Project description:Satellite cells are the primary source of stem cells for skeletal muscle growth and regeneration. Since adult stem cell maintenance involves a fine balance between intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms, we performed genome-wide chronological expression profiling to identify the transcriptomic changes involved during early postnatal growth till acquisition of satellite cell quiescence.
Project description:Direct lineage reprogramming provides a unique system to study cell fate transitions and unearth molecular mechanisms that safeguard cellular identity. We previously reported on direct conversion of mouse fibroblasts into induced myogenic progenitor cells (iMPCs) by transient MyoD overexpression in concert with small molecules treatment. Here we employed integrative multi-omic approaches to delineate the molecular landscape of fibroblast reprogramming into iMPCs in comparison to transdifferentiation into myogenic cells solely by MyoD overexpression. Utilizing bulk RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry, we uncovered molecular regulators and pathways that endow a myogenic stem cell identity on fibroblasts only in the presence of small molecule treatment. In addition, we demonstrate that Pax7+ cells in iMPCs share molecular attributes with myoblasts, however in addition express unique genes, proteins and pathways that are indicative of a more activated satellite cell-like state in vitro. Collectively, this study charts a molecular blueprint for reprogramming fibroblasts into muscle stem and progenitor cells and further establishes the fidelity of stable iMPC cultures in capturing skeletal muscle regeneration in vitro for disease modeling and basic research applications.
Project description:Enhancing the proliferation and myogenic commitment of progenitor cells during fetal development enhances muscle growth and lean production in offspring. During the early development, a pool of skeletal stem cells (SSCs) proliferates and then diverge into either myoblast. Myoblast further fusion and develop into myotube. However, the landscape from muscle stem cells to myotubes in goats is not yet clear. This study aims to characterize the changes in the expression profile of skeletal muscle stem cells that differentiate into myoblasts, then migrate and fuse to form myotubes.
Project description:Satellite cells are the primary source of stem cells for skeletal muscle growth and regeneration. Since adult stem cell maintenance involves a fine balance between intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms, we performed genome-wide chronological expression profiling to identify the transcriptomic changes involved during early postnatal growth till acquisition of satellite cell quiescence. Muscle samples were isolated from the trunk of Pax3GFP/+ mice. After digestion, GFP cells were purified via FACS and process for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays (Affymetrix Mouse Genome 430 2.0 Arrays). The different ages selected for sample isolation were P1-P12-P28 (P, postnatal days), covering proliferant and quiescent satellite cells. The three stages were done in triplicate for P28 and 4 times for P1-P12, so 11 samples included in the microarray.
Project description:Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) causes severe disability of children and death of young men, with an incidence of approximately 1/5,000 male births. Symptoms appear in early childhood, with a diagnosis made around 4, a time where the amount of muscle damage is already significant, preventing early therapeutic interventions that could be more efficient at halting disease progression. In the meantime, the precise moment at which disease phenotypes arise – even asymptomatically – is still unknown. Thus, there is a critical need to better define DMD onset as well as its first manifestations, which could help identify early disease biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets. In this study, we have used human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from DMD patients to model skeletal myogenesis, and compared their differentiation dynamics to healthy control cells by a comprehensive multi-omics analysis. Transcriptome and miRnome comparisons combined with protein analyses at 7 time points demonstrate that hiPSC differentiation 1) mimics described DMD phenotypes at the differentiation endpoint; and 2) homogeneously and robustly recapitulates key developmental steps - mesoderm, somite, skeletal muscle - which offers the possibility to explore dystrophin functions and find earlier disease biomarkers. Starting at the somite stage, mitochondrial gene dysregulations escalate during differentiation. We also describe fibrosis as an intrinsic feature of skeletal muscle cells that starts early during myogenesis. In sum, our data strongly argue for an early developmental manifestation of DMD whose onset is triggered before the entry into the skeletal muscle compartment, data leading to a necessary reconsideration of dystrophin functions during muscle development.
Project description:The initial fine-tuning processes are crucial for successful bone regeneration, as they guide skeletal stem cells through progenitor differentiation toward osteo- or chondrogenic fate. While fate determination processes are well-documented, the mechanisms preceding progenitor commitment remain poorly understood. Here, we identified a transcription factor, Zfp260, as pivotal for stem cell maturation into progenitors and directing osteogenic differentiation. Zfp260 is markedly up-regulated as cells transition from stem to progenitor stages; its dysfunction causes lineage arrest at the progenitor stage, impairing bone repair. Zfp260 is required for maintaining chromatin accessibility and regulates Runx2 expression by forming super-enhancer complexes. Furthermore, the PKCα kinase phosphorylates Zfp260 at residues Y173, S182, and S197, which are essential for its functional activity. Mutations at these residues significantly impair its functionality. These findings position Zfp260 as a vital factor bridging stem cell activation with progenitor cell fate determination, unveiling a element fundamental to successful bone regeneration.