The satellite cell in skeletal muscle: A story of heterogeneity

Skeletal muscle is a highly represented tissue in mammals and is composed of fibers that are extremely adaptable and capable of regeneration. This characteristic of muscle fibers is made possible by a cell type called satellite cells. Adjacent to the fibers, satellite cells are found in a quiescent state and located between the muscle fibers membrane and the basal lamina. These cells are required for the growth and regeneration of skeletal muscle through myogenesis. This process is known to be tightly sequenced from the activation to the differentiation/fusion of myofibers. However, for the past fifteen years, researchers have been interested in examining satellite cell heterogeneity and have identified different subpopulations displaying distinct characteristics based on localization, quiescence state, stemness capacity, cell-cycle progression or gene expression. A small subset of satellite cells appears to represent multipotent long-term self-renewing muscle stem cells (MuSC). All these distinctions led us to the hypothesis that the characteristics of myogenesis might not be linear and therefore may be more permissive based on the evidence that satellite cells are a heterogeneous population. In this review, we discuss the different subpopulations that exist within the satellite cell pool to highlight the heterogeneity and to gain further understanding of the myogenesis progress. Finally, we discuss the long term self-renewing MuSC subpopulation that is capable of dividing asymmetrically and discuss the molecular mechanisms regulating MuSC polarization during health and disease.

Isolation of small extracellular vesicles from regenerating muscle tissue using Tangential Flow Filtration and Size Exclusion Chromatography

We have recently made the strikingly discovery that upon a muscle injury, Wnt7a is upregulated and secreted from new regenerating myofibers on the surface of exosomes to elicit its myogenerative response distally. Despite recent advances in extracellular vesicle (EVs) isolation from diverse tissues, there is still a lack of specific methodology to purify EVs from muscle tissue. To eliminate contamination with non-EV secreted proteins and cytoplasmic fragments, which are typically found when using classical methodology, such as ultracentrifugation, we adapted a protocol combining Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) and Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC). We found that this approach allows simultaneous purification of Wnt7a, bound to EVs (retentate fraction) and free non-EV Wnt7a (permeate fraction). Here we described this optimized protocol designed to specifically isolate EVs from hind limb muscle explants, without cross-contamination with other sources of non-EV bounded proteins. The first step of the protocol is to remove large EVs with sequential centrifugation. Extracellular vesicles are then concentrated and washed in exchange buffer by TFF. Lastly, SEC is performed to remove any soluble protein traces remaining after TFF. Overall, this procedure can be used to isolate EVs from conditioned media or biofluid that contains EVs derived from any cell type or tissue, improving reproducibility, efficiency, and purity of EVs preparations. Our purification protocol results in high purity EVs that maintain structural integrity and thus fully compatible with in vitro and in vivo bioactivity and analytic assays.

Wnt7a is Required for Regeneration of Dystrophic Skeletal Muscle

Intramuscular injection of Wnt7a has been shown to accelerate and augment skeletal muscle regeneration and to ameliorate dystrophic progression in mdx muscle, a model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, loss-of-function studies to investigate the requirement for Wnt7a in muscle regeneration has not been evaluated. Here, we assessed muscle regeneration and function in wild type (WT) and mdx mice where Wnt7a was specifically deleted in muscle using a conditional Wnt7a floxed allele and a Myf5-Cre driver. We found that both WT and mdx mice with deletion of Wnt7a in muscle, exhibited marked deficiencies in muscle regeneration at 21 d following cardiotoxin (CTX) induced injury. Unlike WT, deletion of Wnt7a in mdx resulted in a marked decrease in specific force generation prior to CTX injury. However, both WT and mdx muscle lacking Wnt7a displayed decreased specific force generation following CTX injection. Notably the regeneration deficit observed in mdx mice lacking Wnt7a in muscle was rescued by a single tail vein injection of an extracellular vesicle preparation containing Wnt7a (Wnt7a-EVs). Therefore, we conclude that the regenerative capacity of muscle in mdx mice is due to the upregulation of endogenous Wnt7a following injury, and that systemic delivery of Wnt7a-EVs represents a therapeutic strategy for treating DMD.

Satellite cell contribution to disease pathology in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Progressive muscle weakness and degeneration characterize Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a lethal, x-linked neuromuscular disorder that affects 1 in 5,000 boys. Loss of dystrophin protein leads to recurrent muscle degeneration, progressive fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and dysfunction of skeletal muscle resident stem cells, called satellite cells. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for DMD. In this mini review, we discuss how satellite cells in dystrophic muscle are functionally impaired, and how this contributes to the DMD pathology, and the tremendous potential of restoring endogenous satellite cell function as a viable treatment strategy to treat this debilitating and fatal disease.

Wnt binding to Coatomer proteins directs secretion on exosomes independently of palmitoylation

Wnt proteins are secreted hydrophobic glycoproteins that act over long distances through poorly understood mechanisms. We discovered that Wnt7a is secreted on extracellular vesicles (EVs) following muscle injury. Structural analysis identified the motif responsible for Wnt7a secretion on EVs that we term the Exosome Binding Peptide (EBP). Addition of the EBP to an unrelated protein directed secretion on EVs. Disruption of palmitoylation, knockdown of WLS, or deletion of the N-terminal signal peptide did not affect Wnt7a secretion on purified EVs. Bio-ID analysis identified Coatomer proteins as candidates responsible for loading Wnt7a onto EVs. The crystal structure of EBP bound to the COPB2 coatomer subunit, the binding thermodynamics, and mutagenesis experiments, together demonstrate that a dilysine motif in the EBP mediates binding to COPB2. Other Wnts contain functionally analogous structural motifs. Mutation of the EBP results in a significant impairment in the ability of Wnt7a to stimulate regeneration, indicating that secretion of Wnt7a on exosomes is critical for normal regeneration in vivo . Our studies have defined the structural mechanism that mediates binding of Wnt7a to exosomes and elucidated the singularity of long-range Wnt signalling.

Immunofluorescence Labeling of Skeletal Muscle in Development, Regeneration, and Disease

Skeletal muscle is composed of long multinucleated cells, termed myofibers, that are formed through the activation and differentiation of resident muscle stem cells, called satellite cells. In healthy individuals, skeletal muscle enables voluntary locomotion while also playing a role in energy metabolism and thermoregulation. As skeletal muscle is integral to everyday processes, perturbations to skeletal muscle function can have devastating consequences. Here we describe an integral tool in biomedical research of skeletal muscle regeneration and disease, the immunofluorescence staining of myogenic cells. We highlight useful techniques for immunostaining myogenic cells, and we list validated antibodies for the staining of muscle proteins across different species and multiple developmental time points. This includes methods for unmasking antigens following formaldehyde fixation (using myosin heavy chain staining as an example) and practices for preserving endogenous fluorescent proteins by cardiac perfusion fixation.

Quantification of Muscle Satellite Stem Cell Divisions by High-Content Analysis

High-content screening is commonly performed on 2D cultured cells, which is high throughput but has low biological relevance. In contrast, single myofiber culture assay preserves the satellite cell niche between the basal lamina and sarcolemma and consequently has high biological relevance but is low throughput. We describe here a high-content screening method that utilizes single myofiber culture that addresses the caveats of both techniques. Our method utilizes the transgenic reporter allele Myf5-Cre:R26R-eYFP to differentiate stem and committed cells within a dividing couplet that can be quantified by high-content throughput immunodetection and bioinformatic analysis.

Transplantation to study satellite cell heterogeneity in skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle has a remarkable capacity to regenerate throughout life, which is mediated by its resident muscle stem cells, also called satellite cells. Satellite cells, located periphery to the muscle fibers and underneath the basal lamina, are an indispensable cellular source for muscle regeneration. Satellite cell transplantation into regenerating muscle contributes robustly to muscle repair, thereby indicating that satellite cells indeed function as adult muscle stem cells. Moreover, satellite cells are a heterogenous population in adult tissue, with subpopulations that can be distinguished based on gene expression, cell-cycle progression, ability to self-renew, and bi-potential ability. Transplantation assays provide a powerful tool to better understand satellite cell function in vivo enabling the separation of functionally distinct satellite cell subpopulations. In this review, we focus on transplantation strategies to explore satellite cells’ functional heterogeneity, approaches targeting the recipient tissue to improve transplantation efficiency, and common strategies to monitor the behaviour of the transplanted cells. Lastly, we discuss some recent approaches to overcome challenges to enhance the transplantation potential of muscle stem cells.

Analysis of human satellite cell dynamics on cultured adult skeletal muscle myofibers

BACKGROUND

Maintaining stem cells in physiologically relevant states is necessary to understand cell and context-specific signalling paradigms and to understand complex interfaces between cells in situ. Understanding human stem cell function is largely based on tissue biopsies, cell culture, and transplantation into model organisms.

METHODS

Here, we describe a method to isolate post-mortem intact human muscle myofibers and culture muscle stem cells within the niche microenvironment to assay cellular dynamics, stem cell identity, stem cell hierarchy, and differentiation potential.

RESULTS

We show human myofiber culture maintains complex cell-cell contacts and extracellular niche composition during culture. Human satellite cells can be cultured at least 8 days, which represents a timepoint of activation, differentiation, and de novo human myofiber formation. We demonstrate that adult human muscle stem cells undergo apicobasal and planar cell divisions and express polarized dystrophin and EGFR. Furthermore, we validate that stimulation of the EGFR pathway stimulates the generation of myogenic progenitors and myogenic differentiation.

CONCLUSIONS

This method provides proof of principle evidence for the use of human muscle to evaluate satellite cell dynamics and has applications in pre-clinical evaluation of therapeutics targeting muscle repair.

Satellite cells in ageing: use it or lose it

Individuals that maintain healthy skeletal tissue tend to live healthier, happier lives as proper muscle function enables maintenance of independence and actuation of autonomy. The onset of skeletal muscle decline begins around the age of 30, and muscle atrophy is associated with a number of serious morbidities and mortalities. Satellite cells are responsible for regeneration of skeletal muscle and enter a reversible non-dividing state of quiescence under homeostatic conditions. In response to injury, satellite cells are able to activate and re-enter the cell cycle, creating new cells to repair and create nascent muscle fibres while preserving a small population that can return to quiescence for future regenerative demands. However, in aged muscle, satellite cells that experience prolonged quiescence will undergo programmed cellular senescence, an irreversible non-dividing state that handicaps the regenerative capabilities of muscle. This review examines how periodic activation and cycling of satellite cells through exercise can mitigate senescence acquisition and myogenic decline.

Isolation of satellite cells and transplantation into mice for lineage tracing in muscle

Limited methods exist to assay the direct effects of therapeutic intervention on muscle stem cell fate, proliferation or differentiation in an in vivo context. Here we provide an optimized protocol for muscle stem cell isolation and transplantation into mice to deconvolute heterogeneity within isolated stem cell populations. Viable and pure cell populations are isolated within 2 h and can then be used for therapeutic intervention or transplantation to uncover the repopulating and differentiation potential in mice, a physiologically relevant in vivo context. Effects can be assessed 9 d after transplantation. This methodology analyzes cell and sort purity prior to transplantation to improve reproducibility and outlines novel blocking steps to improve tissue staining and analysis. Experience with surgical procedures in mice is recommended before attempting this protocol. Our system is widely applicable for exploring stem cell dynamics within muscle and has already been used to study heterogeneity within muscle stem cell populations and efficacy of therapeutic intervention on isolated stem cell populations.

Single-cell analyses uncover granularity of muscle stem cells

Satellite cells are the main muscle-resident cells responsible for muscle regeneration. Much research has described this population as being heterogeneous, but little is known about the different roles each subpopulation plays. Recent advances in the field have utilized the power of single-cell analysis to better describe and functionally characterize subpopulations of satellite cells as well as other cell groups comprising the muscle tissue. Furthermore, emerging technologies are opening the door to answering as-yet-unresolved questions pertaining to satellite cell heterogeneity and cell fate decisions.

Muscle stem cells

Feige and Rudnicki introduce muscle stem cells.

MLL1 is required for PAX7 expression and satellite cell self-renewal in mice

PAX7 is a paired-homeobox transcription factor that specifies the myogenic identity of muscle stem cells and acts as a nodal factor by stimulating proliferation while inhibiting differentiation. We previously found that PAX7 recruits the H3K4 methyltransferases MLL1/2 to epigenetically activate target genes. Here we report that in the absence of Mll1, myoblasts exhibit reduced H3K4me3 at both Pax7 and Myf5 promoters and reduced Pax7 and Myf5 expression. Mll1-deficient myoblasts fail to proliferate but retain their differentiation potential, while deletion of Mll2 had no discernable effect. Re-expression of PAX7 in committed Mll1 cKO myoblasts restored H3K4me3 enrichment at the Myf5 promoter and Myf5 expression. Deletion of Mll1 in satellite cells reduced satellite cell proliferation and self-renewal, and significantly impaired skeletal muscle regeneration. Pax7 expression was unaffected in quiescent satellite cells but was markedly downregulated following satellite cell activation. Therefore, MLL1 is required for PAX7 expression and satellite cell function in vivo. Furthermore, PAX7, but not MLL1, is required for Myf5 transcriptional activation in committed myoblasts.

PAX7 transcription factor specifies the myogenic identity of muscle stem cells and acts as a nodal factor by stimulating proliferation while inhibiting differentiation. Here authors find that Mll1 deletion in myoblasts in mice results in reduced H3K4me3 at both Pax7 and Myf5 promoters, reduced Pax7 and Myf5 expression, and proliferation defects.

Cis-regulatory determinants of MyoD function

Muscle-specific transcription factor MyoD orchestrates the myogenic gene expression program by binding to short DNA motifs called E-boxes within myogenic cis-regulatory elements (CREs). Genome-wide analyses of MyoD cistrome by chromatin immnunoprecipitation sequencing shows that MyoD-bound CREs contain multiple E-boxes of various sequences. However, how E-box numbers, sequences and their spatial arrangement within CREs collectively regulate the binding affinity and transcriptional activity of MyoD remain largely unknown. Here, by an integrative analysis of MyoD cistrome combined with genome-wide analysis of key regulatory histones and gene expression data we show that the affinity landscape of MyoD is driven by multiple E-boxes, and that the overall binding affinity—and associated nucleosome positioning and epigenetic features of the CREs—crucially depend on the variant sequences and positioning of the E-boxes within the CREs. By comparative genomic analysis of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) across publicly available data from 17 strains of laboratory mice, we show that variant sequences within the MyoD-bound motifs, but not their genome-wide counterparts, are under selection. At last, we show that the quantitative regulatory effect of MyoD binding on the nearby genes can, in part, be predicted by the motif composition of the CREs to which it binds. Taken together, our data suggest that motif numbers, sequences and their spatial arrangement within the myogenic CREs are important determinants of the cis-regulatory code of myogenic CREs.

EGFR-Aurka Signaling Rescues Polarity and Regeneration Defects in Dystrophin-Deficient Muscle Stem Cells by Increasing Asymmetric Divisions

Loss of dystrophin expression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) causes progressive degeneration of skeletal muscle, which is exacerbated by reduced self-renewing asymmetric divisions of muscle satellite cells. This, in turn, affects the production of myogenic precursors and impairs regeneration and suggests that increasing such divisions may be beneficial. Here, through a small-molecule screen, we identified epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Aurora kinase A (Aurka) as regulators of asymmetric satellite cell divisions. Inhibiting EGFR causes a substantial shift from asymmetric to symmetric division modes, whereas EGF treatment increases asymmetric divisions. EGFR activation acts through Aurka to orient mitotic centrosomes, and inhibiting Aurka blocks EGF stimulation-induced asymmetric division. In vivo EGF treatment markedly activates asymmetric divisions of dystrophin-deficient satellite cells in mdx mice, increasing progenitor numbers, enhancing regeneration, and restoring muscle strength. Therefore, activating an EGFR-dependent polarity pathway promotes functional rescue of dystrophin-deficient satellite cells and enhances muscle force generation.

Aging Disrupts Muscle Stem Cell Function by Impairing Matricellular WISP1 Secretion from Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors

Research on age-related regenerative failure of skeletal muscle has extensively focused on the phenotypes of muscle stem cells (MuSCs). In contrast, the impact of aging on regulatory cells in the MuSC niche remains largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that aging impairs the function of mouse fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) and thereby indirectly affects the myogenic potential of MuSCs. Using transcriptomic profiling, we identify WNT1 Inducible Signaling Pathway Protein 1 (WISP1) as a FAP-derived matricellular signal that is lost during aging. WISP1 is required for efficient muscle regeneration and controls the expansion and asymmetric commitment of MuSCs through Akt signaling. Transplantation of young FAPs or systemic treatment with WISP1 restores the myogenic capacity of MuSCs in aged mice and rescues skeletal muscle regeneration. Our work establishes that loss of WISP1 from FAPs contributes to MuSC dysfunction in aged skeletal muscles and demonstrates that this mechanism can be targeted to rejuvenate myogenesis.

The Dystrophin Glycoprotein Complex Regulates the Epigenetic Activation of Muscle Stem Cell Commitment

Asymmetrically dividing muscle stem cells in skeletal muscle give rise to committed cells, where the myogenic determination factor Myf5 is transcriptionally activated by Pax7. This activation is dependent on Carm1, which methylates Pax7 on multiple arginine residues, to recruit the ASH2L:MLL1/2:WDR5:RBBP5 histone methyltransferase complex to the proximal promoter of Myf5. Here, we found that Carm1 is a specific substrate of p38γ/MAPK12 and that phosphorylation of Carm1 prevents its nuclear translocation. Basal localization of the p38γ/p-Carm1 complex in muscle stem cells occurs via binding to the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex (DGC) through β1-syntrophin. In dystrophin-deficient muscle stem cells undergoing asymmetric division, p38γ/β1-syntrophin interactions are abrogated, resulting in enhanced Carm1 phosphorylation. The resulting progenitors exhibit reduced Carm1 binding to Pax7, reduced H3K4-methylation of chromatin, and reduced transcription of Myf5 and other Pax7 target genes. Therefore, our experiments suggest that dysregulation of p38γ/Carm1 results in altered epigenetic gene regulation in Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

R-spondin1 Controls Muscle Cell Fusion through Dual Regulation of Antagonistic Wnt Signaling Pathways

Wnt-mediated signals are involved in many important steps in mammalian regeneration. In multiple cell types, the R-spondin (Rspo) family of secreted proteins potently activates the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Here, we identify Rspo1 as a mediator of skeletal muscle tissue repair. First, we show that deletion of Rspo1 results in global alteration of muscle regeneration kinetics following acute injury. We find that muscle progenitor cells lacking Rspo1 show delayed differentiation due to reduced activation of Wnt/β-catenin target genes. Furthermore, muscle cells lacking Rspo1 have a fusion phenotype leading to larger myotubes containing supernumerary nuclei both in vitro and in vivo. The increase in muscle fusion was dependent on downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin and upregulation of non-canonical Wnt7a/Fzd7/Rac1 signaling. We conclude that reciprocal control of antagonistic Wnt signaling pathways by Rspo1 in muscle stem cell progeny is a key step ensuring normal tissue architecture restoration following acute damage.

The myogenic regulatory factors, determinants of muscle development, cell identity and regeneration

The Myogenic Regulatory Factors (MRFs) Myf5, MyoD, myogenin and MRF4 are members of the basic helix-loop-helix family of transcription factors that control the determination and differentiation of skeletal muscle cells during embryogenesis and postnatal myogenesis. The dynamics of their temporal and spatial expression as well as their biochemical properties have allowed the identification of a precise and hierarchical relationship between the four MRFs. This relationship establishes the myogenic lineage as well as the maintenance of the terminal myogenic phenotype. The application of genome-wide technologies has provided important new information as to how the MRFs function to activate muscle gene expression. Application of combined functional genomics technologies along with single cell lineage tracing strategies will allow a deeper understanding of the mechanisms mediating myogenic determination, cell differentiation and muscle regeneration.

Epigenetic Activation of Pro-angiogenic Signaling Pathways in Human Endothelial Progenitors Increases Vasculogenesis

Human endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) represent a promising source of adult stem cells for vascular repair, yet their regenerative capacity is limited. Here, we set out to understand the molecular mechanism restricting the repair function of ECFCs. We found that key pro-angiogenic pathways are repressed in ECFCs due to the presence of bivalent (H3K27me3/H3K4me3) epigenetic marks, which decreases the cells' regenerative potential. Importantly, ex vivo treatment with a combination of epigenetic drugs that resolves bivalent marks toward the transcriptionally active H3K4me3 state leads to the simultaneous activation of multiple pro-angiogenic signaling pathways (VEGFR, CXCR4, WNT, NOTCH, SHH). This in turn results in improved capacity of ECFCs to form capillary-like networks in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, restoration of perfusion is accelerated upon transplantation of drug-treated ECFCs in a model of hindlimb ischemia. Thus, ex vivo treatment with epigenetic drugs increases the vascular repair properties of ECFCs through transient activation of pro-angiogenic signaling pathways.

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Pro-angiogenic pathways are maintained in a poised state in ECFCs

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Epigenetic drugs resolve bivalently marked genes toward an active state in ECFCs

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Treatment with epigenetic drugs activates multiple pro-angiogenic pathways in ECFCs

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Ex vivo treatment with epigenetic drugs increases ECFC-mediated vasculogenesis

Primary Mouse Myoblast Purification using Magnetic Cell Separation

Primary myoblasts can be isolated from mouse muscle cell extracts and cultured in vitro. Muscle cells are usually dissociated manually by mincing with razor blades or scissors in a collagenase/dispase solution. Primary myoblasts are then gradually enriched by pre-plating on collagen-coated plates, based on the observation that mouse fibroblasts attach quickly to collagen-coated plates, and are less adherent. Here, we describe an automated muscle dissociation protocol. We also propose an alternative to pre-plating using magnetic bead separation of primary myoblasts, which improve myoblast purity by minimizing fibroblast contamination.

Is Growth Differentiation Factor 11 a Realistic Therapeutic for Aging-Dependent Muscle Defects?

This "Controversies in Cardiovascular Research" article evaluates the evidence for and against the hypothesis that the circulating blood level of growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) decreases in old age and that restoring normal GDF11 levels in old animals rejuvenates their skeletal muscle and reverses pathological cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction. Studies supporting the original GDF11 hypothesis in skeletal and cardiac muscle have not been validated by several independent groups. These new studies have either found no effects of restoring normal GDF11 levels on cardiac structure and function or have shown that increasing GDF11 or its closely related family member growth differentiation factor 8 actually impairs skeletal muscle repair in old animals. One possible explanation for what seems to be mutually exclusive findings is that the original reagent used to measure GDF11 levels also detected many other molecules so that age-dependent changes in GDF11 are still not well known. The more important issue is whether increasing blood [GDF11] repairs old skeletal muscle and reverses age-related cardiac pathologies. There are substantial new and existing data showing that GDF8/11 can exacerbate rather than rejuvenate skeletal muscle injury in old animals. There is also new evidence disputing the idea that there is pathological hypertrophy in old C57bl6 mice and that GDF11 therapy can reverse cardiac pathologies. Finally, high [GDF11] causes reductions in body and heart weight in both young and old animals, suggestive of a cachexia effect. Our conclusion is that elevating blood levels of GDF11 in the aged might cause more harm than good.

Loss of fibronectin from the aged stem cell niche affects the regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle in mice

Age-related changes in the niche have long been postulated to impair the function of somatic stem cells. Here we demonstrate that the aged stem cell niche in skeletal muscle contains substantially reduced levels of fibronectin (FN), leading to detrimental consequences for the function and maintenance of muscle stem cells (MuSCs). Deletion of the gene encoding FN from young regenerating muscles replicates the aging phenotype and leads to a loss of MuSC numbers. By using an extracellular matrix (ECM) library screen and pathway profiling, we characterize FN as a preferred adhesion substrate for MuSCs and demonstrate that integrin-mediated signaling through focal adhesion kinase and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is strongly de-regulated in MuSCs from aged mice because of insufficient attachment to the niche. Reconstitution of FN levels in the aged niche remobilizes stem cells and restores youth-like muscle regeneration. Taken together, we identify the loss of stem cell adhesion to FN in the niche ECM as a previously unknown aging mechanism.

Notch Signaling Rescues Loss of Satellite Cells Lacking Pax7 and Promotes Brown Adipogenic Differentiation

Pax7 is a nodal transcription factor that is essential for regulating the maintenance, expansion, and myogenic identity of satellite cells during both neonatal and adult myogenesis. Deletion of Pax7 results in loss of satellite cells and impaired muscle regeneration. Here, we show that ectopic expression of the constitutively active intracellular domain of Notch1 (NICD1) rescues the loss of Pax7-deficient satellite cells and restores their proliferative potential. Strikingly NICD1-expressing satellite cells do not undergo myogenic differentiation and instead acquire a brown adipogenic fate both in vivo and in vitro. NICD-expressing Pax7(-/-) satellite cells fail to upregulate MyoD and instead express the brown adipogenic marker PRDM16. Overall, these results show that Notch1 activation compensates for the loss of Pax7 in the quiescent state and acts as a molecular switch to promote brown adipogenesis in adult skeletal muscle.

Targeting muscle stem cell intrinsic defects to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease characterised by skeletal muscle degeneration and progressive muscle wasting, which is caused by loss-of-function mutations in the DMD gene that encodes for the protein dystrophin. Dystrophin has critical roles in myofiber stability and integrity by connecting the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix. Absence of dystrophin leads to myofiber fragility and contributes to skeletal muscle degeneration in DMD patients, however, accumulating evidence also indicate that muscle stem cells (also known as satellite cells) are defective in dystrophic muscles, which leads to impaired muscle regeneration. Our recent work demonstrated that dystrophin is expressed in activated satellite cells, where it regulates the establishment of satellite cell polarity and asymmetric cell division. These findings indicate that dystrophin-deficient satellite cells have intrinsic dysfunctions that contribute to muscle wasting and progression of the disease. This discovery suggests that satellite cells could be targeted to treat DMD. Here we discuss how these new findings affect regenerative therapies for muscular dystrophies. Therapies targeting satellite cells hold great potential and could have long-term efficiency owing to the high self-renewal ability of these cells.

Satellite Cells in Muscular Dystrophy - Lost in Polarity

Recent findings employing the mdx mouse model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have revealed that muscle satellite stem cells play a direct role in contributing to disease etiology and progression of DMD, the most common and severe form of muscular dystrophy. Lack of dystrophin expression in DMD has critical consequences in satellite cells including an inability to establish cell polarity, abrogation of asymmetric satellite stem-cell divisions, and failure to enter the myogenic program. Thus, muscle wasting in dystrophic mice is not only caused by myofiber fragility but is exacerbated by intrinsic satellite cell dysfunction leading to impaired regeneration. Despite intense research and clinical efforts, there is still no effective cure for DMD. In this review we highlight recent research advances in DMD and discuss the current state of treatment and, importantly, how we can incorporate satellite cell-targeted therapeutic strategies to correct satellite cell dysfunction in DMD.

Satellite Cells and Skeletal Muscle Regeneration

Skeletal muscles are essential for vital functions such as movement, postural support, breathing, and thermogenesis. Muscle tissue is largely composed of long, postmitotic multinucleated fibers. The life-long maintenance of muscle tissue is mediated by satellite cells, lying in close proximity to the muscle fibers. Muscle satellite cells are a heterogeneous population with a small subset of muscle stem cells, termed satellite stem cells. Under homeostatic conditions all satellite cells are poised for activation by stimuli such as physical trauma or growth signals. After activation, satellite stem cells undergo symmetric divisions to expand their number or asymmetric divisions to give rise to cohorts of committed satellite cells and thus progenitors. Myogenic progenitors proliferate, and eventually differentiate through fusion with each other or to damaged fibers to reconstitute fiber integrity and function. In the recent years, research has begun to unravel the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms controlling satellite cell behavior. Nonetheless, an understanding of the complex cellular and molecular interactions of satellite cells with their dynamic microenvironment remains a major challenge, especially in pathological conditions. The goal of this review is to comprehensively summarize the current knowledge on satellite cell characteristics, functions, and behavior in muscle regeneration and in pathological conditions.

Efficacy of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy for Acute Lung Injury in Preclinical Animal Models: A Systematic Review

The Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating clinical condition that is associated with a 30–40% risk of death, and significant long term morbidity for those who survive. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have emerged as a potential novel treatment as in pre-clinical models they have been shown to modulate inflammation (a major pathophysiological hallmark of ARDS) while enhancing bacterial clearance and reducing organ injury and death. A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS and Web of Science was performed to identify pre-clinical studies that examined the efficacy MSCs as compared to diseased controls for the treatment of Acute Lung Injury (ALI) (the pre-clinical correlate of human ARDS) on mortality, a clinically relevant outcome. We assessed study quality and pooled results using random effect meta-analysis. A total of 54 publications met our inclusion criteria of which 17 (21 experiments) reported mortality and were included in the meta-analysis. Treatment with MSCs, as compared to controls, significantly decreased the overall odds of death in animals with ALI (Odds Ratio 0.24, 95% Confidence Interval 0.18–0.34, I² 8%). Efficacy was maintained across different types of animal models and means of ALI induction; MSC origin, source, route of administration and preparation; and the clinical relevance of the model (timing of MSC administration, administration of fluids and or antibiotics). Reporting of standard MSC characterization for experiments that used human MSCs and risks of bias was generally poor, and although not statistically significant, a funnel plot analysis for overall mortality suggested the presence of publication bias. The results from our meta-analysis support that MSCs substantially reduce the odds of death in animal models of ALI but important reporting elements were sub optimal and limit the strength of our conclusions.

Concise Review: Epigenetic Regulation of Myogenesis in Health and Disease

This review describes the recent findings on epigenetic regulation in satellite stem cells and committed myoblasts. It also addresses the potential of epigenetic drugs, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors, and their molecular mechanism of action in muscle cells.

Skeletal muscle regeneration is initiated by satellite cells, a population of adult stem cells that reside in the muscle tissue. The ability of satellite cells to self-renew and to differentiate into the muscle lineage is under transcriptional and epigenetic control. Satellite cells are characterized by an open and permissive chromatin state. The transcription factor Pax7 is necessary for satellite cell function. Pax7 is a nodal factor regulating the expression of genes associated with satellite cell growth and proliferation, while preventing differentiation. Pax7 recruits chromatin modifiers to DNA to induce expression of specific target genes involved in myogenic commitment following asymmetric division of muscle stem cells. Emerging evidence suggests that replacement of canonical histones with histone variants is an important regulatory mechanism controlling the ability of satellite cells and myoblasts to differentiate. Differentiation into the muscle lineage is associated with a global gene repression characterized by a decrease in histone acetylation with an increase in repressive histone marks. However, genes important for differentiation are upregulated by the specific action of histone acetyltransferases and other chromatin modifiers, in combination with several transcription factors, including MyoD and Mef2. Treatment with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors enhances muscle regeneration and is considered as a therapeutic approach in the treatment of muscular dystrophy. This review describes the recent findings on epigenetic regulation in satellite stem cells and committed myoblasts. The potential of epigenetic drugs, such as HDAC inhibitors, as well as their molecular mechanism of action in muscle cells, will be addressed.

Significance

This review summarizes recent findings concerning the epigenetic regulation of satellite cells in skeletal muscle.

Temporal activation of XRCC1-mediated DNA repair is essential for muscle differentiation

Transient DNA strand break formation has been identified as an effective means to enhance gene expression in living cells. In the muscle lineage, cell differentiation is contingent upon the induction of caspase-mediated DNA strand breaks, which act to establish the terminal gene expression program. This coordinated DNA nicking is rapidly resolved, suggesting that myoblasts may deploy DNA repair machinery to stabilize the genome and entrench the differentiated phenotype. Here, we identify the base excision repair pathway component XRCC1 as an indispensable mediator of muscle differentiation. Caspase-triggered XRCC1 repair foci form rapidly within differentiating myonuclei, and then dissipate as the maturation program proceeds. Skeletal myoblast deletion of Xrcc1 does not have an impact on cell growth, yet leads to perinatal lethality, with sustained DNA damage and impaired myofiber development. Together, these results demonstrate that XRCC1 manages a temporally responsive DNA repair process to advance the muscle differentiation program.

PAX7 is required for patterning the esophageal musculature

Background

The mammalian esophageal musculature is unique in that it makes a transition from smooth to skeletal muscle, with most of this process occurring after birth. In order to better understand the mechanisms that control esophageal musculature development, we investigated the roles in this process of the paired box transcription factor, PAX7, a principal regulator of skeletal myogenic progenitor cells. Previous studies showed that Pax7 is important for determining the esophageal muscle composition.

Results

We characterized the postnatal development of the esophageal musculature in Pax7^−/− mice by analyzing morphology, muscle composition, and the expression of markers of myogenesis, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Pax7^−/− mice displayed megaesophagus with a severe defect in the postnatal developmental process whereby esophageal smooth muscle is replaced by skeletal muscle. Pax7^−/− esophagi have substantially reduced skeletal muscle, most likely due to diminished proliferation and premature differentiation of skeletal muscle precursor cells. This impaired the proximal-to-distal progression of skeletal myogenesis and indirectly affected the patterning of the smooth muscle-containing portion of the esophageal musculature.

Conclusions

Postnatal patterning of the esophageal musculature appears to require robust, PAX7-dependent cell proliferation to drive the proximal-to-distal progression of skeletal myogenesis. This process in turn influences distal smooth muscle morphogenesis and development of the mature pattern of the esophageal musculature.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13395-015-0068-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Dystrophin expression in muscle stem cells regulates their polarity and asymmetric division

Dystrophin is expressed in differentiated myofibers, in which it is required for sarcolemmal integrity, and loss-of-function mutations in the gene that encodes it result in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a disease characterized by progressive and severe skeletal muscle degeneration. Here we found that dystrophin is also highly expressed in activated muscle stem cells (also known as satellite cells), in which it associates with the serine-threonine kinase Mark2 (also known as Par1b), an important regulator of cell polarity. In the absence of dystrophin, expression of Mark2 protein is downregulated, resulting in the inability to localize the cell polarity regulator Pard3 to the opposite side of the cell. Consequently, the number of asymmetric divisions is strikingly reduced in dystrophin-deficient satellite cells, which also display a loss of polarity, abnormal division patterns (including centrosome amplification), impaired mitotic spindle orientation and prolonged cell divisions. Altogether, these intrinsic defects strongly reduce the generation of myogenic progenitors that are needed for proper muscle regeneration. Therefore, we conclude that dystrophin has an essential role in the regulation of satellite cell polarity and asymmetric division. Our findings indicate that muscle wasting in DMD not only is caused by myofiber fragility, but also is exacerbated by impaired regeneration owing to intrinsic satellite cell dysfunction.

Wnt signaling in bone and muscle

Wnt signaling plays key roles in many aspects of development. In this review, we will briefly describe the components of signaling pathways induced by Wnt ligands and then describe the current state of research as this applies to aspects of development and disease as it relates to skeletal muscle and bone. We will conclude with a discussion of the parallels and differences in Wnt signaling in these two contexts and how these pathways are being (or could potentially be) targeted for therapeutic treatment of musculoskeletal diseases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Muscle Bone Interactions".

GDF11 and the Mythical Fountain of Youth

Identifying candidates that rejuvenate aged muscle stem cells is an important strategy toward developing therapies to treat age-related diseases. In this issue, Egerman et al. (2015) re-investigate the activity of GDF11 in myogenesis, recently suggested as an anti-aging agent, and instead find a potent inhibitory effect on skeletal muscle regeneration.

Intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms regulating satellite cell function

Muscle stem cells, termed satellite cells, are crucial for skeletal muscle growth and regeneration. In healthy adult muscle, satellite cells are quiescent but poised for activation. During muscle regeneration, activated satellite cells transiently re-enter the cell cycle to proliferate and subsequently exit the cell cycle to differentiate or self-renew. Recent studies have demonstrated that satellite cells are heterogeneous and that subpopulations of satellite stem cells are able to perform asymmetric divisions to generate myogenic progenitors or symmetric divisions to expand the satellite cell pool. Thus, a complex balance between extrinsic cues and intrinsic regulatory mechanisms is needed to tightly control satellite cell cycle progression and cell fate determination. Defects in satellite cell regulation or in their niche, as observed in degenerative conditions such as aging, can impair muscle regeneration. Here, we review recent discoveries of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that regulate satellite cell behaviour in regenerating and degenerating muscles.

Summary: This Review discusses how satellite stem cell behaviour is regulated during regeneration and degeneration by a complex balance between extrinsic cues and intrinsic regulatory mechanisms.

Wnt/β-catenin controls follistatin signalling to regulate satellite cell myogenic potential

BACKGROUND

Adult skeletal muscle regeneration is a highly orchestrated process involving the activation and proliferation of satellite cells, an adult skeletal muscle stem cell. Activated satellite cells generate a transient amplifying progenitor pool of myoblasts that commit to differentiation and fuse into multinucleated myotubes. During regeneration, canonical Wnt signalling is activated and has been implicated in regulating myogenic lineage progression and terminal differentiation.

METHODS

Here, we have undertaken a gene expression analysis of committed satellite cell-derived myoblasts to examine their ability to respond to canonical Wnt/β-catenin signalling.

RESULTS

We found that activation of canonical Wnt signalling induces follistatin expression in myoblasts and promotes myoblast fusion in a follistatin-dependent manner. In growth conditions, canonical Wnt/β-catenin signalling prime myoblasts for myogenic differentiation by stimulating myogenin and follistatin expression. We further found that myogenin binds elements in the follistatin promoter and thus acts downstream of myogenin during differentiation. Finally, ectopic activation of canonical Wnt signalling in vivo promoted premature differentiation during muscle regeneration following acute injury.

CONCLUSIONS

Together, these data reveal a novel mechanism by which myogenin mediates the canonical Wnt/β-catenin-dependent activation of follistatin and induction of the myogenic differentiation process.

Periostin induces pancreatic regeneration

We found that the secreted protein periostin (Postn) is highly induced after partial pancreatectomy in regenerating areas containing mesenchymal stroma and tubular complexes. Importantly, after partial pancreatectomy, Postn-deficient mice exhibit impaired mesenchymal formation and reduced regeneration specifically within the pancreatic β-cell compartment. Furthermore, Postn-deficient mice demonstrate an increased sensitivity to streptozotocin. Notably, injection of Postn directly into the pancreas stimulated proliferation of vimentin-expressing cells within 24 hours, and by 3 days, a mesenchymal stroma was present containing proliferating duct-like cells expressing the progenitor markers Ngn3 and Pdx1. Intraperitoneal injection of Postn resulted in increased numbers of islets and long-term glucoregulatory benefits with no adverse effects found in other tissues. Delivery of Postn throughout the pancreas via the common bile duct resulted in increased numbers of small insulin-expressing clusters and a significant improvement in glucose tolerance. Therefore, Postn is novel molecule capable of potentiating pancreatic β-cell regeneration.

Muscle stem cells at a glance

Muscle stem cells facilitate the long-term regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle. This self-renewing population of satellite cells has only recently been defined through genetic and transplantation experiments. Although muscle stem cells remain in a dormant quiescent state in uninjured muscle, they are poised to activate and produce committed progeny. Unlike committed myogenic progenitor cells, the self-renewal capacity gives muscle stem cells the ability to engraft as satellite cells and capitulate long-term regeneration. Similar to other adult stem cells, understanding the molecular regulation of muscle stem cells has significant implications towards the development of pharmacological or cell-based therapies for muscle disorders. This Cell Science at a Glance article and accompanying poster will review satellite cell characteristics and therapeutic potential, and provide an overview of the muscle stem cell hallmarks: quiescence, self-renewal and commitment.

Inhibition of JAK-STAT signaling stimulates adult satellite cell function

Diminished regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle occurs during adulthood. We identified a reduction in the intrinsic capacity of murine adult satellite cells to contribute to regeneration and repopulate the niche. Gene expression analysis identified an increase in expression of JAK/STAT signaling targets between 3 week old and 18 month old mice. Knockdown of Jak2 or Stat3 significantly stimulated symmetric satellite stem cell divisions on cultured myofibers. Knockdown of Jak2 or Stat3 in prospectively isolated satellite cells markedly enhanced their ability to repopulate the satellite cell niche. Pharmacological inhibition of Jak2 and Stat3 similarly stimulated symmetric expansion of satellite cells in vitro and their engraftment in vivo. Intramuscular injection of these drugs resulted in a dramatic enhancement of muscle repair and force generation. Together these results reveal intrinsic properties that functionally distinguish adult satellite cells and suggest a promising therapeutic avenue for the treatment of muscle wasting diseases.

Notch signaling deficiency underlies age-dependent depletion of satellite cells in muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating disease characterized by muscle wasting, loss of mobility and death in early adulthood. Satellite cells are muscle-resident stem cells responsible for the repair and regeneration of damaged muscles. One pathological feature of DMD is the progressive depletion of satellite cells, leading to the failure of muscle repair. Here, we attempted to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying satellite cell ablation in the dystrophin mutant mdx mouse, a well-established model for DMD. Initial muscle degeneration activates satellite cells, resulting in increased satellite cell number in young mdx mice. This is followed by rapid loss of satellite cells with age due to the reduced self-renewal ability of mdx satellite cells. In addition, satellite cell composition is altered even in young mdx mice, with significant reductions in the abundance of non-committed (Pax7⁺ and Myf5⁻) satellite cells. Using a Notch-reporter mouse, we found that the mdx satellite cells have reduced activation of Notch signaling, which has been shown to be necessary to maintain satellite cell quiescence and self-renewal. Concomitantly, the expression of Notch1, Notch3, Jag1, Hey1 and HeyL are reduced in the mdx primary myoblast. Finally, we established a mouse model to constitutively activate Notch signaling in satellite cells, and show that Notch activation is sufficient to rescue the self-renewal deficiencies of mdx satellite cells. These results demonstrate that Notch signaling is essential for maintaining the satellite cell pool and that its deficiency leads to depletion of satellite cells in DMD.

Oct4 interaction with Hmgb2 regulates Akt signaling and pluripotency

In pluripotent stem cells, bivalent domains mark the promoters of developmentally regulated loci. Histones in these chromatin regions contain coincident epigenetic modifications of gene activation and repression. How these marks are transmitted to maintain the pluripotent state in daughter progeny remains poorly understood. Our study demonstrates that Oct4 post-translational modifications (PTMs) form a positive feedback loop, which promotes Akt activation and interaction with Hmgb2 and the SET complex. This preserves H3K27me3 modifications in daughter progeny and maintains the pluripotent gene expression signature in murine embryonic stem cells. However, if Oct4 is not phosphorylated, a negative feedback loop is formed that inactivates Akt and initiates the DNA damage response. Oct4 sumoylation then is required for G1/S progression and transmission of the repressive H3K27me3 mark. Therefore, PTMs regulate the ability of Oct4 to direct the spatio-temporal formation of activating and repressing complexes to orchestrate chromatin plasticity and pluripotency. Our work highlights a previously unappreciated role for Oct4 PTM-dependent interactions in maintaining restrained Akt signaling and promoting a primitive epigenetic state.

Wnt7a stimulates myogenic stem cell motility and engraftment resulting in improved muscle strength

Wnt7a/Fzd7 signaling stimulates skeletal muscle growth and repair by inducing the symmetric expansion of satellite stem cells through the planar cell polarity pathway and by activating the Akt/mTOR growth pathway in muscle fibers. Here we describe a third level of activity where Wnt7a/Fzd7 increases the polarity and directional migration of mouse satellite cells and human myogenic progenitors through activation of Dvl2 and the small GTPase Rac1. Importantly, these effects can be exploited to potentiate the outcome of myogenic cell transplantation into dystrophic muscles. We observed that a short Wnt7a treatment markedly stimulated tissue dispersal and engraftment, leading to significantly improved muscle function. Moreover, myofibers at distal sites that fused with Wnt7a-treated cells were hypertrophic, suggesting that the transplanted cells deliver activated Wnt7a/Fzd7 signaling complexes to recipient myofibers. Taken together, we describe a viable and effective ex vivo cell modulation process that profoundly enhances the efficacy of stem cell therapy for skeletal muscle.

NF-κB-mediated Pax7 dysregulation in the muscle microenvironment promotes cancer cachexia

Cachexia is a debilitating condition characterized by extreme skeletal muscle wasting that contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. Efforts to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of muscle loss have predominantly focused on events intrinsic to the myofiber. In contrast, less regard has been given to potential contributory factors outside the fiber within the muscle microenvironment. In tumor-bearing mice and patients with pancreatic cancer, we found that cachexia was associated with a type of muscle damage resulting in activation of both satellite and nonsatellite muscle progenitor cells. These muscle progenitors committed to a myogenic program, but were inhibited from completing differentiation by an event linked with persistent expression of the self-renewing factor Pax7. Overexpression of Pax7 was sufficient to induce atrophy in normal muscle, while under tumor conditions, the reduction of Pax7 or exogenous addition of its downstream target, MyoD, reversed wasting by restoring cell differentiation and fusion with injured fibers. Furthermore, Pax7 was induced by serum factors from cachectic mice and patients, in an NF-κB-dependent manner, both in vitro and in vivo. Together, these results suggest that Pax7 responds to NF-κB by impairing the regenerative capacity of myogenic cells in the muscle microenvironment to drive muscle wasting in cancer.