Stem Cells in Muscle Contractures of Children with Cerebral Palsy have Decreased Myogenic and Increased Fibrotic Transcripts
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE309114 | GEO | 2026/06/18
REPOSITORIES: GEO
Similar Datasets
Project description:Limb contractures are a debilitating and progressive consequence of a wide range of pediatric conditions that affect skeletal muscles, including perinatal brain injury causing cerebral palsy (CP). While several rehabilitation therapies are currently used in the clinical setting, their long-term effectiveness in treating contractures is marginal since they do not change underlying muscle biological properties. Therefore, new therapies based on a biological understanding of contracture development are needed. Here we show that myoblast progenitor cells from contractured muscle in children with CP had higher rates of proliferation than control cells from typically developing children. This phenotype was associated with upregulation of DNMT3a and patterns of DNA hypermethylation and gene expression that favored cell expansion over quiescence. Treatment of CP progenitors with 5-azacytidine (AZA), a DNMT inhibitor and hypomethylating agent, normalized this epigenetic imprint and promoted exit from mitosis. Together with previous studies demonstrating reduction in myoblast differentiation capacity, these data suggest that mechanisms of early myofiber growth and establishment of an adult population of quiescent stem cells could be compromised in CP. Hypomethylating agents like AZA could be used to rescue myogenesis and promote muscle growth in contractured muscle and thus may represent a new approach to treating this devastating condition
2021-04-02 | GSE171318 | GEO
Project description:Limb contractures are a debilitating and progressive consequence of a wide range of pediatric conditions that affect skeletal muscles, including perinatal brain injury causing cerebral palsy (CP). While several rehabilitation therapies are currently used in the clinical setting, their long-term effectiveness in treating contractures is marginal since they do not change underlying muscle biological properties. Therefore, new therapies based on a biological understanding of contracture development are needed. Here we show that myoblast progenitor cells from contractured muscle in children with CP had higher rates of proliferation than control cells from typically developing children. This phenotype was associated with upregulation of DNMT3a and patterns of DNA hypermethylation and gene expression that favored cell expansion over quiescence. Treatment of CP progenitors with 5-azacytidine, a DNMT inhibitor and hypomethylating agent, normalized this epigenetic imprint and promoted exit from mitosis. Together with previous studies demonstrating reduction in myoblast differentiation capacity, these data suggest that mechanisms of early myofiber growth and establishment of an adult population of quiescent stem cells could be compromised in CP. Hypomethylating agents like 5-azacytidine could be used to rescue myogenesis and promote muscle growth in contractured muscle and thus may represent a new approach to treating this devastating condition
2021-08-04 | GSE181376 | GEO
Project description:Cerebral palsy is primarily an upper motor neuron disease that results in a spectrum of progressive movement disorders. Secondary to the neurological lesion, muscles from patients with cerebral palsy are often spastic and form debilitating contractures that limit range of motion and joint function. With no genetic component, the pathology of skeletal muscle in cerebral palsy is a response to aberrant neurological input in ways that are not fully understood. This study was designed to gain further understanding of the skeletal muscle response to cerebral palsy using microarrays and correlating the transcriptional data with functional measures. Hamstring biopsies from gracilis and semitendinosus muscles were obtained from a cohort of patients with cerebral palsy (n=10) and typically developing patients (n=10) undergoing surgery. Affymetrix HG-U133A 2.0 chips (n=40) were used and expression data was verified for 6 transcripts using quantitative real-time PCR, as well as for two genes not on the microarray. Chips were clustered based on their expression and those from patients with cerebral palsy clustered separately. Significant genes were determined conservatively based on the overlap of three summarization algorithms (n=1,398). Significantly altered genes were analyzed for over-representation among gene ontologies, transcription factors, pathways, microRNA and muscle specific networks. These results centered on an increase in extracellular matrix expression in cerebral palsy as well as a decrease in metabolism and ubiquitin ligase activity. The increase in extracellular matrix products was correlated with mechanical measures demonstrating the importance in disability. These data lay a framework for further studies and novel therapies. Skeletal muscle biopsies from both the gracilis and semitendinosus were obtained during surgery for 20 pediatric subjects for affymetrix microarray analysis. We obtained a group of 10 patients undergoing medial hamstring lengthening in the cerebral palsy group and 10 patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with hamstring autograft in the control group. This provided 40 microarrays in 4 groups to analyze the effect of cerebral palsy and also differences between muscles.
