How to speed up muscle recovery

A study led by researchers at the University of California, San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, provides new insights into the development of therapies for muscle disease, injury and atrophy. By studying how different pluripotent stem cell lines build muscle, researchers have for the first time discovered how epigenetic mechanisms can be induced to accelerate muscle cell growth at different stages of stem cell differentiation.

The findings were published on March 17. Scientific progress.

“Stem cell approaches that can promote muscle regeneration and growth will improve the quality of life for many people, from children born with congenital muscle disease to people who lose muscle mass and strength due to aging,” he said. Shankar Subramaniam, a leading professor of bioengineering, computer science and engineering, and cellular and molecular medicine at the UC San Diego and lead corresponding author on the study. “Here we have discovered that specific factors and mechanisms can be stimulated in external ways to promote rapid growth.”

The researchers used three different human-induced pluripotent stem cell lines and studied how they differentiate into muscle cells. Of the three, one cell grew to muscle the fastest. The researchers looked at what factors made this line different from the rest, and then induced the factors in the other lines to see if they could accelerate muscle growth.

They found that following various epigenetic mechanisms at different times accelerated muscle growth in the “slower” pluripotent stem cell lines. This includes the inhibition of a gene called ZIC3 at the beginning of the differentiation, followed by the addition of proteins called beta-catenin transcription factors later in the growth process.

“An important takeaway here is that not all pluripotent stem cells have the same ability to regenerate,” Subramaniam said. “Identifying factors that will drive these cells for specific rebirth will help a lot in regenerative medicine.”

Next, the team will investigate therapeutic interventions, such as medicines, that can stimulate and accelerate muscle growth at different stages of differentiation in human-induced pluripotent stem cells. They will also see if the implantation of specific pluripotent stem cells in dystrophic muscles can stimulate new muscle growth in animals. Finally, they want to see if such a stem cell-based approach can regenerate muscles in older people.