Grant: Operating Grant

The growth and repair of skeletal muscle in adults is accomplished by a population of cells called satellite cells that are found closely associated with muscle fibers in tissue. We have found that within this population there exists a subpopulation that exhibit the character of stem cells. These have been named satellite stem cells. Moreover, we have identified a secreted protein called Wnt7a that stimulates the activity of these stem cells. In this application, we aim to identify new components involved in regulating Wnt7a activation of these stem cells and to conduct experiments to understand the function of these components. We will next investigate the ability of Wnt7a-treated satellite stem cells to contribute to the formation of healthy muscle after transplantation into regenerating and diseased muscle. Lastly, we will explore whether similar cells can be isolated from human muscle tissue and whether these cells also exhibit a stem cell character following transplantation. Together these experiments will provide important new information about the mechanisms that control muscle stem cell function and provide insights into how stem cells contribute to the regeneration of skeletal muscle. Potentially, such experiments will open new avenues for the treatment of human diseases such as muscular dystrophy.