2012-11-21 | E-GEOD-31243 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Purpose: To study the requirement of Osr1 expression for FAP function during skeletal muscle regeneration. Methods: We sequenced total mRNAs isolated from adult FAPs FACS sorted from 3 and 7 day post injured hindlimb skeletal muscle of Ctrl (Osr1flox/+ CAGG Cre+) and Osr1 cKO (Osr1flox/flox CAGG Cre+) mice. Results: Loss of Osr1 leads to pro-fibrotic orientation of FAPs and impairs both FAP-macrophage and FAP-MuSCs communication network resulting in impaired regenerative myogenesis and persistent fibrosis. Conclusions: Osr1 is a key transcriptional regulator of FAP regenerative function protecting FAPs from assuming a detrimental pro-fibrotic and anti-myogenic state.
2023-03-13 | GSE226683 | GEO
Project description:Cerebral palsy is primarily an upper motor neuron disease that results in a spectrum of progressive movement disorders. Secondary to the neurological lesion, muscles from patients with cerebral palsy are often spastic and form debilitating contractures that limit range of motion and joint function. With no genetic component, the pathology of skeletal muscle in cerebral palsy is a response to aberrant neurological input in ways that are not fully understood. This study was designed to gain further understanding of the skeletal muscle response to cerebral palsy using microarrays and correlating the transcriptional data with functional measures. Hamstring biopsies from gracilis and semitendinosus muscles were obtained from a cohort of patients with cerebral palsy (n=10) and typically developing patients (n=10) undergoing surgery. Affymetrix HG-U133A 2.0 chips (n=40) were used and expression data was verified for 6 transcripts using quantitative real-time PCR, as well as for two genes not on the microarray. Chips were clustered based on their expression and those from patients with cerebral palsy clustered separately. Significant genes were determined conservatively based on the overlap of three summarization algorithms (n=1,398). Significantly altered genes were analyzed for over-representation among gene ontologies, transcription factors, pathways, microRNA and muscle specific networks. These results centered on an increase in extracellular matrix expression in cerebral palsy as well as a decrease in metabolism and ubiquitin ligase activity. The increase in extracellular matrix products was correlated with mechanical measures demonstrating the importance in disability. These data lay a framework for further studies and novel therapies.
2012-11-21 | GSE31243 | GEO
Project description:Radiation therapy causes long-term skeletal muscle atrophy and fibrosis in juvenile cancer survivors. The mechanisms responsible for the skeletal muscle late effects of radiation therapy are not well-understood and have prevented the development of effective treatments. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we characterize cellular dynamics and communication in a murine model of therapeutic radiation at 24-hours and 56-days post-irradiation (post-IR). We detected changes in muscle stem (satellite) cells (MuSCs) characterized by an acute preservation of committed MuSCs and long-term relative depletion of deep quiescent MuSCs. A conserved senescence Cdkn1a signature was observed in all muscle-resident cells post-IR. Genes related to fibroblast proliferation were up-regulated and a fibrotic and senescent transcriptome persisted in Fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) post-IR. Intercellular communication analysis revealed FAPs as the primary contributor of extracellular matrix (ECM) and target of monocyte/macrophage-derived TGF-β signalling post-IR through TGF-βR2 on FAPs. Together, our findings provide insights into the potential mechanisms and intercellular communication responsible for radiation-induced muscle atrophy and fibrosis.
2025-04-28 | GSE241675 | GEO
Project description:Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, is characterized by impaired muscle repair and increased deposition of fibrotic tissue. Yet, the specific role of individual cell types in the development of fibrosis remains poorly defined. Here, we report that aged muscle stem cells (MuSCs) directly instruct fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) to proliferate and adopt a fibrogenic phenotype. Polycomb Ezh2-/- or aged mice exhibited regenerative defects, FAP expansion, fibrosis, and elevated levels of MuSC-secreted interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Spp1/Osteopontin. In aged MuSCs, H3K27me3 erosion at the NF-kB gene correlated with increased expression and enhanced chromatin recruitment at the IL-6 and Spp1 genes, leading to their activation. Blocking IL-6 and Spp1 signaling in co-cultures of aged MuSC and FAPs, or aged mice, reduced FAP proliferation and muscle fibrosis. In summary, our results indicate that aged MuSCs instruct FAPs to proliferate and acquire a fibrogenic phenotype through a mechanism involving epigenetically-mediated derepression of NF-kB and increased activation of IL-6 and Spp1- both of which are potential pharmacological targets.
