Adipose-derived stem cells enhance myogenic differentiation in the mdx mouse model of muscular dystrophy via paracrine signaling

• Published in: Neural regeneration research Vol. 11; no. 10; pp. 1638 - 1643
• Main Authors: Cao, Ji-qing, Liang, Ying-yin, Li, Ya-qin, Zhang, Hui-li, Zhu, Yu-ling, Geng, Jia, Yang, Li-qing, Feng, Shan-wei, Yang, Juan, Kong, Jie, Zhang, Cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Wolters Kluwer India Pvt. Ltd 01.10.2016; Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Analysis; Care and treatment; Health aspects; Immunoglobulins; Insulin; Insulin-like growth factors; Laboratory animals; Morphology; Muscular dystrophy; Mutation; Myogenesis; nerve regeneration; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; adipose-derived stem cells; myogenic differentiation; paracrine pathway; dystrophin; neural regeneration; Protein binding; Proteins; Radiation therapy; Rodents; Statistical analysis; Stem cell transplantation; Stem cells; China; United States > US; adipose-derived stem cells; myogenic differentiation; paracrine pathway; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; dystrophin; Duchenne muscular dystrophy
• ISSN: 1673-5374; 1876-7958
• DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.193244

Adipose-derived stem cells have been shown to promote peripheral nerve regeneration through the paracrine secretion of neurotrophic factors. However, it is unclear whether these cells can promote myogenic differentiation in muscular dystrophy. Adipose-derived stem cells (6 × 10 6 ) were injected into the gastrocnemius muscle of mdx mice at various sites. Dystrophin expression was found in the muscle fibers. Phosphorylation levels of Akt, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), eIF-4E binding protein 1 and S6 kinase 1 were increased, and the Akt/mTOR pathway was activated. Simultaneously, myogenin levels were increased, whereas cleaved caspase 3 and vimentin levels were decreased. Necrosis and fibrosis were reduced in the muscle fibers. These findings suggest that adipose-derived stem cells promote the regeneration and survival of muscle cells by inhibiting apoptosis and fibrosis, thereby alleviating muscle damage in muscular dystrophy.