The muscle satellite cell at 50: the formative years

In February 1961, Alexander Mauro described a cell 'wedged' between the plasma membrane of the muscle fibre and the surrounding basement membrane. He postulated that it could be a dormant myoblast, poised to repair muscle when needed. In the same month, Bernard Katz also reported a cell in a similar location on muscle spindles, suggesting that it was associated with development and growth of intrafusal muscle fibres. Both Mauro and Katz used the term 'satellite cell' in relation to their discoveries. Today, the muscle satellite cell is widely accepted as the resident stem cell of skeletal muscle, supplying myoblasts for growth, homeostasis and repair

Uncoordinated Transcription and Compromised Muscle Function in the Lmna-Null Mouse Model of Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy

LMNA encodes both lamin A and C: major components of the nuclear lamina. Mutations in LMNA underlie a range of tissue-specific degenerative diseases, including those that affect skeletal muscle, such as autosomal-Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (A-EDMD) and limb girdle muscular dystrophy 1B. Here, we examine the morphology and transcriptional activity of myonuclei, the structure of the myotendinous junction and the muscle contraction dynamics in the lmna-null mouse model of A-EDMD. We found that there were fewer myonuclei in lmna-null mice, of which ∼50% had morphological abnormalities. Assaying transcriptional activity by examining acetylated histone H3 and PABPN1 levels indicated that there was a lack of coordinated transcription between myonuclei lacking lamin A/C. Myonuclei with abnormal morphology and transcriptional activity were distributed along the length of the myofibre, but accumulated at the myotendinous junction. Indeed, in addition to the presence of abnormal myonuclei, the structure of the myotendinous junction was perturbed, with disorganised sarcomeres and reduced interdigitation with the tendon, together with lipid and collagen deposition. Functionally, muscle contraction became severely affected within weeks of birth, with specific force generation dropping as low as ∼65% and ∼27% of control values in the extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles respectively. These observations illustrate the importance of lamin A/C for correct myonuclear function, which likely acts synergistically with myotendinous junction disorganisation in the development of A-EDMD, and the consequential reduction in force generation and muscle wasting

Uncoordinated Transcription and Compromised Muscle Function in the Lmna-Null Mouse Model of Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy

LMNA encodes both lamin A and C: major components of the nuclear lamina. Mutations in LMNA underlie a range of tissue-specific degenerative diseases, including those that affect skeletal muscle, such as autosomal-Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (A-EDMD) and limb girdle muscular dystrophy 1B. Here, we examine the morphology and transcriptional activity of myonuclei, the structure of the myotendinous junction and the muscle contraction dynamics in the lmna-null mouse model of A-EDMD. We found that there were fewer myonuclei in lmna-null mice, of which ∼50% had morphological abnormalities. Assaying transcriptional activity by examining acetylated histone H3 and PABPN1 levels indicated that there was a lack of coordinated transcription between myonuclei lacking lamin A/C. Myonuclei with abnormal morphology and transcriptional activity were distributed along the length of the myofibre, but accumulated at the myotendinous junction. Indeed, in addition to the presence of abnormal myonuclei, the structure of the myotendinous junction was perturbed, with disorganised sarcomeres and reduced interdigitation with the tendon, together with lipid and collagen deposition. Functionally, muscle contraction became severely affected within weeks of birth, with specific force generation dropping as low as ∼65% and ∼27% of control values in the extensor digitorum longus and soleus muscles respectively. These observations illustrate the importance of lamin A/C for correct myonuclear function, which likely acts synergistically with myotendinous junction disorganisation in the development of A-EDMD, and the consequential reduction in force generation and muscle wasting

Defective adult muscle satellite cells in Zmpste24 deficient mice

published_or_final_versionBiochemistryMasterMaster of Philosoph

ASO-basedPKMSplice-switching Therapy Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Growth

The M2 pyruvate kinase (PKM2) isoform is upregulated in most cancers and plays a crucial role in the Warburg effect, which is characterized by the preference for aerobic glycolysis for energy metabolism. PKM2 is an alternative-splice isoform of the PKM gene, and is a potential therapeutic target. Previously, we developed antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that switch PKM splicing from the cancer-associated PKM2 to the PKM1 isoform and induce apoptosis in cultured glioblastoma cells. Here, we explore the potential of ASO-based PKM splice-switching as a targeted therapy for liver cancer. We utilize a lead cEt/DNA ASO, which has a higher potency than MOE modification, to demonstrate that it induces PKM splice-switching and inhibits the growth of cultured hepatocellular-carcinoma (HCC) cells. This PKM isoform switch increases pyruvate-kinase activity and alters glucose metabolism. The lead ASO inhibits tumorigenesis in an orthotopic-xenograft HCC mouse model. Finally, a surrogate mouse-specific ASO induces Pkm splice-switching and inhibits HCC growth, without observable toxicity, in a genetic HCC mouse model