title: The role of CD34 expression and cellular fusion in the regeneration capacity of myogenic progenitor cells.
abstract: Characterization of myogenic subpopulations has traditionally been performed independently of their functional performance following transplantation. Using the preplate technique, which separates cells based on their variable adhesion characteristics, we investigated the use of cell surface proteins to potentially identify progenitors with enhanced regeneration capabilities. Based on previous studies, we used cell sorting to investigate stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1) and CD34 expression on myogenic populations with late adhesion characteristics. We compared the regeneration efficiency of these sorted progenitors, as well as those displaying early adhesion characteristics, by quantifying their ability to regenerate skeletal muscle and restore dystrophin following transplantation into allogenic dystrophic host muscle. Identification and utilization of late adhering populations based on CD34 expression led to differential regeneration, with CD34-positive populations exhibiting significant improvements in dystrophin restoration compared with both their CD34-negative counterparts and early adhering cell populations. Regenerative capacity was found to correspond to the level of myogenic commitment, defined by myogenic regulatory factor expression, and the rate and degree of induced cell differentiation and fusion. These results demonstrate the ability to separate definable subpopulations of myogenic progenitors based on CD34 expression and reveal the potential implications of defining myogenic cell behavioral and phenotypic characteristics in relation to their regenerative capacity in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Growth and Development Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, 4151 Rangos Research Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Ron J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jankowski
authors.forename: Bridget M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Deasy
authors.forename: Baohong
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Charley
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000950:Antigens, Ly / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016189:Dystrophin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000172:deficiency; D008297:Male; D008561:Membrane Fusion / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000628:therapy; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D012508:Sarcolemma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000950:Antigens, Ly; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D016189:Dystrophin; C074650:Ly6a protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors