Abstract
Muscular dystrophies and neuromuscular disorders are characterized by progressive muscle wasting, and are significant health issues. We used mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from human umbilical cord blood (UCB) capable of differentiating into various connective tissue lineages, and studied their myogenic potential. We injected 106 UCB-MSCs into a rat tibialis anterior model of muscle injury, caused by bupivacaine hydrochloride injection. The MSCs, labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP), engrafted into the muscle after 1 week and stained positive for the early myogenic regulatory factors Myf-5 and MyoD. After 2 weeks, we noted striations of A and I bands showing the presence of sarcomeres in fibers containing UCB-MSCs. The skeletal muscle appeared intact by histological analysis, and the presence of MSCs was confirmed by immunostaining with HLA-A2 antibody, a human specific class I histocompatibility molecule. Expression of Myf-5, MyoD, and sarcomeric tropomyosin, a protein of actin filament was detected. There was no immunological response against the engrafted cells, and no immunosuppressive therapy was used. These results suggest that human UCB-MSCs are able to differentiate towards the myogenic lineage and to play a role in vivo during the muscle regenerative process. Supported by University of Padova, Cariparo Foundation, Italy, and the Coriell Institute.
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