiation by RNA-sequencing. We show that the majority of small RNAs present in quiescent, activated and differentiated muscle cells belong to the microRNA class. Furthermore, by comparing expression in distinct cell states, we report a massive and dynamic regulation of microRNAs, both in numbers and amplitude, highlighting their pivotal role in regulation of quiescence, activation and differentiation. We also identify a number of microRNAs with reliable and specific expression in quiescence including several maternally-expressed miRNAs generated at the imprinted Dlk1-Dio3 locus. Unexpectedly, the majority of class-switching miRNAs are associated with the quiescence/activation transition suggesting a poised program that is actively repressed. These data constitute a key resource for functional analyses of miRNAs in skeletal myogenesis, and more broadly, in the regulation of stem cell self-renewal and tissue homeostasis.

Age-associated NF-κB signaling in myofibers alters the satellite cell niche and re-strains muscle stem cell function

Skeletal muscle is a highly regenerative tissue, but muscle repair potential is increasingly compromised with advancing age. In this study, we demonstrate that increased NF-κB activity in aged muscle fibers contributes to diminished myogenic potential of their associated satellite cells. We further examine the impact of genetic modulation of NF-κB signaling in muscle satellite cells or myofibers on recovery after damage. These studies reveal that NF-κB activity in differentiated myofibers is sufficient to drive dysfunction of muscle regenerative cells via cell-non-autonomous mechanisms. Inhibition of NF-κB, or its downstream target Phospholipase A2, in myofibers rescued muscle regenerative potential in aged muscle. Moreover, systemic administration of sodium salicylate, an FDA-approved NF-κB inhibitor, decreased inflammatory gene expression and improved repair in aged muscle. Together, these studies identify a unique NF-κB regulated, non-cell autonomous mechanism by which stem cell function is linked to lipid signaling and homeostasis, and provide important new targets to stimulate muscle repair in aged individuals.

Non-coding RNAs in skeletal muscle regeneration

Following injury, skeletal muscles can regenerate from muscle specific stem cells, called satellite cells. Quiescent in uninjured muscles, satellite cells become activated, proliferate and differentiate into myotubes. Muscle regeneration occurs following distinct main overlapping phases, including inflammation, regeneration and maturation of the regenerated myofibers. Each step of muscle regeneration is orchestrated through complex signaling networks and gene regulatory networks, leading to the expression of specific set of genes in each concerned cell type. Apart from the well-established transcriptional mechanisms involving the myogenic regulatory factors of the MyoD family, increasing data indicate that each step of muscle regeneration is controlled by a wide range of non-coding RNAs. In this review, we discuss the role of two classes of non-coding RNAs (microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs) in the inflammatory, regeneration and maturation steps of muscle regeneration.

Marrow-isolated adult multilineage inducible cells embedded within a biologically-inspired construct promote recovery in a mouse model of peripheral vascular disease

Peripheral vascular disease is one of the major vascular complications in individuals suffering from diabetes and in the elderly that is associated with significant burden in terms of morbidity and mortality. Stem cell therapy is being tested as an attractive alternative to traditional surgery to prevent and treat this disorder. The goal of this study was to enhance the protective and reparative potential of marrow-isolated adult multilineage inducible (MIAMI) cells by incorporating them within a bio-inspired construct (BIC) made of two layers of gelatin B electrospun nanofibers. We hypothesized that the BIC would enhance MIAMI cell survival and engraftment, ultimately leading to a better functional recovery of the injured limb in our mouse model of critical limb ischemia compared to MIAMI cells used alone. Our study demonstrated that MIAMI cell-seeded BIC resulted in a wide range of positive outcomes with an almost full recovery of blood flow in the injured limb, thereby limiting the extent of ischemia and necrosis. Functional recovery was also the greatest when MIAMI cells were combined with BICs, compared to MIAMI cells alone or BICs in the absence of cells. Histology was performed 28 days after grafting the animals to explore the mechanisms at the source of these positive outcomes. We observed that our critical limb ischemia model induces an extensive loss of muscular fibers that are replaced by intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), together with a highly disorganized vascular structure. The use of MIAMI cells-seeded BIC prevented IMAT infiltration with some clear evidence of muscular fibers regeneration.

Stem Cells and Tissue Niche: Two Faces of the Same Coin of Muscle Regeneration

Capacity of adult muscle to regenerate in response to injury stimuli represents an important homeostatic process. Regeneration is a highly coordinated program that partially recapitulates the embryonic developmental program. However, muscle regeneration is severely compromised in several pathological conditions. It is likely that the restricted tissue repair program under pathological conditions is due to either progressive loss of stem cell populations or to missing signals that limit the damaged tissues to efficiently activate a regenerative program. It is therefore plausible that loss of control over these cell fates might lead to a pathological cell transdifferentiation, limiting the ability of a pathological muscle to sustain an efficient regenerative process. The critical role of microenvironment on stem cells activity and muscle regeneration is discussed.

The effects of cold water immersion and active recovery on inflammation and cell stress responses in human skeletal muscle after resistance exercise

KEY POINTS

Cold water immersion and active recovery are common post-exercise recovery treatments. A key assumption about the benefits of cold water immersion is that it reduces inflammation in skeletal muscle. However, no data are available from humans to support this notion. We compared the effects of cold water immersion and active recovery on inflammatory and cellular stress responses in skeletal muscle from exercise-trained men 2, 24 and 48 h during recovery after acute resistance exercise. Exercise led to the infiltration of inflammatory cells, with increased mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotrophins, and the subcellular translocation of heat shock proteins in muscle. These responses did not differ significantly between cold water immersion and active recovery. Our results suggest that cold water immersion is no more effective than active recovery for minimizing the inflammatory and stress responses in muscle after resistance exercise.

ABSTRACT

Cold water immersion and active recovery are common post-exercise recovery treatments. However, little is known about whether these treatments influence inflammation and cellular stress in human skeletal muscle after exercise. We compared the effects of cold water immersion versus active recovery on inflammatory cells, pro-inflammatory cytokines, neurotrophins and heat shock proteins (HSPs) in skeletal muscle after intense resistance exercise. Nine active men performed unilateral lower-body resistance exercise on separate days, at least 1 week apart. On one day, they immersed their lower body in cold water (10°C) for 10 min after exercise. On the other day, they cycled at a low intensity for 10 min after exercise. Muscle biopsies were collected from the exercised leg before, 2, 24 and 48 h after exercise in both trials. Exercise increased intramuscular neutrophil and macrophage counts, MAC1 and CD163 mRNA expression (P < 0.05). Exercise also increased IL1β, TNF, IL6, CCL2, CCL4, CXCL2, IL8 and LIF mRNA expression (P < 0.05). As evidence of hyperalgesia, the expression of NGF and GDNF mRNA increased after exercise (P < 0.05). The cytosolic protein content of αB-crystallin and HSP70 decreased after exercise (P < 0.05). This response was accompanied by increases in the cytoskeletal protein content of αB-crystallin and the percentage of type II fibres stained for αB-crystallin. Changes in inflammatory cells, cytokines, neurotrophins and HSPs did not differ significantly between the recovery treatments. These findings indicate that cold water immersion is no more effective than active recovery for reducing inflammation or cellular stress in muscle after a bout of resistance exercise.

Myofiber-specific TEAD1 overexpression drives satellite cell hyperplasia and counters pathological effects of dystrophin deficiency

When unperturbed, somatic stem cells are poised to affect immediate tissue restoration upon trauma. Yet, little is known regarding the mechanistic basis controlling initial and homeostatic ‘scaling’ of stem cell pool sizes relative to their target tissues for effective regeneration. Here, we show that TEAD1-expressing skeletal muscle of transgenic mice features a dramatic hyperplasia of muscle stem cells (i.e. satellite cells, SCs) but surprisingly without affecting muscle tissue size. Super-numeral SCs attain a ‘normal’ quiescent state, accelerate regeneration, and maintain regenerative capacity over several injury-induced regeneration bouts. In dystrophic muscle, the TEAD1 transgene also ameliorated the pathology. We further demonstrate that hyperplastic SCs accumulate non-cell-autonomously via signal(s) from the TEAD1-expressing myofiber, suggesting that myofiber-specific TEAD1 overexpression activates a physiological signaling pathway(s) that determines initial and homeostatic SC pool size. We propose that TEAD1 and its downstream effectors are medically relevant targets for enhancing muscle regeneration and ameliorating muscle pathology.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.15461.001

Skeletal muscles are primarily composed of cells called muscle fibers, which attach to bones via tendons. These muscle fibers contract to help move the body. Muscle also contains a population of muscle stem cells that repair injured tissue. Normally, in adult skeletal muscle, these stems cells are in a resting state. However, upon injury, the stem cells become activated, divide to increase in number and then develop into new muscle fibers to replace those that were damaged. The balance between the number of stem cells and the size of the muscle must be tightly regulated to ensure that there are enough stem cells to fully regenerate the tissue after injury. However, little is known about how tissues keep their number of stem cells in proportion with their overall size.

Previous attempts to make mice with more muscle stem cells invariably also created mice with larger muscles overall. This raised the question: is it possible to increase the numbers of stem cells without changing the size of the muscle?

Now, Southard, Kim et al. show it is possible and report that mice engineered to overproduce a protein called Tead1 in their muscle fibers have up to 6-times more stem cells yet normally sized muscles. Tead1 is a transcription factor that controls the activity of a number of genes as part of a major signaling pathway.

The stem cells in mice that overproduce Tead1 began to increase in number two weeks after the mice were born because they went through additional rounds of cell division before they entered the resting state. Further experiments then showed that having more stem cells meant that the muscles were repaired more quickly after an injury. Additionally, when mice with extra Tead1 had a mutation that normally leads to muscle wasting, experiments showed that the progression of the disease was stunted.

Southard, Kim et al. also show that the muscle fibers that are directly attached to the muscle stem cells are needed for the stem cells to increase in number in the Tead1-overexpressing mice. Together these findings suggest that a signal from the muscle fiber to its stem cells regulates the size of the stem cell population in the tissue. The next challenge is to uncover the molecule (or molecules) that signals from the muscle fiber to the stem cells and to gain deeper insight into how the Tead1 protein can counteract the effects of a muscle wasting disease.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.15461.002

Biochemistry and Biology of GDF11 and Myostatin: Similarities, Differences, and Questions for Future Investigation

Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) and myostatin (or GDF8) are closely related members of the transforming growth factor β superfamily and are often perceived to serve similar or overlapping roles. Yet, despite commonalities in protein sequence, receptor utilization and signaling, accumulating evidence suggests that these 2 ligands can have distinct functions in many situations. GDF11 is essential for mammalian development and has been suggested to regulate aging of multiple tissues, whereas myostatin is a well-described negative regulator of postnatal skeletal and cardiac muscle mass and modulates metabolic processes. In this review, we discuss the biochemical regulation of GDF11 and myostatin and their functions in the heart, skeletal muscle, and brain. We also highlight recent clinical findings with respect to a potential role for GDF11 and/or myostatin in humans with heart disease. Finally, we address key outstanding questions related to GDF11 and myostatin dynamics and signaling during development, growth, and aging.

Muscle regeneration after sepsis

Severe critical illness is often complicated by intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW), which is associated with increased ICU and post-ICU mortality, delayed weaning from mechanical ventilation and long-term functional disability. Several mechanisms have been implicated in the pathophysiology of ICU-AW, but muscle regeneration has not been investigated to any extent in this context, even though its involvement is suggested by the protracted functional consequences of ICU-AW. Recent data suggest that muscle regeneration could be impaired after sepsis, and that mesenchymal stem cell treatment could improve the post-injury muscle recovery.

