title: Biological approaches to improve skeletal muscle healing after injury and disease.
abstract: Skeletal muscle injury and repair are complex processes, including well-coordinated steps of degeneration, inflammation, regeneration, and fibrosis. We have reviewed the recent literature including studies by our group that describe how to modulate the processes of skeletal muscle repair and regeneration. Antiinflammatory drugs that target cyclooxygenase-2 were found to hamper the skeletal muscle repair process. Muscle regeneration phase can be aided by growth factors, including insulin-like growth factor-1 and nerve growth factor, but these factors are typically short-lived, and thus more effective methods of delivery are needed. Skeletal muscle damage caused by traumatic injury or genetic diseases can benefit from cell therapy; however, the majority of transplanted muscle cells (myoblasts) are unable to survive the immune response and hypoxic conditions. Our group has isolated neonatal skeletal muscle derived stem cells (MDSCs) that appear to repair muscle tissue in a more effective manner than myoblasts, most likely due to their better resistance to oxidative stress. Enhancing antioxidant levels of MDSCs led to improved regenerative potential. It is becoming increasingly clear that stem cells tissue repair by direct differentiation and paracrine effects leading to neovascularization of injured site and chemoattraction of host cells. The factors invoked in paracrine action are still under investigation. Our group has found that angiotensin II receptor blocker (losartan) significantly reduces fibrotic tissue formation and improves repair of murine injured muscle. Based on these data, we have conducted a case study on two hamstring injury patients and found that losartan treatment was well tolerated and possibly improved recovery time. We believe this medication holds great promise to optimize muscle repair in humans.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, USA.
authors.forename: Burhan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gharaibeh
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chun-Lansinger
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: Sheila Jean McNeill
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ingham
authors.forename: Vonda
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Freddie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Johnny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huard
mesh_terms: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D012038:Regeneration; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D019808:Losartan