Gene and cell therapy for muscle regeneration

Abstract

Skeletal muscle injury and healing are multifactorial processes, involving three steps of healing: (1) degeneration and inflammation, (2) regeneration, and (3) fibrosis. Fibrous tissue hinders the muscle's complete recovery and current therapies fail in achieving total muscle recovery. Gene and cell therapy (or both) are potential future treatments for severe muscular injuries. Stem cells' properties associated with growth factors or/and cytokines can improve muscle healing and permit long-term recovery.

Fig. 1

Schematic gene and cell therapy procedures. Cell therapy (a), gene therapy based on plasmid or viral vectors (b), combined therapy or gene therapy ex vivo (c), and cellular changes (i.e., reprogramming iPS cells) (d)