Comparative Study of Injury Models for Studying Muscle Regeneration in Mice

Background

A longstanding goal in regenerative medicine is to reconstitute functional tissus or organs after injury or disease. Attention has focused on the identification and relative contribution of tissue specific stem cells to the regeneration process. Relatively little is known about how the physiological process is regulated by other tissue constituents. Numerous injury models are used to investigate tissue regeneration, however, these models are often poorly understood. Specifically, for skeletal muscle regeneration several models are reported in the literature, yet the relative impact on muscle physiology and the distinct cells types have not been extensively characterised.

Methods

We have used transgenic Tg:Pax7nGFP and Flk1^GFP/+ mouse models to respectively count the number of muscle stem (satellite) cells (SC) and number/shape of vessels by confocal microscopy. We performed histological and immunostainings to assess the differences in the key regeneration steps. Infiltration of immune cells, chemokines and cytokines production was assessed in vivo by Luminex^®.

Results

We compared the 4 most commonly used injury models i.e. freeze injury (FI), barium chloride (BaCl₂), notexin (NTX) and cardiotoxin (CTX). The FI was the most damaging. In this model, up to 96% of the SCs are destroyed with their surrounding environment (basal lamina and vasculature) leaving a “dead zone” devoid of viable cells. The regeneration process itself is fulfilled in all 4 models with virtually no fibrosis 28 days post-injury, except in the FI model. Inflammatory cells return to basal levels in the CTX, BaCl₂ but still significantly high 1-month post-injury in the FI and NTX models. Interestingly the number of SC returned to normal only in the FI, 1-month post-injury, with SCs that are still cycling up to 3-months after the induction of the injury in the other models.

Conclusions

Our studies show that the nature of the injury model should be chosen carefully depending on the experimental design and desired outcome. Although in all models the muscle regenerates completely, the trajectories of the regenerative process vary considerably. Furthermore, we show that histological parameters are not wholly sufficient to declare that regeneration is complete as molecular alterations (e.g. cycling SCs, cytokines) could have a major persistent impact.

Numb is required to prevent p53-dependent senescence following skeletal muscle injury

Regeneration relies on coordinated action of multiple cell types to reconstitute the damaged tissue. Here we inactivate the endocytic adaptor protein Numb in skeletal muscle stem cells prior to chronic or severe muscle injury in mice. We observe two types of senescence in regenerating muscle; a transient senescence in non-myogenic cells of control and Numb mutant mice that partly depends on INK4a/ARF activity, and a persistent senescence in myogenic cells lacking Numb. The senescence levels of Numb-deficient muscle is reduced to wild type levels by an anti-oxidant treatment or p53 ablation, resulting in functional rescue of the regenerative potential in Numb mutants. Ex vivo experiments suggest that Numb-deficient senescent cells recruit macrophages to sustain inflammation and drive fibrosis, two hallmarks of the impaired muscle regeneration in Numb mutants. These findings provide insights into previously reported developmental and oncogenic senescence that are also differentially regulated by p53.

