Myoblast Transplantation and Fibrosis Prevention in Injured and Diseased Muscle

Abstract

Abstract
The transplantation of myogenic cells, which include muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs), satellite cells, and myoblasts, has been employed due to its ability to present/implant the dystrophin gene into the dystrophic skeletal muscle of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. Myoblast transplantation is also applied in repairing injured skeletal and infarction heart muscles. However, the transient lifespan and poor migration of these donor cells following transplantation has limited its success. The pathology of significant fibrous scar tissue formation inthese patients has a major impact on the capacity for muscle cell regeneration. Specifically, the fibrous scar tissue physically impedes the formation of normal muscle fibers in the injured and diseased muscle, resulting in a reduction of myogenic cell migration, fusion, and regeneration that ultimately causes the failure of myogenic cell transplantation. In this article we summarize updated research information about myoblast transplantation and fibrosis prevention in injured and diseased skeletal muscle.

Keywords
Cell transplantation, fibrosis, skeletal muscle, muscle Injury, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), cell migration

Disclosure: Financial support for related research came from the Department of Defense (DOD, W81XWH-06-01-0406) and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS, 1R21AR055725) (to Yong Li, MD, PhD). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Received: July 16, 2008 Accepted: October 30, 2008
Correspondence: Yong Li, MD, PhD, Director, The Laboratory of Molecular Pathology (LMP), Stem Cell Research Center (SCRC), Children’s Hospital of UPMC, Room 101 GOLD Building, 3343 Forbes Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. E: yongli@pitt.edu