title: Skeletal muscle stem cell birth and properties.
abstract: Development and maintenance of an abundant tissue such as skeletal muscle poses several challenges. Curiously, not all skeletal muscle stem cells are born alike, since diverse genetic pathways can specify their birth. Stem and progenitor cells that establish the tissue during development, those that maintain its homeostasis, as well as participate in its regeneration have generated considerable interest. The ability to distinguish stem cells from more committed progenitors throughout prenatal and postnatal life has guided researchers to identify stem cell properties and characterise their niche. These properties include markers that influence cell behaviour and mode of division during normal development, after trauma and cell transplantations. This review addresses these issues from a developmental perspective.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cells & Development, Department of Developmental Biology, Pasteur Institute, CNRS URA 2578, 25 Rue du Dr. Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
authors.forename: Ramkumar
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sambasivan
authors.forename: Shahragim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tajbakhsh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers