Potential of autologous adipose-derived stem cells to regenerate atrophied muscle in a rat model.

Abstract

Muscle atrophy results in severe functional impairment and is a significant clinical problem. We examined and characterized the therapeutic effects of autologous adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) using an in vivo muscle atrophy rat model. To identify the effect of injected ADSCs into muscle, we developed the following two models of muscle atrophy in rats: induction of denervation by sciatic nerve defects; and nerve repair after severing the sciatic nerve. The inguinal fat pads were harvested from each rat and autologous ADSCs were cultured and ADSCs were injected in the right hind limbs as the experimental group, while normal saline was injected in the left hind limbs, which served as the control group. After 2 weeks, gross examination and histologic analyses were performed. Additionally, to investigate the survival of ADSCs in muscle tissues, we traced the injected ADSCs. The fate of injected ADSCs into muscle was investigated using a green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagging method with lentivirus transfection. The muscle weight and cross-sectional area of muscle were greater and proliferation of connective tissue was less prominent in the ADSC-injected group. Alpha-bungarotoxin binding in the neuromuscular junction was significantly increased, and neoangiogenesis was higher in the ADSCs-injected group. green fluorescent protein-labeled ADSCs survived in the gastrocnemius muscle after 2 weeks. These findings could give a support in finding the role of autologous ADSCs as new therapeutic modality for regeneration of atrophied muscle.