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Review
. 2023 May 12;14(1):129.
doi: 10.1186/s13287-023-03363-y.

Insight into muscle stem cell regeneration and mechanobiology

Kuin Tian Pang #  1   2 , Larry Sai Weng Loo #  3   4 , Sean Chia  5 , Francesca Yi Teng Ong  4 , Hanry Yu  3   4   6   7   8 , Ian Walsh  9
Affiliations
Review

Insight into muscle stem cell regeneration and mechanobiology

Kuin Tian Pang et al. Stem Cell Res Ther. .

Abstract

Stem cells possess the unique ability to differentiate into specialized cell types. These specialized cell types can be used for regenerative medicine purposes such as cell therapy. Myosatellite cells, also known as skeletal muscle stem cells (MuSCs), play important roles in the growth, repair, and regeneration of skeletal muscle tissues. However, despite its therapeutic potential, the successful differentiation, proliferation, and expansion processes of MuSCs remain a significant challenge due to a variety of factors. For example, the growth and differentiation of MuSCs can be greatly influenced by actively replicating the MuSCs microenvironment (known as the niche) using mechanical forces. However, the molecular role of mechanobiology in MuSC growth, proliferation, and differentiation for regenerative medicine is still poorly understood. In this present review, we comprehensively summarize, compare, and critically analyze how different mechanical cues shape stem cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and their potential role in disease development (Fig. 1). The insights developed from the mechanobiology of stem cells will also contribute to how these applications can be used for regenerative purposes using MuSCs.

Keywords: Mechanobiology; Skeletal muscle stem cells; Stiffness; Strain; Topography; Viscoelasticity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A schematic diagram that summarizes the role of mechanical forces in myoblast differentiation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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