scholarly journals Assessing Autophagy in Muscle Stem Cells

Author(s):  
Silvia Campanario ◽  
Ignacio Ramírez-Pardo ◽  
Xiaotong Hong ◽  
Joan Isern ◽  
Pura Muñoz-Cánoves

The skeletal muscle tissue in the adult is relatively stable under normal conditions but retains a striking ability to regenerate by its resident stem cells (satellite cells). Satellite cells exist in a quiescent (G0) state; however, in response to an injury, they reenter the cell cycle and start proliferating to provide sufficient progeny to form new myofibers or undergo self-renewal and returning to quiescence. Maintenance of satellite cell quiescence and entry of satellite cells into the activation state requires autophagy, a fundamental degradative and recycling process that preserves cellular proteostasis. With aging, satellite cell regenerative capacity declines, correlating with loss of autophagy. Enhancing autophagy in aged satellite cells restores their regenerative functions, underscoring this proteostatic activity’s relevance for tissue regeneration. Here we describe two strategies for assessing autophagic activity in satellite cells from GFP-LC3 reporter mice, which allows direct autophagosome labeling, or from non-transgenic (wild-type) mice, where autophagosomes can be immunostained. Treatment of GFP-LC3 or WT satellite cells with compounds that interfere with autophagosome-lysosome fusion enables measurement of autophagic activity by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Thus, the methods presented permit a relatively rapid assessment of autophagy in stem cells from skeletal muscle in homeostasis and in different pathological scenarios such as regeneration, aging or disease.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sean M. Buchanan ◽  
Feodor D. Price ◽  
Alessandra Castiglioni ◽  
Amanda Wagner Gee ◽  
Joel Schneider ◽  
...  

Abstract Satellite cells are the canonical muscle stem cells that regenerate damaged skeletal muscle. Loss of function of these cells has been linked to reduced muscle repair capacity and compromised muscle health in acute muscle injury and congenital neuromuscular diseases. To identify new pathways that can prevent loss of skeletal muscle function or enhance regenerative potential, we established an imaging-based screen capable of identifying small molecules that promote the expansion of freshly isolated satellite cells. We found several classes of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) inhibitors that increased freshly isolated satellite cell numbers in vitro. Further exploration of one of these compounds, the RTK inhibitor CEP-701 (also known as lestaurtinib), revealed potent activity on mouse satellite cells both in vitro and in vivo. This expansion potential was not seen upon exposure of proliferating committed myoblasts or non-myogenic fibroblasts to CEP-701. When delivered subcutaneously to acutely injured animals, CEP-701 increased both the total number of satellite cells and the rate of muscle repair, as revealed by an increased cross-sectional area of regenerating fibers. Moreover, freshly isolated satellite cells expanded ex vivo in the presence of CEP-701 displayed enhanced muscle engraftment potential upon in vivo transplantation. We provide compelling evidence that certain RTKs, and in particular RET, regulate satellite cell expansion during muscle regeneration. This study demonstrates the power of small molecule screens of even rare adult stem cell populations for identifying stem cell-targeting compounds with therapeutic potential.


2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1575) ◽  
pp. 2297-2306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Shadrach ◽  
Amy J. Wagers

Skeletal muscle is a highly specialized tissue composed of non-dividing, multi-nucleated muscle fibres that contract to generate force in a controlled and directed manner. Skeletal muscle is formed during embryogenesis from a subset of muscle precursor cells, which generate both differentiated muscle fibres and specialized muscle-forming stem cells known as satellite cells. Satellite cells remain associated with muscle fibres after birth and are responsible for muscle growth and repair throughout life. Failure in satellite cell function can lead to delayed, impaired or failed recovery after muscle injury, and such failures become increasingly prominent in cases of progressive muscle disease and in old age. Recent progress in the isolation of muscle satellite cells and elucidation of the cellular and molecular mediators controlling their activity indicate that these cells represent promising therapeutic targets. Such satellite cell-based therapies may involve either direct cell replacement or development of drugs that enhance endogenous muscle repair mechanisms. Here, we discuss recent breakthroughs in understanding both the cell intrinsic and extrinsic regulators that determine the formation and function of muscle satellite cells, as well as promising paths forward to realizing their full therapeutic potential.