Adult skeletal muscle stem cells

Skeletal muscles in vertebrates have a phenomenal regenerative capacity. A muscle that has been crushed can regenerate fully both structurally and functionally within a month. Remarkably, efficient regeneration continues to occur following repeated injuries. Thousands of muscle precursor cells are needed to accomplish regeneration following acute injury. The differentiated muscle cells, the multinucleated contractile myofibers, are terminally withdrawn from mitosis. The source of the regenerative precursors is the skeletal muscle stem cells-the mononucleated cells closely associated with myofibers, which are known as satellite cells. Satellite cells are mitotically quiescent or slow-cycling, committed to myogenesis, but undifferentiated. Disruption of the niche after muscle damage results in their exit from quiescence and progression towards commitment. They eventually arrest proliferation, differentiate, and fuse to damaged myofibers or make de novo myofibers. Satellite cells are one of the well-studied adult tissue-specific stem cells and have served as an excellent model for investigating adult stem cells. They have also emerged as an important standard in the field of ageing and stem cells. Several recent reviews have highlighted the importance of these cells as a model to understand stem cell biology. This chapter begins with the discovery of satellite cells as skeletal muscle stem cells and their developmental origin. We discuss transcription factors and signalling cues governing stem cell function of satellite cells and heterogeneity in the satellite cell pool. Apart from satellite cells, a number of other stem cells have been shown to make muscle and are being considered as candidate stem cells for amelioration of muscle degenerative diseases. We discuss these "offbeat" muscle stem cells and their status as adult skeletal muscle stem cells vis-a-vis satellite cells. The ageing context is highlighted in the concluding section.

Dormancy and quiescence of skeletal muscle stem cells

The skeletal muscle of vertebrates has a huge regenerative capacity. When destroyed after different types of injury, this organ can regenerate very quickly (less than 20 days following myotoxin injection in the mouse) ad integrum and repeatedly. The cell responsible for this regeneration is the so-called satellite cell, the muscle stem cell that lies on top of the muscle fibre, a giant, multinucleated cell that contains the contractile material. When injected in the muscle, satellite cells can efficiently differentiate into contractile muscle fibres. The satellite cell shows great therapeutic potential; and its regenerative capacity has triggered particular interest in the field of muscular degeneration. In this review we will focus on one particular property of the satellite cell: its quiescence and dormancy. Indeed adult satellite cells are quiescent; they lie between the basal lamina and the basement membrane of the muscle fibre, ready to proliferate, and fuse in order to regenerate myofibers upon injury. It has recently been shown that a subpopulation of satellite cells is able to enter dormancy in human and mice cadavers. Dormancy is defined by a low metabolic state, low mobility, and a long lag before division when plated in vitro, compared to quiescent cells. This definition is also based on current knowledge about long-term hematopoietic stem cells, a subpopulation of stem cells that are described as dormant based on the same criteria (rare division and low metabolism when compared to progeny which are dividing more often). In the first part of this review, we will provide a description of satellite cells which addresses their quiescent state. We will then focus on the uneven distribution of satellite cells in the muscle and describe evidence that suggests that their dormancy differs from one muscle to the next and that one should be cautious when making generalisations regarding this cellular state. In a second part, we will discuss the transition between active dividing cells in developing animals to quiescence. This mechanism could be used or amplified in the switch from quiescence to dormancy. In a third part, we will review the signals and dynamics that actively maintain the satellite cell quiescent. The in-depth understanding of these mechanisms is key to describing how dormancy relies on quiescent state of the cells. In a fourth part, we will deal with dormancy per se: how dormant satellite cells can be obtained, their characteristics, their metabolic profile, and their molecular signature as compared to quiescent cells. Here, we will highlight one of the most important recent findings: that quiescence is a prerequisite for the entry of the satellite cell into dormancy. Since dormancy is a newly discovered phenomenon, we will review the mechanisms responsible for quiescence and activation, as these two cellular states are better known and key to understanding satellite cell dormancy. This will allow us to describe dormancy and its prerequisites.

