Satellite Cells In Muscle Regeneration Research Articles

What's New in Musculoskeletal Basic Science.

What's New in Musculoskeletal Basic Science.

Characteristics of the Localization of Connexin 43 in Satellite Cells during Skeletal Muscle Regeneration In Vivo.

For myogenesis, new myotubes are formed by the fusion of differentiated myoblasts. In the sequence of events for myotube formation, intercellular communication through gap junctions composed of connexin 43 (Cx43) plays critical roles in regulating the alignment and fusion of myoblasts in advances of myotube formation in vitro. On the other hand, the relationship between the expression patterns of Cx43 and the process of myotube formation in satellite cells during muscle regeneration in vivo remains poorly understood. The present study investigated the relationship between Cx43 and satellite cells in muscle regeneration in vivo. The expression of Cx43 was detected in skeletal muscles on day 1 post-muscle injury, but not in control muscles. Interestingly, the expression of Cx43 was not localized on the inside of the basement membrane of myofibers in the regenerating muscles. Moreover, although the clusters of differentiated satellite cells, which represent a more advanced stage of myotube formation, were observed on the inside of the basement membrane of myofibers in regenerating muscles, the expression of Cx43 was not localized in the clusters of these satellite cells. Therefore, in the present study, it was suggested that Cx43 may not directly contribute to muscle regeneration via satellite cells.

Muscle satellite cell heterogeneity and self-renewal.

Adult skeletal muscle possesses extraordinary regeneration capacities. After muscle injury or exercise, large numbers of newly formed muscle fibers are generated within a week as a result of expansion and differentiation of a self-renewing pool of muscle stem cells termed muscle satellite cells. Normally, satellite cells are mitotically quiescent and reside beneath the basal lamina of muscle fibers. Upon regeneration, satellite cells are activated, and give rise to daughter myogenic precursor cells. After several rounds of proliferation, these myogenic precursor cells contribute to the formation of new muscle fibers. During cell division, a minor population of myogenic precursor cells returns to quiescent satellite cells as a self-renewal process. Currently, accumulating evidence has revealed the essential roles of satellite cells in muscle regeneration and the regulatory mechanisms, while it still remains to be elucidated how satellite cell self-renewal is molecularly regulated and how satellite cells are important in aging and diseased muscle. The number of satellite cells is decreased due to the changing niche during ageing, resulting in attenuation of muscle regeneration capacity. Additionally, in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients, the loss of satellite cell regenerative capacity and decreased satellite cell number due to continuous needs for satellite cells lead to progressive muscle weakness with chronic degeneration. Thus, it is necessary to replenish muscle satellite cells continuously. This review outlines recent findings regarding satellite cell heterogeneity, asymmetric division and molecular mechanisms in satellite cell self-renewal which is crucial for maintenance of satellite cells as a muscle stem cell pool throughout life. In addition, we discuss roles in the stem cell niche for satellite cell maintenance, as well as related cell therapies for approaching treatment of DMD.

THE ROLE OF SATELLITE CELLS IN CRUSH INJURY OF RAT SKELETON MUSCLE

The crush type of injury in rat skeletal muscle is often used in tissue degeneration and regeneration. After crush injury muscle tissue begins to regenerate. In this process, it is accepted that satellite cells play an important role which are very sensitive to muscle injury. The aim of this microscopic study was to examine role of satellite cells in muscle regeneration in crush injury. This research was done the department of Histology&Embryology in Eskisehir Osmangazi University in 2008. Ethic approval of this study has been received. During the study, the whole essential and ethics conditions have been done. In the study 36 Spraque-Dawley rats were used. The rats were separated into 5 groups as test and control groups. Crush type of injury has been applied on muscles of right hind extremities of testing group rats by applying 3.5 kg of weight for 6 hours. In according to testing periods rats were anaesthetized intraperitoneally with ketamine 30mg/kg + xylazine 10mg/kg and sacrificied 3, 7, 14 and 21-day intervals. After crush injury, increased satellite cells were particularly observed on day 7. Also significant increased of satellite cells and regenerated myofibrils were detected on day 14. However, satellite cells were seen on day-21 were similar to control group. In crush injuries, number of satellite cells were markedly increased and actively involved into regeneration process of the skeleton muscle.

Chemokine CXCL16 Regulates Neutrophil and Macrophage Infiltration into Injured Muscle, Promoting Muscle Regeneration

Only a few specific chemokines that mediate interactions between inflammatory and satellite cells in muscle regeneration have been identified. The chemokine CXCL16 differs from other chemokines because it has both a transmembrane region and active, soluble chemokine forms. Indeed, we found increased expression of CXCL16 and its receptor, CXCR6, in regenerating myofibers. Muscle regeneration in CXCL16-deficient (CXCL16KO) mice was severely impaired compared with regeneration in wild-type mice. In addition, there was decreased MyoD and myogenin expression in regenerating muscle in CXCL16KO mice, indicating impaired satellite cell proliferation and differentiation. After 1 month, new myofibers in CXCL16KO mice remained significantly smaller than those in muscle of wild-type mice. To understand how CXCL16 regulates muscle regeneration, we examined cells infiltrating injured muscle. There were more infiltrating neutrophils and fewer macrophages in injured muscle of CXCL16KO mice compared with events in wild-type mice. Moreover, absence of CXCL16 led to different expression of cytokines/chemokines in injured muscles: mRNAs of macrophage-inflammatory protein (MIP)-1alpha, MIP-1beta, and MIP-2 were increased, whereas regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted, T-cell activation-3, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNAs were lower compared with results in muscles of wild-type mice. Impaired muscle regeneration in CXCL16KO mice also resulted in fibrosis, which was linked to transforming growth factor-beta1 expression. Thus, CXCL16 expression is a critical mediator of muscle regeneration, and it suppresses the development of fibrosis.

The expression pattern of PKCθ in satellite cells of normal and regenerating muscle in the rat

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a key enzyme in regulating a variety of cellular functions. PKCtheta is the most abundant PKC isoform expressed in skeletal muscle. However, the functional role of PKCtheta linked to muscle regeneration has not yet been identified. Using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and immunofluorescence analysis, we investigated the expression patterns of PKCtheta in normal and regenerating tibialis anterior (TA) muscles in the rat. The amount of PKCtheta mRNA in the muscle increased from the 4th to 6th post-surgical day. Immunofluorescence revealed PKCtheta protein in quiescent satellite cells identified by c-Met. PKCtheta immunoreactivity was not observed in many proliferating satellite cells by labeling with BrdU in the regenerating muscle. At 4, 6 and 10 days postsurgery, PKCtheta immunoreactivity was observed in half the differentiating satellite cells labeling with myogenin. After 4 and 6 days, the localization of PKCtheta coincided with those of Pax7 and TGF-beta. Thus, PKCtheta may play an important role in inhibiting differentiation and maintaining the quiescent satellite cells in muscle regeneration.

Increased expression of neuregulin-1 in differentiating muscle satellite cells and in motoneurons during muscle regeneration

Neuregulins belong to a family of multipotent growth-promoting proteins, and have been shown to have a crucial role in accumulating acetylcholine receptor at neuromuscular junctions. A functional role of neuregulins in muscle regeneration has not yet been identified. Using reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence analysis following bupivacaine injection into rat muscle, we investigated the expression pattern of neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) in normal and regenerating tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. In addition, we examined changes in NRG-1 expression in the spinal cord following muscle damage. Western blotting showed that muscle NRG-1 protein decreased soon after the damage, and increased gradually after the 4th day following the damage. The amount of NRG-1 mRNA in the muscle increased from the 2nd to 6th post-surgical day. The amount of NRG-1 protein, but not mRNA, increased gradually in the spinal cord after muscle damage. Immunofluorescence revealed NRG-1 protein in some quiescent satellite cells identified by c-Met. After 6 and 10 days, clear co-localization between NRG-1 and myogenin was noted in differentiating satellite cells. Thus, NRG-1 may play an important role in the differentiation of satellite cells in muscle regeneration, while increased NRG-1 expression in motoneurons may enhance the remodeling of partially damaged axons.

Muscle Satellite Cells as Muscle-specific Adult Stem Cells: Two Models for Self-renewal

Muscle satellite cells function as skeletal muscle-specific tissue stem cells for postnatal growth and repair. The role of satellite cells in muscle regeneration has been investigated for many years but remains to be clarified. Recently, developments of novel techniques in cell and molecular biology have provided definitive evidence for the essential role of satellite cells in muscle regeneration and the molecular mechanisms that control the self-renewal of satellite cells.

Survival of satellite cells following exposure to the local anesthetic bupivacaine (Marcaine).

Rat lumbrical muscles were incubated in a concentration of 10(-2) M bupivacaine for 5 or 15 min and examined after further incubation in the absence of the drug for periods totalling 1, 2, and 3h. Electron microscopy showed that muscle fibers and their component organelles and myonuclei underwent a series of irreversible degenerative changes. However, satellite cells retained their normal morphology under similar conditions. It is concluded that satellite cells are responsible for the rapid regeneration of muscles that follows degeneration induced by bupivacaine. The role of satellite cells in muscle regeneration is discussed.