2018 ◽  
Vol 315 (2) ◽  
pp. C247-C257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea A. Domenighetti ◽  
Margie A. Mathewson ◽  
Rajeswari Pichika ◽  
Lydia A. Sibley ◽  
Leyna Zhao ◽  
...  

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of pediatric neurodevelopmental and physical disability in the United States. It is defined as a group of motor disorders caused by a nonprogressive perinatal insult to the brain. Although the brain lesion is nonprogressive, there is a progressive, lifelong impact on skeletal muscles, which are shorter, spastic, and may develop debilitating contractures. Satellite cells are resident muscle stem cells that are indispensable for postnatal growth and regeneration of skeletal muscles. Here we measured the myogenic potential of satellite cells isolated from contractured muscles in children with CP. When compared with typically developing (TD) children, satellite cell-derived myoblasts from CP differentiated more slowly (slope: 0.013 (SD 0.013) CP vs. 0.091 (SD 0.024) TD over 24 h, P < 0.001) and fused less (fusion index: 21.3 (SD 8.6) CP vs. 81.3 (SD 7.7) TD after 48 h, P < 0.001) after exposure to low-serum conditions that stimulated myotube formation. This impairment was associated with downregulation of several markers important for myoblast fusion and myotube formation, including DNA methylation-dependent inhibition of promyogenic integrin-β 1D (ITGB1D) protein expression levels (−50% at 42 h), and ~25% loss of integrin-mediated focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation. The cytidine analog 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA), a demethylating agent, restored ITGB1D levels and promoted myogenesis in CP cultures. Our data demonstrate that muscle contractures in CP are associated with loss of satellite cell myogenic potential that is dependent on DNA methylation patterns affecting expression of genetic programs associated with muscle stem cell differentiation and muscle fiber formation.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Anna Meiliana ◽  
Nurrani Mustika Dewi ◽  
Andi Wijaya

BACKGROUND: Age-related muscle loss leads to lack of muscle strength, resulting in reduced posture and mobility and an increased risk of falls, all of which contribute to a decrease in quality of life. Skeletal muscle regeneration is a complex process, which is not yet completely understood.CONTENT: Skeletal muscle undergoes a progressive age-related loss in mass and function. Preservation of muscle mass depends in part on satellite cells, the resident stem cells of skeletal muscle. Reduced satellite cell function may contribute to the age-associated decrease in muscle mass. Recent studies have delineated that the aging process in organ stem cells is largely caused by age-specific changes in the differentiated niches, and that regenerative outcomes often depend on the age of the niche, rather than on stem cell age. It is likely that epigenetic states will be better define such key satellite cell features as prolonged quiescence and lineage fidelity. It is also likely that DNA and histone modifications will underlie many of the changes in aged satellite cells that account for age-related declines in functionality and rejuvenation through exposure to the systemic environment.SUMMARY: Skeletal muscle aging results in a gradual loss of skeletal muscle mass, skeletal muscle function and regenerative capacity, which can lead to sarcopenia and increased mortality. Although the mechanisms underlying sarcopenia remain unclear, the skeletal muscle stem cell, or satellite cell, is required for muscle regeneration. Decreased muscle stem cell function in aging has long been shown to depend on altered environmental cues, whereas the contribution of intrinsic mechanisms remained less clear. Signals in the aged niche were shown to cause permanent defects in the ability of satellite cells to return to quiescence, ultimately also impairing the maintenance of self-renewing satellite cells. Therefore, only anti-aging strategies taking both factors, the stem cell niche and the stem cells per se, into consideration may ultimately be successful.KEYWORDS: satellite cell, muscle, aging, niche, regenerations


2004 ◽  
Vol 166 (3) ◽  
pp. 347-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter S. Zammit ◽  
Jon P. Golding ◽  
Yosuke Nagata ◽  
Valérie Hudon ◽  
Terence A. Partridge ◽  
...  

