Author: Merentsova Anastasia
Translator: Orazayeva Nargiz
Copy editors: Kigbayeva Kamila, Issabayeva Madina
Scientists from the University of California at Los Angeles, the authors of this work, have identified various types of cells present in skeletal muscle tissue, from early embryonic development to adulthood. They were able to map the “on” and “off” genes as the cells mature, focusing on muscle progenitor cells (cells that promote muscle formation before the birth) and muscle stem cells (cells responsible for muscle formation after birth, as well as their regeneration after injuries throughout the life).
To date, scientists can already generate skeletal muscle cells from human pluripotent stem cells, which are capable of self-renewal and transformation, into any other type. However, they still have not had the opportunity to determine exactly where disruptions in the development of these cells occur.
Scientists compared the genetic characteristics of skeletal muscle cells, which were taken from two sources: from the human body, starting from the fifth week of embryonic development to the middle age and from human pluripotent stem cells that the researchers created in laboratories.
Subsequently, high-throughput drip RNA sequencing was performed (the technology that allows the gene networks identification, which is located in one cell, as well as the ability to process data of a large number of cells at the same time). This allows the research team to determine the genetic characteristics of various types of muscle cells, pluripotent stem cells, and compare them with the corresponding locations on the map of human muscle development.
Regardless of the method of the muscle cells (that were obtained from pluripotent stem cells) production, they were similar to predecessor muscle cells in an early stage of development and did not align with adult muscle stem cells over time. The analysis also provided detailed information about other types of cells present in skeletal muscle tissue, which can also play a significant role in muscle cell maturation and improvement of generation method and in support of in vitro muscle stem cells.
According to researchers, "destructive" muscle diseases such as muscular dystrophy, sarcopenia, age-related loss of muscle mass, and strength are due to improper function of muscle stem cells. The new roadmap, identifying precise gene networks, will provide invaluable services in regenerative cell therapy for the treatment of such diseases.
Source: https://naked-science.ru/article/medicine/
