About this Research Topic
Skeletal muscle is widely distributed from lower animals, such as coelenterates, to vertebrates and is the most abundant tissue in the body in terms of body mass.
Skeletal muscle has a very high regenerative capacity due to the presence of a stem cell population called muscle stem cells or satellite cells in the skeletal muscle of adult animals. Satellite cells in adult animal skeletal muscle differentiate into specific cell types called myofibers, which are involved in muscle growth and repair. Mononuclear satellite cells exist in a mitotic quiescent state outside the plasma membrane and inside the basement membrane of multinucleated myofibers. Upon stimulation, such as exercise or trauma, satellite cells are activated and initiate division, leading to the transition to muscle progenitor cells. Progenitor cells increase in number through mitosis and eventually cease dividing and begin expressing skeletal muscle structural protein genes that contribute to the formation, repair, and extension of new myofibers by fusing with each other and with existing myofibers.
Some satellite cells revert to a stem cell population and maintain skeletal muscle performance throughout life (self-renewal potential). Because of their high proliferative and myogenic potential, satellite cells can be used for regenerative therapeutic purposes to regenerate and repair skeletal muscle tissue damaged and dysfunctional due to disease, injury, or aging.
This Research Topic welcomes original articles, short papers, and review articles that aim to shed light on the underlying biology, applications, and perspectives with a focus on the biology of satellite cells and stem cell-based regenerative medicine as a novel therapeutic approach for skeletal muscle repair, muscle diseases, and age-related muscle atrophy.
Skeletal muscle has a very high regenerative capacity due to the presence of a stem cell population called muscle stem cells or satellite cells in the skeletal muscle of adult animals. Satellite cells in adult animal skeletal muscle differentiate into specific cell types called myofibers, which are involved in muscle growth and repair. Mononuclear satellite cells exist in a mitotic quiescent state outside the plasma membrane and inside the basement membrane of multinucleated myofibers. Upon stimulation, such as exercise or trauma, satellite cells are activated and initiate division, leading to the transition to muscle progenitor cells. Progenitor cells increase in number through mitosis and eventually cease dividing and begin expressing skeletal muscle structural protein genes that contribute to the formation, repair, and extension of new myofibers by fusing with each other and with existing myofibers.
Some satellite cells revert to a stem cell population and maintain skeletal muscle performance throughout life (self-renewal potential). Because of their high proliferative and myogenic potential, satellite cells can be used for regenerative therapeutic purposes to regenerate and repair skeletal muscle tissue damaged and dysfunctional due to disease, injury, or aging.
This Research Topic welcomes original articles, short papers, and review articles that aim to shed light on the underlying biology, applications, and perspectives with a focus on the biology of satellite cells and stem cell-based regenerative medicine as a novel therapeutic approach for skeletal muscle repair, muscle diseases, and age-related muscle atrophy.
Keywords: skeletal muscle, satellite cells, muscle atrophy, muscle repair
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