The emerging biology of satellite cells and their therapeutic potential.
Adult skeletal muscle contains an abundant and highly accessible population of muscle stem and progenitor cells called satellite cells. The primary function of satellite cells is to mediate postnatal muscle growth and repair. Owing to their availability and remarkable capacity to regenerate damaged muscle, satellite cells and their descendent myoblasts have been considered as powerful candidates for cell-based therapies to treat muscular dystrophies and other neuromuscular diseases. However, regenerative medicine in muscle repair requires a thorough understanding of, and the ability to manipulate, the molecular mechanisms that control the proliferation, self-renewal and myogenic differentiation of satellite cells. Here, we review the latest advances in our current understanding of the quiescence, activation, proliferation and self-renewal of satellite cells and the challenges in the development of satellite cell-based regenerative medicine.
Kuang
Shihuan
S
The Sprott Center for Stem Cell Research, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Regenerative Medicine Program, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada.
Rudnicki
Michael A
MA
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D032496:Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor