ABSTRACT: Skeletal muscle has abilities to regenerate after injuries and adapt to mechanical loadings. Compared with the regenerative processes, the cellular networks in the loaded muscles have not been well-explored. In this analyses, we did single-cell RNA sequencing to unveil the gene expression signature of individual cells and the cellular networks in surgically overloaded muscle.
Project description:Optimal cell-based therapies for the treatment of muscle degenerative disorders should not only regenerate fibers, but provide a quiescent satellite cell pool ensuring long-term maintenance and regeneration. Conditional expression of Pax3/Pax7 in differentiating pluripotent stem cells (PSC) allows the generation of myogenic progenitors endowed with satellite cell-like abilities. To identify the molecular determinants underlying their regenerative potential, we performed transcriptome analyses of these cells along with primary myogenic cells from several developmental stages. Here we show that in vitro generated PSC-derived myogenic progenitors possess a molecular signature similar to embryonic/fetal myoblasts. However, compared to fetal myoblasts, following transplantation they show superior myofiber engraftment and ability to seed the satellite cell niche, respond to multiple re-injuries and contribute to long-term regeneration. Upon engraftment, the transcriptome of Pax3/Pax7-induced PSC-derived myogenic progenitors changes dramatically, acquiring similarity to that of satellite cells, particularly in genes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling. Single cell profiling reveals that these changes are induced, not selected, by the in vivo environment. These findings demonstrate that Pax3/Pax7-induced PSC-derived myogenic progenitors possess proliferative and migratory abilities characteristic of earlier developmental stages, and an intrinsic ability to respond to environmental cues upon skeletal muscle regeneration.
Project description:Optimal cell-based therapies for the treatment of muscle degenerative disorders should not only regenerate fibers, but provide a quiescent satellite cell pool ensuring long-term maintenance and regeneration. Conditional expression of Pax3/Pax7 in differentiating pluripotent stem cells (PSC) allows the generation of myogenic progenitors endowed with satellite cell-like abilities. To identify the molecular determinants underlying their regenerative potential, we performed transcriptome analyses of these cells along with primary myogenic cells from several developmental stages. Here we show that in vitro generated PSC-derived myogenic progenitors possess a molecular signature similar to embryonic/fetal myoblasts. However, compared to fetal myoblasts, following transplantation they show superior myofiber engraftment and ability to seed the satellite cell niche, respond to multiple re-injuries and contribute to long-term regeneration. Upon engraftment, the transcriptome of Pax3/Pax7-induced PSC-derived myogenic progenitors changes dramatically, acquiring similarity to that of satellite cells, particularly in genes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling. Single cell profiling reveals that these changes are induced, not selected, by the in vivo environment. These findings demonstrate that Pax3/Pax7-induced PSC-derived myogenic progenitors possess proliferative and migratory abilities characteristic of earlier developmental stages, and an intrinsic ability to respond to environmental cues upon skeletal muscle regeneration.
Project description:Optimal cell-based therapies for the treatment of muscle degenerative disorders should not only regenerate fibers, but provide a quiescent satellite cell pool ensuring long-term maintenance and regeneration. Conditional expression of Pax3/Pax7 in differentiating pluripotent stem cells (PSC) allows the generation of myogenic progenitors endowed with satellite cell-like abilities. To identify the molecular determinants underlying their regenerative potential, we performed transcriptome analyses of these cells along with primary myogenic cells from several developmental stages. Here we show that in vitro generated PSC-derived myogenic progenitors possess a molecular signature similar to embryonic/fetal myoblasts. However, compared to fetal myoblasts, following transplantation they show superior myofiber engraftment and ability to seed the satellite cell niche, respond to multiple re-injuries and contribute to long-term regeneration. Upon engraftment, the transcriptome of Pax3/Pax7-induced PSC-derived myogenic progenitors changes dramatically, acquiring similarity to that of satellite cells, particularly in genes involved in extracellular matrix remodeling. Single cell profiling reveals that these changes are induced, not selected, by the in vivo environment. These findings demonstrate that Pax3/Pax7-induced PSC-derived myogenic progenitors possess proliferative and migratory abilities characteristic of earlier developmental stages, and an intrinsic ability to respond to environmental cues upon skeletal muscle regeneration.
Project description:Healthy muscle heals and repairs after injury. However, when mice are treated with dexamethasone, an agonist of glucocorticoid receptors, heterotopic ossifications (HO) develop in the injured muscle within fibrotic areas that fail to fully regenerate functional muscle. To understand the mechanisms driving heterotopic ossification in response to glucocorticoid receptor agonists, we performed RNA seqencing analysis on injured muscle. Mice underwent muscle injuries by intramuscular injection of cardiotoxin (CDTX). All mice were treated with either vehicle or dexamethasone (10mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection) daily from day 0-4. polyA+ RNA was isolated from whole muscle 4 days post injury, libraries generated and sequenced.
Project description:Skeletal muscle possesses the ability to adapt its size in response to milieus, which is called plasticity. Resistance training induces the increment of muscle mass called muscle hypertrophy. Muscle stem cells (MuSC; also known as muscle stem cells) function to supply new nuclei for myofiber during the overload in muscle. We found that Yap1 and Taz in mesenchymal progenitors (also called FAPs) are critical for MuSC proliferation in overloaded muscles. We hypothsize that Yap1/Taz-dependent mesenchymal progenitors derived factor induces MuSC proliferation. In order to identify such factors, RNA-seq of overloaded FAPs were performed.
Project description:Cardiotoxin was injected into left soleus muscle of adult rats. Right muscle was kept intact. Ambulation recovery was allowed for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of regeneration period, both left and right soleus muscles were overloaded by the transection of synergists' tendons for 2 weeks. We tested 6 muscles for each group. RNA samples were mixed with same amount from each muscle toward analysis by microarray.
Project description:Cardiotoxin was injected into left soleus muscle of adult rats. Right muscle was kept intact. Ambulation recovery was allowed for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of regeneration period, both left and right soleus muscles were overloaded by the transection of synergists' tendons for 2 weeks.
Project description:Volumetric muscle loss (VML) overwhelms the innate regenerative capacity of mammalian skeletal muscle (SkM), leading to numerous disabilities and reduced quality of life. Immune cells are critical responders to muscle injury and guide tissue resident stem cell and progenitor mediated myogenic repair. However, how immune cell infiltration and inter-cellular communication networks are altered following VML and drive pathological outcomes remains under-explored. Herein, we characterize the cellular and molecular mechanisms of VML injuries that result in fibrotic degeneration or regeneration of SkM. Following degenerative VML injuries, we observe heightened infiltration of a previously uncharacterized population of Natural Killer (NK) cells as well as persistence of neutrophils beyond two weeks post injury. Functional validation of NK cells revealed an antagonistic role on neutrophil accumulation in part via CCR1 mediated chemotaxis. The persistent infiltration of neutrophils in degenerative VML injuries was found to contribute to impairments in muscle stem cell regenerative function, which was also attenuated by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFb1). Blocking TGFb signaling antagonized neutrophil accumulation, reduced fibrosis, and improved muscle specific force. Collectively, these results enhance our understanding of immune cell-stem cell crosstalk that drives regenerative dysfunction and provide further insight into possible avenues for fibrotic therapy exploration.
Project description:Skeletal muscle possesses the ability to adapt its size in response to milieus, which is called plasticity. Resistance training induces the increment of muscle mass called muscle hypertrophy. Muscle stem cells (MuSC; also known as muscle stem cells) function to supply new nuclei for myofiber during the overload in muscle. We hypothesize that mesenchymal progenitors (also called FAPs) -derived factor induces MuSC proliferation. In order to identify such factors, RNA-seq of overloaded FAPs were performed.