2025-08-22 | GSE282315 | GEO
Project description:Sarcopenia, the age-related loss of muscle mass and strength, is characterized by impaired muscle repair and increased deposition of fibrotic tissue. Yet, the specific role of individual cell types in the development of fibrosis remains poorly defined. Here, we report that aged muscle stem cells (MuSCs) directly instruct fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) to proliferate and adopt a fibrogenic phenotype. Polycomb Ezh2-/- or aged mice exhibited regenerative defects, FAP expansion, fibrosis, and elevated levels of MuSC-secreted interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Spp1/Osteopontin. In aged MuSCs, H3K27me3 erosion at the NF-kB gene correlated with increased expression and enhanced chromatin recruitment at the IL-6 and Spp1 genes, leading to their activation. Blocking IL-6 and Spp1 signaling in co-cultures of aged MuSC and FAPs, or aged mice, reduced FAP proliferation and muscle fibrosis. In summary, our results indicate that aged MuSCs instruct FAPs to proliferate and acquire a fibrogenic phenotype through a mechanism involving epigenetically-mediated derepression of NF-kB and increased activation of IL-6 and Spp1- both of which are potential pharmacological targets.
2025-08-22 | GSE282285 | GEO
Project description:During aging, the number and functionality of muscle stem cells (MuSCs) decreases leading to impaired regeneration of aged skeletal muscle. In addition to intrinsic changes in aged MuSCs, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins deriving from other cell types, e.g., fibrogenic-adipogenic progenitor cells (FAPs), contribute to the aging phenotype of MuSCs and impaired regeneration in the elderly. So far, no comprehensive analysis on how age-dependent changes in the whole skeletal muscle proteome affect MuSC function have been conducted. Here, we investigated age-dependent changes in the proteome of different skeletal muscle types by applying deep quantitative mass spectrometry. We identified 183 extracellular matrix proteins that show different abundances in skeletal muscles of old mice. By integrating single cell sequencing data, we reveal that transcripts of those ECM proteins are mainly expressed in FAPs, suggesting that FAPs are the main contributors to ECM remodelling during aging. We functionally investigated one of those ECM molecules, namely Smoc2, which is aberrantly expressed during aging. We show that Smoc2 levels are elevated during regeneration and that its accumulation in the aged MuSC niche causes impairment of MuSCs function through constant activation of integrin/MAPK signaling. In vivo, supplementation of exogenous Smoc2 hampers the regeneration of young muscles following serial injuries, leading to a phenotype reminiscent of regenerating aged skeletal muscle. Taken together, we provide a comprehensive resource of changes in the composition of the ECM of aged skeletal muscles, we pinpoint the cell types driving these changes, and we identify a new niche protein causing functional impairment of MuSCs thereby hampering the regeneration capacity of skeletal muscles.
2021-11-25 | PXD015616 | Pride
Project description:During aging, the number and functionality of muscle stem cells (MuSCs) decreases leading to impaired regeneration of aged skeletal muscle. In addition to intrinsic changes in aged MuSCs, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins deriving from other cell types, e.g., fibrogenic-adipogenic progenitor cells (FAPs), contribute to the aging phenotype of MuSCs and impaired regeneration in the elderly. So far, no comprehensive analysis on how age-dependent changes in the whole skeletal muscle proteome affect MuSC function have been conducted. Here, we investigated age-dependent changes in the proteome of different skeletal muscle types by applying deep quantitative mass spectrometry. We identified 183 extracellular matrix proteins that show different abundances in skeletal muscles of old mice. By integrating single cell sequencing data, we reveal that transcripts of those ECM proteins are mainly expressed in FAPs, suggesting that FAPs are the main contributors to ECM remodelling during aging. We functionally investigated one of those ECM molecules, namely Smoc2, which is aberrantly expressed during aging. We show that Smoc2 levels are elevated during regeneration and that its accumulation in the aged MuSC niche causes impairment of MuSCs function through constant activation of integrin/MAPK signaling. In vivo, supplementation of exogenous Smoc2 hampers the regeneration of young muscles following serial injuries, leading to a phenotype reminiscent of regenerating aged skeletal muscle. Taken together, we provide a comprehensive resource of changes in the composition of the ECM of aged skeletal muscles, we pinpoint the cell types driving these changes, and we identify a new niche protein causing functional impairment of MuSCs thereby hampering the regeneration capacity of skeletal muscles.
2021-11-25 | PXD015728 | Pride