Satellite cells are resident skeletal muscle stem cells responsible for muscle maintenance and repair. In resting muscle, satellite cells are maintained in a quiescent state. Satellite cell activation induces the myogenic commitment factor, MyoD, and cell cycle entry to facilitate transition to a population of proliferating myoblasts that eventually exit the cycle and regenerate muscle tissue. The molecular mechanism involved in the transition of a quiescent satellite cell to a transit-amplifying myoblast is poorly understood.
A role for RNA post-transcriptional regulation in satellite cell activation.
Sex, Specimen part
View SamplesFollowing skeletal muscle injury, muscle stem cells (satellite cells) are activated, proliferate, and differentiate to form myofibers. We show that mRNA decay protein AUF1 regulates satellite cell function through targeted degradation of specific mRNAs. AUF1 targets certain mRNAs containing 3 AU-rich elements (AREs) for rapid decay. Auf1-/- (KO) mice undergo accelerated skeletal muscle wasting with age and impaired muscle repair following injury. Satellite cell mRNA analysis and regeneration studies demonstrate that auf1-/- satellite cell self-renewal is impaired due to increased stability and overexpression of ARE-mRNAs. Control of ARE-mRNA decay by AUF1 and potentially other ARE-binding proteins represents a mechanism for adult stem cell regulation and is implicated in human muscle wasting diseases. We report the RNA transcript expression profiles from sorted satellite cells isolated from wild type (WT) and AUF1-null (KO) mice hindlimb muscles Overall design: Examination of RNA transcript expression from satellite cells of two genotypes Please note that mice are bred through a C57BL/6 strain of 129 background.
Targeted mRNA Decay by RNA Binding Protein AUF1 Regulates Adult Muscle Stem Cell Fate, Promoting Skeletal Muscle Integrity.
Age, Specimen part, Subject
View SamplesSkeletal muscle aging results in a gradual loss of skeletal muscle mass, skeletal muscle function and decreased regenerative capacity, which can lead to sarcopenia and increased mortality. While the mechanisms underlying sarcopenia remain unclear, the skeletal muscle stem cell, or satellite cell, is required for muscle regeneration. Therefore, identification of signaling pathways affecting satellite cell function during aging may provide insights into therapeutic targets for combating sarcopenia. Here, we show that a cell-autonomous loss in self-renewal occurs via novel alterations in FGF and p38 MAPK signaling in old satellite cells. We further demonstrate that pharmacological manipulation of these pathways can ameliorate age-associated self-renewal defects. Thus, our data highlight an age-associated deregulation of a satellite cell homeostatic network and reveals potential therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of progressive muscle wasting.
p38 MAPK signaling underlies a cell-autonomous loss of stem cell self-renewal in skeletal muscle of aged mice.
Specimen part
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