Muscle repair: platelet-rich plasma derivates as a bridge from spontaneity to intervention

Muscle injuries account for between 10% and 55% of all sporting injuries. Although the skeletal muscle is a plastic organ capable of responding efficiently to environmental changes, the appropriate treatment of muscle injuries remains a daunting clinical challenge in sports medicine. There is considerable evidence to indicate that growth factors, such as transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) or insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and fibrin matrix are key in cellular events required for muscle repair and regeneration, namely myogenesis, angiogenesis and fibrogenesis. An innovative biological approach to the treatment of muscle injuries is the application of Plasma Rich in Growth Factors (PRGF) in intramuscular infiltrations. PRGF delivers growth factors, cytokines and adhesive proteins present in platelets and plasma, as well as other biologically-active proteins conveyed by the plasma, such as fibrinogen, prothrombin and fibronectin. This autologous, mimetic biomaterial embedded with a pool of growth factors acts as a smart dynamic scaffold, and should be applied taking into account a biological approach. A clinical trial is required to assess the functional repair outcome of PRGF infiltrations in muscle injuries.

Skeletal muscle tissue engineering: strategies for volumetric constructs

Skeletal muscle tissue is characterized by high metabolic requirements, defined structure and high regenerative potential. As such, it constitutes an appealing platform for tissue engineering to address volumetric defects, as proven by recent works in this field. Several issues common to all engineered constructs constrain the variety of tissues that can be realized in vitro, principal among them the lack of a vascular system and the absence of reliable cell sources; as it is, the only successful tissue engineering constructs are not characterized by active function, present limited cellular survival at implantation and possess low metabolic requirements. Recently, functionally competent constructs have been engineered, with vascular structures supporting their metabolic requirements. In addition to the use of biochemical cues, physical means, mechanical stimulation and the application of electric tension have proven effective in stimulating the differentiation of cells and the maturation of the constructs; while the use of co-cultures provided fine control of cellular developments through paracrine activity. This review will provide a brief analysis of some of the most promising improvements in the field, with particular attention to the techniques that could prove easily transferable to other branches of tissue engineering.

More efficient repair of DNA double-strand breaks in skeletal muscle stem cells compared to their committed progeny

The loss of genome integrity in adult stem cells results in accelerated tissue aging and is possibly cancerogenic. Adult stem cells in different tissues appear to react robustly to DNA damage. We report that adult skeletal stem (satellite) cells do not primarily respond to radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) via differentiation and exhibit less apoptosis compared to other myogenic cells. Satellite cells repair these DNA lesions more efficiently than their committed progeny. Importantly, non-proliferating satellite cells and post-mitotic nuclei in the fiber exhibit dramatically distinct repair efficiencies. Altogether, reduction of the repair capacity appears to be more a function of differentiation than of the proliferation status of the muscle cell. Notably, satellite cells retain a high efficiency of DSB repair also when isolated from the natural niche. Finally, we show that repair of DSB substrates is not only very efficient but, surprisingly, also very accurate in satellite cells and that accurate repair depends on the key non-homologous end-joining factor DNA-PKcs.

The Basis of Muscle Regeneration

Muscle regeneration recapitulates many aspects of embryonic myogenesis and is an important homeostatic process of the adult skeletal muscle, which, after development, retains the capacity to regenerate in response to appropriate stimuli, activating the muscle compartment of stem cells, namely, satellite cells, as well as other precursor cells. Moreover, significant evidence suggests that while stem cells represent an important determinant for tissue regeneration, a “qualified” environment is necessary to guarantee and achieve functional results. It is therefore plausible that the loss of control over these cell fate decisions could lead to a pathological transdifferentiation, leading to pathologic defects in the regenerative process. This review provides an overview about the general aspects of muscle development and discusses the cellular and molecular aspects that characterize the five interrelated and time-dependent phases of muscle regeneration, namely, degeneration, inflammation, regeneration, remodeling, and maturation/functional repair.

