Mechanically-Driven Therapies Effective in Promoting Skeletal Muscle Regeneration
Mechanically-driven therapies that promote skeletal muscle regeneration through direct physical stimulation could replace cell-based regenerative treatments.
Mechanically-driven therapies that promote skeletal muscle regeneration through direct physical stimulation could replace cell-based regenerative treatments.
‘Skeletal muscle stem cells called satellite cells also express the Prox1 gene. The satellite cells differentiate into myofibres only when Prox1 is active.’
Tweet it Now
Prox1 gene has an important role in fetal life for the development of the liver, lymphatic vessels and lens in the eye. The gene also has a dark side - it plays a central role e.g. in the development of colorectal cancer (Wiener, Alitalo & al. Cell Reports 2014).
The new surprising results of the study, published in Nature Communications, show that satellite cells differentiate into myofibres only when Prox1 is active. The researchers found that Prox1 was also expressed in adult slow muscle fibers, which have good endurance capacity and high metabolic activity. About half of the skeletal muscle fibers in adults are slow fibers.
"Prox1 gene transfer into fast muscles converted them towards the slow fibre type in mice, whereas Prox1 deletion increased the activity of fast fiber genes", tells the lead author, Academy Research Fellow Riikka Kivelä. "Our new findings on the essential role of Prox1 in satellite cell differentiation and slow muscle fiber type maintenance provide an important novel avenue for studies in muscle and metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. In humans, Prox1 gene polymorphism has been linked to increased risk for type 2 diabetes."
Source-Eurekalert
Potential for 'In Body' Muscle Regeneration
Repairing large segments of damaged muscle tissue could be as simple as mobilizing the body's stem cells to the site of the injury.
Repairing large segments of damaged muscle tissue could be as simple as mobilizing the body's stem cells to the site of the injury.
Research Sheds Light on New Rat Model for Muscle Regeneration After Trauma-related Soft Tissue Injury
Research has shown that penetrating soft tissue injuries can cause muscle loss resulting in functional disability and cosmetic deformity.
Research has shown that penetrating soft tissue injuries can cause muscle loss resulting in functional disability and cosmetic deformity.
Mice Study Answers Key Question Regarding Muscle Regeneration Mystery, Say Johns Hopkins Researchers
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University revealed that they have managed to answer a key question regarding muscle regeneration.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University revealed that they have managed to answer a key question regarding muscle regeneration.
