The Multiple Roles of Muscle Stem Cells in Skeletal Muscle Health
HU Ping1,2*
Muscle stem cells are a group of tissue stem cells present in skeletal muscles. Muscle stem cells can specifically differentiate to myotubes and support the regeneration of skeletal muscles. Muscle stem cells are the major executors of muscle regeneration. They are highly heterogeneous and regulated by a well knitted network of microenvironment and cell intrinsic molecular signaling. Not only many skeletal diseases but also nonmuscle diseases like adolescent idiopathic scoliosis turn out to be caused by the dysfunction of muscle stem cells. Therefore, muscle stem cell transplantation will improve and cure these stem cell related diseases. The establishment of the in vitro expansion system to expand functional muscle stem cells has great impacts on the development of cell therapies for these muscle stem cell related diseases.
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