Growth, repair, and regeneration of adult skeletal muscle depends on the persistence of satellite cells: muscle stem cells resident beneath the basal lamina that surrounds each myofiber. However, how the satellite cell compartment is maintained is unclear. Here, we use cultured myofibers to model muscle regeneration and show that satellite cells adopt divergent fates. Quiescent satellite cells are synchronously activated to coexpress the transcription factors Pax7 and MyoD. Most then proliferate, down-regulate Pax7, and differentiate. In contrast, other proliferating cells maintain Pax7 but lose MyoD and withdraw from immediate differentiation. These cells are typically located in clusters, together with Pax7−ve progeny destined for differentiation. Some of the Pax7+ve/MyoD−ve cells then leave the cell cycle, thus regaining the quiescent satellite cell phenotype. Significantly, noncycling cells contained within a cluster can be stimulated to proliferate again. These observations suggest that satellite cells either differentiate or switch from terminal myogenesis to maintain the satellite cell pool.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Rigillo ◽  
Valentina Basile ◽  
Silvia Belluti ◽  
Mirko Ronzio ◽  
Elisabetta Sauta ◽  
...  

AbstractThe transcription factor NF-Y promotes cell proliferation and its activity often declines during differentiation through the regulation of NF-YA, the DNA binding subunit of the complex. In stem cell compartments, the shorter NF-YA splice variant is abundantly expressed and sustains their expansion. Here, we report that satellite cells, the stem cell population of adult skeletal muscle necessary for its growth and regeneration, express uniquely the longer NF-YA isoform, majorly associated with cell differentiation. Through the generation of a conditional knock out mouse model that selectively deletes the NF-YA gene in satellite cells, we demonstrate that NF-YA expression is fundamental to preserve the pool of muscle stem cells and ensures robust regenerative response to muscle injury. In vivo and ex vivo, satellite cells that survive to NF-YA loss exit the quiescence and are rapidly committed to early differentiation, despite delayed in the progression towards later states. In vitro results demonstrate that NF-YA-depleted muscle stem cells accumulate DNA damage and cannot properly differentiate. These data highlight a new scenario in stem cell biology for NF-Y activity, which is required for efficient myogenic differentiation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Forcina ◽  
Carmen Miano ◽  
Laura Pelosi ◽  
Antonio Musarò

The peculiar ability of skeletal muscle tissue to operate adaptive changes during post-natal development and adulthood has been associated with the existence of adult somatic stem cells. Satellite cells, occupying an exclusive niche within the adult muscle tissue, are considered bona fide stem cells with both stem-like properties and myogenic activities. Indeed, satellite cells retain the capability to both maintain the quiescence in uninjured muscles and to be promptly activated in response to growth or regenerative signals, re-engaging the cell cycle. Activated cells can undergo myogenic differentiation or self-renewal moving back to the quiescent state. Satellite cells behavior and their fate decision are finely controlled by mechanisms involving both cell-autonomous and external stimuli. Alterations in these regulatory networks profoundly affect muscle homeostasis and the dynamic response to tissue damage, contributing to the decline of skeletal muscle that occurs under physio-pathologic conditions. Although the clear myogenic activity of satellite cells has been described and their pivotal role in muscle growth and regeneration has been reported, a comprehensive picture of inter-related mechanisms guiding muscle stem cell activity has still to be defined. Here, we reviewed the main regulatory networks determining satellite cell behavior. In particular, we focused on genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underlining satellite cell maintenance and commitment. Besides intrinsic regulations, we reported current evidences about the influence of environmental stimuli, derived from other cell populations within muscle tissue, on satellite cell biology.


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