Stem cell transplantation for muscular dystrophy: the challenge of immune response

Treating muscle disorders poses several challenges to the rapidly evolving field of regenerative medicine. Considerable progress has been made in isolating, characterizing, and expanding myogenic stem cells and, although we are now envisaging strategies to generate very large numbers of transplantable cells (e.g., by differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells), limitations directly linked to the interaction between transplanted cells and the host will continue to hamper a successful outcome. Among these limitations, host inflammatory and immune responses challenge the critical phases after cell delivery, including engraftment, migration, and differentiation. Therefore, it is key to study the mechanisms and dynamics that impair the efficacy of cell transplants in order to develop strategies that can ultimately improve the outcome of allogeneic and autologous stem cell therapies, in particular for severe disease such as muscular dystrophies. In this review we provide an overview of the main players and issues involved in this process and discuss potential approaches that might be beneficial for future regenerative therapies of skeletal muscle.

An engineered muscle flap for reconstruction of large soft tissue defects

Large soft tissue defects involve significant tissue loss, requiring surgical reconstruction. Autologous flaps are occasionally scant, demand prolonged transfer surgery, and induce donor site morbidity. The present work set out to fabricate an engineered muscle flap bearing its own functional vascular pedicle for repair of a large soft tissue defect in mice. Full-thickness abdominal wall defect was reconstructed using this engineered vascular muscle flap. A 3D engineered tissue constructed of a porous, biodegradable polymer scaffold embedded with endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and/or myoblasts was cultured in vitro and then implanted around the femoral artery and veins before being transferred, as an axial flap, with its vascular pedicle to reconstruct a full-thickness abdominal wall defect in the same mouse. Within 1 wk of implantation, scaffolds showed extensive functional vascular density and perfusion and anastomosis with host vessels. At 1 wk posttransfer, the engineered muscle flaps were highly vascularized, were well-integrated within the surrounding tissue, and featured sufficient mechanical strength to support the abdominal viscera. Thus, the described engineered muscle flap, equipped with an autologous vascular pedicle, constitutes an effective tool for reconstruction of large defects, thereby circumventing the need for both harvesting autologous flaps and postoperative scarification.

Sorting DNA with asymmetry: a new player in gene regulation?

In recent years, our views on how DNA and genes are organised and regulated have evolved significantly. One example is provided by reports that single DNA strands in the double helix could carry distinct forms of information. That chromatids carrying old and nascently replicated DNA strands are recognised by the mitotic machinery, then segregated in a concerted way to distinct daughter cells after cell division is remarkable. Notably, this phenomenon in several cases has been associated with the cell fate choice of resulting daughter cells. Here, we review the evidence for asymmetric or template DNA strand segregation in mammals with a focus on skeletal muscle.

Cell metabolism sets the differences between subpopulations of satellite cells (SCs)

Background

We have recently characterized two distinct populations of Satellite Cells (SCs) that differ in proliferation, regenerative potential, and mitochondrial coupling efficiency and classified these in Low Proliferative Clones (LPC) and High Proliferative Clones (HPC). Herewith, we have investigated their cell metabolism and individuated features that remark an intrinsic difference in basal physiology but that are retrievable also at the initial phases of their cloning.

Results

Indeed, LPC and HPC can be distinguished for mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m) just after isolation from the fiber. This is matched by mitochondrial redox state measured via NAD⁺/NADH analysis and alternative respiratory CO₂ production in cloned cells. All these parameters are accountable for metabolic differences reflected indeed by alternative expression of the glycolytic enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (Pfkfb3). Also Ca²⁺ handling by mitochondria is different together with the sensitivity to apoptosis triggered via this pathway. Finally, according to the above, we were able to determine which one among the clones represents the suitable stem cell.

Conclusions

These experimental observations report novel physiological features in the cell biology of SCs and refer to an intrinsic heterogeneity within which their stemness may reside.

