Journal of Stem Cell Research & Therapy

Abstract

Mononucleated Cells to Regenerate Skeletal Muscle Syncytial Tissues

Gabriele Ceccarelli, Flavio Ronzoni, Mattia Quattrocelli, Daniela Galli, Laura Benedetti, Gabriella De Angelis Cusella and Maurilio Sampaolesi

Skeletal muscle is one of the most plastic tissues of vertebrates since it may able upon exercises to double in size due to a physiological hypertrophy. Despite the fact that it is mainly a syncytial tissue, it contains a relevant number of mononucleated cells that can be involved in its homeostasis and repair. Although the mononuclear cell types with the highest myogenic potential are the satellite cells located underneath the basal lamina of muscle fibres, other interstitial cells have been shown to contribute to muscle regeneration. Adding complexity to this scenario is the fact that several authors revealed myogenic potential in pluripotent stem cells, which can be generated from patient somatic cells and eventually manipulated to correct the genetic defect. Notwithstanding the copiousness of myogenic cell types, their use in ex vivo cell therapies for muscular degenerative diseases is still questionable. However, new discovers on their biological properties have advanced our comprehension in handling myogenic stem cells significantly. In this review, we will focus on the myogenic potential of multi- and pluri-potent stem cells and their use in preclinical and clinical studies. New insights from direct reprogramming and epigenetic signalling to generate myogenic stem cells are also considered.