Grafting of a single donor myofibre promotes hypertrophy in dystrophic mouse muscle

Skeletal muscle has a remarkable capability of regeneration following injury. Satellite cells, the principal muscle stem cells, are responsible for this process. However, this regenerative capacity is reduced in muscular dystrophies or in old age: in both these situations, there is a net loss of muscle fibres. Promoting skeletal muscle muscle hypertrophy could therefore have potential applications for treating muscular dystrophies or sarcopenia. Here, we observed that muscles of dystrophic mdx nude host mice that had been acutely injured by myotoxin and grafted with a single myofibre derived from a normal donor mouse exhibited increased muscle area. Transplantation experiments revealed that the hypertrophic effect is mediated by the grafted fibre and does not require either an imposed injury to the host muscle, or the contribution of donor cells to the host muscle. These results suggest the presence of a crucial cross-talk between the donor fibre and the host muscle environment.

Donor satellite cell engraftment is significantly augmented when the host niche is preserved and endogenous satellite cells are incapacitated

Stem cell transplantation is already in clinical practice for certain genetic diseases and is a promising therapy for dystrophic muscle. We used the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy to investigate the effect of the host satellite cell niche on the contribution of donor muscle stem cells (satellite cells) to muscle regeneration. We found that incapacitation of the host satellite cells and preservation of the muscle niche promote donor satellite cell contribution to muscle regeneration and functional reconstitution of the satellite cell compartment. But, if the host niche is not promptly refilled, or is filled by competent host satellite cells, it becomes nonfunctional and donor engraftment is negligible. Application of this regimen to aged host muscles also promotes efficient regeneration from aged donor satellite cells. In contrast, if the niche is destroyed, yet host satellite cells remain proliferation-competent, donor-derived engraftment is trivial. Thus preservation of the satellite cell niche, concomitant with functional impairment of the majority of satellite cells within dystrophic human muscles, may improve the efficiency of stem cell therapy.

Satellite cells are essential for skeletal muscle regeneration: the cell on the edge returns centre stage

Following their discovery in 1961, it was speculated that satellite cells were dormant myoblasts, held in reserve until required for skeletal muscle repair. Evidence for this accumulated over the years, until the link between satellite cells and the myoblasts that appear during muscle regeneration was finally established. Subsequently, it was demonstrated that, when grafted, satellite cells could also self-renew, conferring on them the coveted status of 'stem cell'. The emergence of other cell types with myogenic potential, however, questioned the precise role of satellite cells. Here, we review recent recombination-based studies that have furthered our understanding of satellite cell biology. The clear consensus is that skeletal muscle does not regenerate without satellite cells, confirming their pivotal and non-redundant role.

Annexin A1: novel roles in skeletal muscle biology

Annexin A1 (ANXA1, lipocortin-1) is the first characterized member of the annexin superfamily of proteins, so called since their main property is to bind (i.e., to annex) to cellular membranes in a Ca(2+) -dependent manner. ANXA1 has been involved in a broad range of molecular and cellular processes, including anti-inflammatory signalling, kinase activities in signal transduction, maintenance of cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix integrity, tissue growth, apoptosis, and differentiation. New insights show that endogenous ANXA1 positively modulates myoblast cell differentiation by promoting migration of satellite cells and, consequently, skeletal muscle differentiation. This suggests that ANXA1 may contribute to the regeneration of skeletal muscle tissue and may have therapeutic implications with respect to the development of ANXA1 mimetics.

In vivo imaging of tumor-propagating cells, regional tumor heterogeneity, and dynamic cell movements in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) is an aggressive pediatric sarcoma of muscle. Here, we show that ERMS-propagating potential is confined to myf5+ cells and can be visualized in live, fluorescent transgenic zebrafish. During early tumor growth, myf5+ ERMS cells reside adjacent normal muscle fibers. By late-stage ERMS, myf5+ cells are reorganized into distinct regions separated from differentiated tumor cells. Time-lapse imaging of late-stage ERMS revealed that myf5+ cells populate newly formed tumor only after seeding by highly migratory myogenin+ ERMS cells. Moreover, myogenin+ ERMS cells can enter the vasculature, whereas myf5+ ERMS-propagating cells do not. Our data suggest that non-tumor-propagating cells likely have important supportive roles in cancer progression and facilitate metastasis.